Combat lifesaver skills: vital tool for deployments

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frances Locquiao
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  In a life or death situation in a combat zone, medical personnel may not always be able to reach an injured servicemember in a timely manner--that's why it is crucial for individuals to hone their medical lifesaving skills before arriving at a deployed location.

During a recent training exercise, combat weather Airmen from the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, a tenant unit at Moody, received combat lifesaver skills training, a vital tool needed for deployments. The training was part of a 30-day exercise that took place at the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center located in Starke, Fla.

The purpose of the week-long course was to teach advanced first-aid and lifesaving procedures to non-medical personnel in order to help them use these skills should they suffer from or encounter a variety of injuries during combat situations.

"The nature of combat makes every servicemember on the battlefield susceptible to traumatic injuries, any time and any place," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Mirones, medical training NCO in-charge of the 3rd Battalion, 211th Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Camp Blanding. "It is important that military members learn skills beyond the level of self-aid and buddy care so they are prepared to save lives."

The course curriculum included a variety of topics. Evaluation, airway, chest injuries, bleeding, intravenous antibiotics, medical evacuation requests and litter construction provided for the areas of instruction.

"Two of the most important things we emphasize in the training are to stop the bleeding and treat for shock," said Sergeant Mirones. "It will help stabilize the injured person and delay further complications until medical personnel arrive."

Students learned many techniques during the training, including how to sling an arm injury, apply tourniquets and perform a needle chest decompression for serious injuries. 

"We learned a lot of things that aren't covered during a typical self-aid and buddy care class," said Senior Airman DeOnte Brooks, battlefield weather forecaster from the 3rd Weather Squadron at Fort Hood, Texas. "The most interesting part was learning how to make evacuation calls, something I had never done before."

After three days of lectures and hands-on training, students were tested on the information taught to them. The final day of the class culminated with a training exercise, where students were separated into several groups and given a scenario to perform lifesaving skills on mannequins with simulated injuries.

"The exercise was a practical experience in which they could apply lessons learned earlier in the week," said Sergeant Mirones. "It tested their ability to utilize the tools they were given throughout the lecture and hands-on portion of the course."

Air Force combat weathermen gather and interpret weather data and provide intelligence from deployed locations while serving as members of Air Force Special Tactics teams with U.S. Army Special Operations Forces.

"Because we work with the Army downrange, these skills are a must," said Airman Brooks. "We need to know how to save ourselves and our comrades."

In addition to appreciation the Airmen had for the class, Sergeant Mirones echoed the same sentiment to his Air Force students.

"Military medicine is an invaluable skill," said Sergeant Mirones. "I hope I've laid a foundation for them to improve upon. I also want to thank these Airmen for the contribution they make to the Army brigades and battalions."