SENEGAL, Africa (July 1, 2014) -- Every U.S. Army Reserve unit is
required to complete two weeks of annual training each year. Typically
conducted at U.S. training facilities stateside, the opportunity to
deploy to another country and train with other militaries isn't typical.
However, Soldiers of the 49th Medical Battalion are spending their
annual training here, in support of Exercise Western Accord 2014.
Exercise Western Accord 14 is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored joint
annual training event hosted by U.S. Army Africa and a joint training
mission between the U.S., the Economic Community of West African States
and partner nations. The exercise is designed to increase
interoperability between military forces and ensure the common ability
to conduct peace operations throughout western Africa.
The team participating this year is comprised of Soldiers from the 912th
Forward Surgical Team from Cranston, Rhode Island, and the 335th Area
Support Medical Company from Puerto Rico.
Lt. Col. Roberto Portela, an emergency medical physician with the 335th
Area Support Medical Company, said the battalion's mission is to provide
medical support to units participating in Western Accord.
The 335th medical staff offer basic services like patient evaluations,
checking vital signs, basic suturing of lacerations and intravenous
medications and catheters for heat casualties. The clinic also has lab
services and an X-ray machine.
While the basic medical services are for the U.S. service members, the
medical staff is also available to assist with emergencies for those
from other militaries.
"We provide services to U.S. Soldiers, host nation military and other
participants in the exercise who may lose life, limb or eyesight," said
Portela, a 20-year veteran.
The 335th Area Support Medical Company handled the basic medical needs
of those who fell ill or were injured however the 912th Forward Surgical
Team brought surgery-capabilities to the field.
"Our mission is to provide emergency surgical care to injured Soldiers,"
said Col. Timothy Counihan, 22-year veteran and senior surgeon of the
912th Forward Surgical Team. "For this mission there were live-fire
training ranges, and because the location is so remote, they wanted to
bring a surgical asset in case there was a training accident."
Although the unit is here to treat service members in need of medical
assistance, the staff has spent the majority of their time training. The
Soldiers have completed two mass casualty exercises, which tested their
own competence and capabilities, as well as that of the clinic.
In addition to the mass casualty exercises, thanks to Counihan, Soldiers
are privy to daily training in the Advanced Trauma Life Support course.
A Massachusetts native, Counihan serves as a surgeon and teacher at his
civilian job where he works in a teaching hospital.
Counihan said he is teaching the Soldiers in the 49th Medical Battalion
the same lessons he teaches to all of the residents and emergency room
doctors where he works.
"Back home, only physicians are allowed to take the [Advanced Trauma
Life Support course]," he said. "I've learned over the years that
Soldiers love the content so every chance I get I bring it along."
Portela and Counihan said the 49th Medical Battalion's role in Western
Accord 14 made the ideal training exercise for preparing their Soldiers
in the event they have to deploy to a combat theater.
"It really brings us to the edge of what we'd be doing for a real
mission in combat," said Counihan, whose company was the last Forward
Surgical Team in Iraq. "This is exactly what forward surgical teams do:
take a piece of dirt, set up out of the blue and be able to operate, so
the dust and dirt conditions here are realities of Iraq, Afghanistan,
and wherever we go."
"They're getting real patient contact," Portela added. "These Soldiers
are Reservists, and most don't work a medical-related job in the
civilian world. Out here, they're taking care of real patients. They're
seeing illnesses and fevers. They're taking vital signs. More than
training, it's real-life, so it definitely prepares them for a combat
deployment."
By Staff Sgt. V. Michelle Woods, 40th Public Affairs Detachment
http://www.army.mil/article/128882/Reserve_unit_conducts_annual_training_in_Africa_during_Western_Accord_2014/
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