MURT brings realistic training to 71st MDG

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mary Davis
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Deployments are a way of life for Airmen, and contingency preparation and training are crucial to ensure mobility personnel are ready to take on the rigors of war. That's why the 71st Medical Group conducted its annual Medical Unit Readiness Training Oct. 11.

The deployment training assessed the group's ability to perform duties in a combat environment, said Master Sgt. Dave McClelland, MURT cadre member.

"The participants were tasked to diagnose, analyze and treat injuries during low-light conditions, while securing the entry control points and the camp perimeter," he explained. "Exercise participants also encountered water-borne illnesses, mental health issues and mass casualties to include combatants and non-combatants."

To lend more realism to annual training, the cadre members incorporated the Mediman - a teaching device that simulates human characteristics like heart beat, breathing and blood circulation.

"This exercise provides a basic realization of what our medics might encounter while deployed in a combat environment," he said.

Small explosions and simulated gun fire made the experience realistic for the participants, who worked zealously to guard the camp and demonstrate job proficiency during wartime scenarios. For Tech. Sgt. James Smith, the simulated detonations and weapons fire were reminders of his recent deployment to Afghanistan.

"Conditions were pretty austere," said the 12-year aerospace medical services craftsman from Walhalla, S.C. "We carried weapons inside and outside of the wire."

His six-month deployment wasn't without incident. After a few months in Afghanistan, he responded to treat a first sergeant who was shot three times.

"He was my close friend, but I had to control my emotions for his sake," he said. Although the first sergeant died from his injuries, Sergeant Smith said his training helped him during that emergency situation.

"People really need to pay attention to their training," he said. "It doesn't matter if you are deploying to a combat zone or performing duties at your home station - you can't get complacent."

Col. Otha Solomon, 71st Medical Group commander, echoed Sergeant Smith's recommendation.

"The Air Force is filling a lot of in-lieu-of taskings for the Army, so we don't have room for complacency," said Colonel Solomon, who deployed to the United Arab Emirates in 2003. "Many young people haven't deployed before, so the training must be as realistic as possible to prepare them for anything. We do our mission everyday, but we need to learn what to do in a deployed environment."

MURT training was something new for Airman 1st Class Joshua Lewis, who arrived at Vance Air Force Base 10 months ago. "It was interesting to compare this training to what I learned in technical school," said the health services management member. "The simulated casualties made the training realistic and put our skills to the test."

Colonel Solomon also thanked the 71st MDG civilian employees for cooking dinner for the exercise participants and taking care of the additional workload while MURT took place.

"Everyone worked hard to make the event a success," the commander said. "It was a terrific team effort, and we learned a lot."