71st MDG conducts readiness training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Mills
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The 71st Medical Group treated "patients" amid small explosions and flare light during an exercise Nov. 10 at the softball complex.
The exercise concluded the group's full day of medical unit readiness training.
The 71st MDG's annual MURT covers many different scenarios medics may find themselves in deployed environments. Training includes deployment preparation; nuclear, biological and chemical defense task qualification training and explosive ordinance reconnaissance; handling combat stress; casualty movement; self aid and buddy care and more.
"MURT tests each individual's ability to perform his or her duties in a combat environment," said Col. John McCafferty, 71st MDG commander. "The skills we develop will be applied in theatres of operation in the future. Training like MURT must be realistic and applicable to ensure our Airmen are successful and make it home safely."
Staff Sgt. Rachel Bostic, 71st Medical Operations Squadron public health, said she learned most about the difficulty of casualty movement.
"In the real world, the injured person could be any weight, and lifting that weight over objects is very difficult," she said. She most enjoyed listening to medical warriors tell their deployed stories during the warrior panel.
"It is crucial our medics have the best training possible before they are sent into harm's way," Colonel McCafferty said. "We recently deployed members of the 71st MDG for duty in the Iraq theater of operations and in support of Hurricane Katrina recovery. We do not always know when the call will come to send someone downrange, but we do know that the calls will be coming for some time and we must be prepared. The group's leadership is responsible for ensuring 71st MDG members are ready to meet the call of duty."
Airman 1st Class Ariel Borge, 71st Medical Support Squadron medical records, learned teamwork is the most important part of readiness.
"We've got to be prepared for real-world situations, so this training really helps," he said. "The best thing I learned was how to work as a team with my coworkers." Airman Borge also said the fun but educational atmosphere contributed to his learning.