Medical Clinic Visit

Janda Gelan Central Heath Clinic, Gelan, Afghanistan. Starting the day not knowing what to expect, members of ADT security team and Headquarters traveled to Gelan to assist with security for a health clinic. The health clinic was sponsored by the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team and was aimed at supporting the local doctors with supplies and medical support for the citizens of Gelan district.
Upon arrival at the health clinic ADT soldiers set up protective measures for the immediate area including sniper over watch from a nearby hilltop. ADT soldiers were used as the first and second layer of protection to wand clinic goers with metal detectors and to ensure that the event was safe for all involved.
Although the clinic visit was unannounced the locals began arriving with the sight of the first armored vehicles. Once word got out in the village lines started to form. Some locals stood in line for hours as the women and children were seen first. Those children were a source of amusement and some concern throughout the day. Some seemed healthy and in good spirits while others were being carried in by their parents.
As the day went on it was hard to determine who was arriving for medical care and who was just there to see the activity created by US and Polish forces. The activity became tense when a local Afghan National Policeman located an old RPG round lying in a small hole about 50 meters from the clinic. All of the locals were herded to a safe area behind a wall. Once the crowd was safe and informed by an ADT interpreter of what was happening Polish engineers arrived and prepped the round for destruction. In a matter of minutes the round was destroyed and the clinic resumed operation. Such discarded explosives are prevalent across Afghanistan from many decades of fighting.
The day was brought to a climactic end when the American Soldiers and local kids engaged in a full out snowball fight. The local kids, having many years of practice, came out victorious. The PRT and ADT soldiers retreated to their armored trucks covered in snow and mud but the local children continued their onslaught of snowballs and laughter.
Medical clinic security is not a normal mission requirement for the Texas ADT. This mission support was requested by the PRT and was eagerly supported by the ADT command. It’s the ADT way of assisting other units on our FOB in a “One team, one fight” mentality. It also helps to continue our overall mission of stability for the future of Afghanistan.

Medivac Training

Forward Operating Base, Ghazni Afghanistan. Taking advantage of all the assets available here on FOB Ghazni is what Texas ADT is all about. Proving that fact on a sunny, but chilly morning was the Security Team and selected members of the Agriculture Team.

The day’s training was coordinated by SSG Larry Logan and his fellow medics, it consisted of simulated injuries and the employment of Medical Evacuation Blackhawk helicopters.

Medivac helicopters are angels in the sky which swoop down to care for you if, heaven forbid, you ever need medical attention. Not all injuries are life threatening here in Afghanistan the scenarios consisted of many different types.

The main point of the training was to start in IV and call in over the radio, a 9 line medical evacuation request to have the helicopter come to the casualties’ location. Texas ADT was assisted in this training by the helicopters and crews of Charlie 23 Medivac unit, 3^rd Infantry Division, Forward Surgical Team based at FOB Ghazni. To ensure safety, the day began with “cold loads”. A cold load is a term which means the helicopters are sitting stationary with their engines off. This allowed time for instruction from the Medivac crews and gives the ADT soldiers an opportunity to ask questions. Once the practice time was completed, each squad of soldiers was given a stretcher, Combat Lifesaver Bag, smoke grenades, a radio, and simulated injury. Squad members were used.

The scenario began with the helicopter taking off and flying away in the bright blue sky. Each squad in succession had to start an IV, provide security for the landing zone, contact the inbound helicopter, and mark the landing zone with a smoke grenade. After the helicopter landed, the team moved the stretcher and loaded the patient into position for his or her flight. As expected, all squads performed flawlessly. This was due to the fact that they have completed this training before. This training had the Medivac helicopters buzzing overhead against a background of snow-capped mountains making this training evolution an outstanding event.

Just when the soldiers thought the training had reached its completion, the helicopter crews brought out the hoist and “Jungle Penetrator”. This ominous sounding piece of equipment is actually just a small seat lowered by a cable hoist from the open door of the helicopter. This device is used to recover soldiers in need of medical care from terrain that is not suitable for the helicopter to land.

The mountains surrounding FOB Ghazni could easily require the use of this seat. This made familiarizing the Texas ADT Soldiers paramount. Several lucky Soldiers, or unlucky depending on their level of fear of heights, were chosen to ride the lift. One soldier, Security team Squad leader Sgt. Jeffery Palmore of Frisco, Texas, said that he had a blast hanging from a cable under a hovering Blackhawk helicopter. Other soldiers watched with excitement all along knowing they were safe on the ground and would stay that way. Overall, the training was a complete success. Everyone, including the pilots and crews of the Blackhawks, walked or flew away with better training on a skill and job. While this training won’t help the soldiers every day, it will benefit them in their time of need.