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, 3rd 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.
