163 ARW Medical Group Deploy and Train
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --
Medical personnel from the 163d Air Refueling Wing recently deployed to Gwang Ju Air Base, Korea, and participated in Exercise Ulchi Focus Lens, an annual joint active-duty Army and Air Force and Republic of Korea Forces exercise. Within the first week of their two week annual training, Wing guardsmen erected a pre-positioned Chemical Protection (CP) EMEDS (Expeditionary Medical Support) -- a 25 bed capacity field hospital consisting of eight Alaskan shelter systems complete with power, chemical protection, an operating, emergency, and x-ray room along with a ward and administrative offices was .
Assembling a field hospital was not a new concept for the medical group. Last July, most deployed to Dugway, Utah, in support of the Global Patriot Exercise where a field hospital was constructed and operated. Also, in 2005 some deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina to Belle Chase Naval Air Station, La., where a similar structure was in place and put to real world use. The speedy set up afforded more time for training. As a result, Chief Master Sgt. Carol Barone, medical services manager, organized an impromptu joint mass casualty exercise with the 2-1 ADA Battalion Army. "The added scenario provided great training for our medics as well as the Army soldiers," said Barone.
The annual exercise, beginning in 1975, is designed to train, evaluate and improve combined and joint procedures, plans and systems for conducting operations critical to the defense of the peninsula.
Assembling a field hospital was not a new concept for the medical group. Last July, most deployed to Dugway, Utah, in support of the Global Patriot Exercise where a field hospital was constructed and operated. Also, in 2005 some deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina to Belle Chase Naval Air Station, La., where a similar structure was in place and put to real world use. The speedy set up afforded more time for training. As a result, Chief Master Sgt. Carol Barone, medical services manager, organized an impromptu joint mass casualty exercise with the 2-1 ADA Battalion Army. "The added scenario provided great training for our medics as well as the Army soldiers," said Barone.
The annual exercise, beginning in 1975, is designed to train, evaluate and improve combined and joint procedures, plans and systems for conducting operations critical to the defense of the peninsula.
