Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, first responders from the Federal Fire Department and U.S. Soldiers with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment based out of Wheeler Army Airfield conducted casualty loading and offloading training at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 2, 2015. The training familiarized the attendees with the gear and procedures the U.S. Army uses in medical evacuation situations. “Training like this makes MCAS K-Bay (Marines) much more efficient in their jobs and also more comfortable dealing with stressful situations such as a casualty evacuation,” said Marine Sgt. Alex Blackwell, ARFF assistant station captain and a Fort Knox Ky., native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vito/Released)
Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay
Story by Cpl. Brittney Vito
In teams of four; comprised of two Marines and two first responders, the objective was to load a simulated casualty aboard a Black Hawk HH-60M Medevac Helicopter, unload the casualty and bring it to the safe zone.
“This type of training is important because it promotes familiarity with each other’s equipment which results in better care for the patient,” said Army Sgt. First Class Patrick Simmon, a flight medic with Charlie Co., 3rd Bn., 25th Avn. Regt. “I am more than confident that when we are put in (a real-life) situation we would be able to get the patient (loaded) efficiently and in a timely manner.”
The Soldiers taught Marines and first responders on the proper procedures for loading a casualty into a Black Hawk Medevac Helicopter. The training gave them a chance to become familiar with the aircraft as well as the hand and arm signals used to communicate.
“It is extremely important we develop a good relationship with the first responders and the Army crew because when something happens and our expertise is required, it is imperative that everyone is on the same page so everything will go smoothly,” said Marine Sgt. Alex Blackwell, MCAS K-Bay ARFF assistant station captain. “The training was extremely beneficial, (considering) our number one priority is to save lives.”
Simmons added the more they train together, the better they will work together in a real-life situation.
“Every time we get to do joint training like this, it will make the process go more smoothly, said Simmon, a Macon, Ga., native. “On the second, third and fourth iteration of the training, the teams got faster and faster. The more we get to do this, the more we can knock out the rust and sharpen our skills.”
The Marines, Soldiers and first responders are scheduled to conduct mass casualty training in the coming weeks.
“Training like this makes MCAS (Marines) more efficient in their jobs and also more comfortable dealing with stressful situations such as a casualty evacuation,” said Blackwell, a Fort Knox, Ky., native. “It's this type of training that is going to make the Marines confident in what they do and will be what saves someone's life when the time comes to utilize this training.”
Joint training supports the mission of MCB Hawaii by sustaining combat readiness and ensures our Marines are properly trained and prepared for the unexpected.
Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, are instructed by Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Simmons, a flight medic with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment based out of Wheeler Army Airfield, while conducting casualty loading and offloading training at MCAS K-Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 2, 2015. Simmons, who has been a flight medic for 19 years, taught ARFF Marines and first responders from the Federal Fire Department the proper procedures to use during a casualty evacuation. “Training like this makes MCAS K-Bay (Marines) much more efficient in their jobs and also more comfortable dealing with stressful situations such as a casualty evacuations,” said Marine Sgt. Alex Blackwell, ARFF assistant station captain and a Fort Knox, Ky., native (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vito/Released
Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay and first responders from the Federal Fire Department maneuver a simulated casualty into a Black Hawk HH-60M Medevac Helicopter while conducting casualty loading and offloading training at MCAS K-Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii,
U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Buffington, a pilot with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment from Wheeler Army Airfield and New Holland, Pa., native, sits in the cockpit of a Black Hawk HH-60M Medevac Helicopter during casualty loading and offloading training aboard Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 2, 2015. The training familiarized the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines and the first responders from the Federal Fire Department with the gear and procedures the U.S. Army uses in medical evacuation situations. “Training like this makes MCAS K-Bay (Marines) much more efficient in their jobs and also more comfortable dealing with stressful situations such as a casualty evacuations,” said Marine Sgt. Alex Blackwell, ARFF assistant station captain and a Fort Knox, Ky., native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vito/Released)
U.S. Army Spc. Austin Crump, a crew chief with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment from Wheeler Army Airfield and Tulsa, Okla., native, teaches Marines how to properly maneuver the co-pilot's seat in the event the co-pilot was injured and needed to be rescued from the Black Hawk HH-60M Medevac Helicopter during casualty loading and offloading training conducted at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 2, 2015. The training familiarized the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines and the first responders from the Federal Fire Department with the gear and procedures the Army uses in medical evacuation situations. “Training like this makes MCAS K-Bay (Marines) much more efficient in their jobs and also more comfortable dealing with stressful situations such as a casualty evacuation,” said Marine Sgt. Alex Blackwell, ARFF assistant station captain, a Fort Knox Ky., native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vito/Released)
Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay and first responders from the Federal Fire Department maneuver a simulated casualty while conducting casualty loading and offloading training at MCAS K-Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 2, 2015. The two-day training exercise familiarized ARFF Marines and first responders with the gear and procedures the Army uses in medical evacuation situations. “Training like this makes MCAS K-Bay (Marines) much more efficient in their jobs and also more comfortable dealing with stressful situations such as a casualty evacuations,” said Marine Sgt. Alex Blackwell, ARFF assistant station captain and a Fort Knox Ky., native (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brittney Vito/Released)
