Airborne medics enhanced their skills for potential joint operations as they trained alongside US counterparts on Exercise Mobile Serpent.
The week-long test saw soldiers from 16 Medical Regiment establish treatment facilities on the ground at the Stanford training area in Norfolk, with personnel from 352nd Special Operations Wing offering supply drops from the air. Among the items parachuted in were refrigerated blood and a quad bike and trailer loaded with kit.
The training culminated with simulated casualties being evacuated by both MC-130 and C-146 transport planes, while British clinicians continued treatment onboard.
Combat medical technician SSgt Shaun Newbury said: “The defining character of 16 Med Regt is our specialism in delivering medical care by air, be that how we arrive on the battlefield and are supplied, or how we move casualties.
“Working with 352nd SOW has given each of us an insight into the other’s capabilities and an understanding of how we would be able to operate together.”
