Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany -- Each year the 185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group personnel conduct required training to stay proficient in their duties and remain qualified for deployment.
Members of the Med Group accomplished that this week at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany.
Capt. Amber Franco, the unit’s Medical Administrative Officer, explained that the group must complete 40-hour shift requirements in a hospital setting along with required Tactical Combat Casualty Care hours with the European Medical Simulation Center and U.S. Army members at LRMC.
Tech Sgt. Dylan Hinds, a 185th Med Group TCCC instructor, highlighted the importance of having access to the medical center’s resources for this training.
“I am always looking to expand my knowledge, and being able to come here and work with the Army really helps,” said Hinds. “Being able to watch their training, sit in on it, and have some of them come and help us instruct has been a great benefit to us.”
He explained that in-depth TCCC training involves both classroom learning and field-based practical exercises. It consists of everything from hemorrhage control to blood transfusions, and they can do all this on-site in Germany.
The Airmen also received Critical Care Air Transport Team training which teaches of the transportation of critically ill patients.
According to LRMC’s official website, the medical center opened April 7, 1953, and is the largest U.S. hospital outside of the U.S.
The center is the only forward-stationed evacuation center for injured U.S. service members, civilians and contractors across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It provides critical medical support to seven combatant commands.
European Medical Simulation Center Chief, Lt. Col. Kirk Giles explained LRMC’s role and said, “We are the hub of military medicine in Europe. We have everything from physical therapy to family medicine, neurosurgeons, trauma surgeons and everything in between.”
Giles also explained that the reason the medical systems of the military branches work so well is because they cross-train and work together to save lives.
Franco said this training will ensure every provider within the 185th Med Group is capable of delivering immediate, life-saving care in challenging operational environments. She also noted that this training boosts morale amongst the Airmen as they gain new experiences in a medical treatment facility different from their own.
“Training at a military treatment facility like LRMC allows the 185th Med Group to put its preparation into action,” said Franco. “These experiences not only sharpen clinical skills, but also build unit cohesion as we work with a shared mission in mind: to always be ready.”