Media: US Army tests advanced medical response in underground simulations

The US 1st Medical Brigade of the III Armored Corps conducted a large-scale training exercise, Operation Silver Lightning, from March 23 to April 1, simulating advanced medical care in contested combat environments. According to the brigade, the exercise is designed to replicate the challenges of providing medical support under battlefield conditions, Fox News reports.

During the exercise, combat medics, doctors, optometrists, veterinarians, and other medical personnel worked in underground tunnels at Fort Hood, simulating a mass casualty event. “So the medics have understood that you cannot set up a multi-tent field hospital that occupies four or five, up to 15 acres and provides that world-class care, above ground anymore,” said Colonel Kamil Sztalkoper, director of public affairs for the III Armored Corps.

Sztalkoper noted that lessons from drone warfare in Ukraine have influenced the training. “We have to disperse, number one. And then hide in plain sight, is number two. So dispersing is using multiple different kinds of locations. Hiding in plain sight could be in a building, a warehouse, or here,” he said, referring to the tunnels, which were originally built in the 1940s and used in the 1950s to house nuclear weapons.

Approximately 300 soldiers and role players participated, simulating battlefield injuries and evacuation procedures, including transporting wounded personnel from helicopters to military medical vehicles and into the tunnels. “Really the dilemma for them is managing how they deal with all of this with what they have,” said Colonel Brad Franklin, deputy commander of the 1st Medical Brigade. “Knowing you don't have enough people, you don't have enough surgeons, you don't have enough nurses, don't have enough medics and there's more patients than you can handle.”

The exercise also included veterinary teams treating simulated injuries to K-9s. Lieutenant Colonel Cynthia Fallness, commander of the 43rd Medical Detachment, explained, “In this case, it is a traumatic fracture, a compound fracture of the hind limb. And the dog also has a chest wound and also, is having trouble breathing because there's a traumatic injury to the mouth.”

Combat medic William Rothwell, whose grandfather served in World War II, said the training provides invaluable real-world experience. “The stories of how much he cared and was willing to go the mile and above to make sure that he can get his brothers home … really touched me,” Rothwell said.

By Vafa Guliyeva