MARE

Emergency response personnel from Malmstrom Air Force Base care for a simulated patient during a Major Accident Response Exercise Aug. 10. The exercise was implemented to evaluate how Airmen on base could organize and execute a massive casualty response while coordinating with multiple agencies across the state of Montana. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt)

MARE

A Blackhawk helicopter specially fitted to medivac injured patients drops off four simulated casualties of the Major Accident Response Exercise at a virtual triage center in Helena, Mont., Aug 10. During the exercise, two UH-1N Huey helicopters from Malmstrom, two UH-60 Black Hawks and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Army National Guard’s 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion airlifted 42 simulated patients to complete their portion of the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt)

MARE

Airmen transport a simulated natural disaster victim to a UH-1N Huey helicopter on the flightline at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Aug. 10, 2015, as part of a Major Accident Response Exercise. Forty-two victims of a simulated building collapse were air lifted to a virtual triage center in downtown Great Falls and Helena, Mont., approximately 90 miles away. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt)

Team Malmstrom works with Montana National guard, local emergency services during MARE

Published Aug. 11, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Medical personnel, emergency response and flight crew members from Malmstrom Air Force Base banded together Monday Aug. 20 to participate in a Major Accident Response Exercise along with members of the 120th Airlift Wing and flight crew from the Montana Army National Guard.

Implemented to evaluate how Airmen on the base could organize and execute a massive casualty response while coordinating with multiple agencies across the state of Montana, the event proved to be a challenge that would take teamwork to execute effectively.

"The exercise was successful in that the objectives we set out to perform were accomplished," said Capt. Jason Garcia, 341st Medical Support Squadron diagnostics and therapeutics flight commander. "There were many moving parts to include multiple emergency response and ground transition vehicles, and six aircraft."

Forty-two simulated casualties were successfully flown from the scene of the accident to virtual triage centers in Great Falls and Helena, Montana.

At the scene, The 341st Medical group integrated their team with members of the Montana Air National Guard's 120th Medical Group and processed 15 simulated casualties.

"We demonstrated the ability to communicate and coordinate with the Army National Guard's 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion who provided medevac support for 26 casualties, and local Great Falls emergency services," said Garcia.

The local Great Falls emergency services simulated transport of one critical casualty to Benefis Health System.

According to Garcia, all the units and community partners involved performed very well throughout the exercise while garnering valuable observations and lessons to improve upon in the future.

Leading up to the event, preparation was crucial.

If members of Team Malmstrom and coordinating emergency personnel already have experience in dealing with a disaster situation, that can translate to reduced response times, eliminate confusion and ultimately save lives with a better synchronized response.

According to participants, the best part of the MARE response was the professionalism on display at all levels.

"There was a focus by all the players involved," said Garcia. "Everyone was clearly there to learn and improve."