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105th Airlift Wing Medics Conduct Combat Training

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Patrick Espeut
  • 105th Medical Group

NEWBURGH, N.Y. - New York National Guard medics with the 105th Airlift Wing have begun combat readiness training at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York.

In alignment with the U.S. Air Force Medical Service's new combat medic initiative, MEDIC-X, the 105th Medical Group is training to treat wounded and injured personnel in austere environments.

MEDIC-X is an initiative meant to equip all Air Force medical personnel with the skills needed to give life-sustaining care with limited resources in dynamic combat scenarios. This includes Airmen not typically involved in patient care, such as administrators or lab technicians.

Capt. Zachary German, the Medical Plans and Operations Officer for the 105th Medical Group’s Detachment 1, directly oversees these trainings and manages resources for their execution.

“During these trainings, medics are taught how to fight back during combat scenarios and limit battlefield casualties,” German explained. “They are tested in both their combat tactics and medical skills while they provide care under fire, tactical field care and tactical evacuation care.”

Due to a shift towards peer-to-peer combat in modern battlefields, there has been an increase in the need for prolonged field care, according to Master Sgt. Zahara Castillo, the Unit Training Manager for the 105th Medical Group’s Detachment 1.

“War has changed, so now we have to change how we train,” she said. "The goal is to get the number of preventable deaths in the battlefield down to zero.”

Castillo has taken a lead role in implementing these new training procedures within the wing, as well as the new training standards in Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Under these new standards, 105th medics and base defenders alike are being trained to provide TCCC in live battlefields.

The 105th Airlift Wing will continue to implement the MEDIC-X training standards to ensure proper medical care can be given in modern combat environments.