The 446th Aerospace Medicine Squadron out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord was trained during their annual tour at Naval Medical Center San Diego's Medical Surgical Simulation Center.
Among the most impressive of the trainings offered was a combat trauma course that simulated hyper-realistic conditions to fully engage participants in a war zone environment.
"It's almost like a movie set with burnt out cars, helicopters stuck in the side of buildings, loud noises simulating bombs - it's total immersion," said Col. Paul Abson, 446th AMDS commander. "Instructors run around like they're the enemies, and they are all combat veterans."
NMCSD provides vital training during a two-day pre-deployment trauma course. The course covers common injuries that occur from combat trauma, such as improvised explosive device blast injuries, airway closures or blockages, large abdominal injuries and also medical evacuation training, according to the U.S. Navy.
Of the 19 airmen that were sent down for the training, only three had the extraordinary opportunity to experience the combat trauma course.
"It was great because it was a tour that offered training for all of our AFSCs (Air Force Specialty Codes)," said Lt. Col. Bob Mayor, 446th AMDS senior administrator. "Other tours maybe could just take our dental or administrative folks, but this one was able to use all of the sections and capabilities of the medical center to accommodate us."
The realistic training environment had a significant impact on participants.
"It was real as it gets using live patients who were real veterans with real amputations, and they gave them the ability to act out true feelings with nothing held back," said Senior Airman Gratian Sutton, 446th AMDS aerospace medical technician. "It was extremely compelling, and they were using Hollywood effects. It wasn't a half-job training, it was the full effect."
The combat realism training was a somewhat unusual venue for an AMDS squadron that usually has its hands full with real patients during Unit Training Assemblies.
"It's extremely rare for our guys to get this kind of experience and training," said Mayor. "Because we have an important mission during the UTA, it's harder for us to create opportunities like this."
The combat trauma training venue covered a variety concepts critical for learning how to perform as a combat medic.
"It covered combat casualty care, needle decompressions, tourniquet use, wound management, status concerns, litter carry, rear and front security, and we all cycled through different roles," explained Sutton.
The annual tour also offered unique training opportunities in other venues.
"The optometry department there had state-of-the-art digital refracting equipment," said Abson, "That means that we get to train on equipment that is the top of the line. So a unique capability of that facility is that it offers very high level and advanced equipment. It allows us to be at forefront of the field."
For many on the tour, the training imparted knowledge and capabilities that will not soon be lost.
"It gave me confidence to keep calm in a real-life scenario," said Sutton. "If something were to happen right now I don't think I'd have a problem, and I don't think I'll lose that experience. This is not one of those where you do it and then forget it, this is one of those where you do it, you experience it and you'll never forget it."