Page 22 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

20 The Gazette QARANC Association
Army Medical Services Tactical Training Exercise 2019
Over the course of a May weekend, I arrived at Wathgill training area, North Yorkshire, as part of a twelve man team from 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital, to take part in the annual Army Medical Services Tactical Training Exercise (AMSTTE) – a series of gruelling and physically challenging events, conducted by 2nd Medical Brigade.
As one of three QA’s on the 204 (NI) Field Hospital team, we competed against 17 other contingents, comprising 12 Army Reserve and two Regular Army units, as well as teams from the Canadian, German and Norwegian Army medical services. For me, this was a great opportunity to improve my military and clinical skills in a testing environment.
Build-up training and preparation for the event began five months in advance, and comprised of a mixture of practical and theory-based training serials. These included regular strength and conditioning exercises run by unit physical training instructors. One particularly memorable weekend organised to build team cohesion and interoperability involved summiting Mount Snowden in Wales, via an adrenaline-fuelled, gut-wrenching scary scramble up the hardest of the recognised main routes – the 923 metre Crib Goch serrated knife edge ridge.
At 0530 hours on day one of AMSTTE, the 204 team divided into Charlie and Delta fire teams who rotated their way through the eleven stands carrying full kit weighing more than 20kg, including Bergans; wet
Corporal Finnegan, Emergency Department Nurse 204 (NI) Field Hospital at the camouflaged Plans & Orders stand
and warm gear; respirators; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection kit; a Bowman and personal radios; medical kits; a stretcher; rations; two litres of water; rifle and spare ammo. The team was tested on a wide variety of medical and military subjects, from a basic kit check, through tactical and prolonged field care, medical scene management of mass casualties, ground medevac, siting a medical treatment facility, urban ops, firefights, CBRN, plans and orders, patrolling and medical aviation and communication. Stands were located approximately half to one mile apart on the training area, and teams were given six figure grid co-ordinates as to each stand’s location, with a time restriction of 45 minutes at each stand. Despite the torrential rain and cold, the 204 team were up to the challenge, and by the end of day one, all team members were exhausted, sore, but unbroken and in good spirits.
After a night spent in the field, day two saw 204 (NI) Field Hospital in eighth place, but the team was determined to give it their all and win the remaining two exercises – a timed tab and assault course, followed by a stretcher race. The 2.5 km speed march was completed by the team over rough
AMSTTE team preparing for the assault (Corporal Ganacias [QARANC] on right)
terrain in under 14 minutes, in full combat order, followed immediately by a stretcher race, which involved a 75 kg weight being carried over obstacles and rough terrain. The stretcher was then swapped for an 80 kg log, which was carried around the same circuit, culminating in a final 300m uphill sprint. Both exercises were completed in an incredible and exhausting 32 minutes. The final standings saw 204 (NI) Field Hospital finishing sixth in the competition, just missing out on the top five, who were contending in the finalbattle.
At the final count, the Norwegian Army medical services team triumphed as overall AMSTTE competition winners, with 204 (NI) Field Hospital placed as the third best Army Reserve team. I watched as the teamwork, cohesion, loyalty, integrity and courage displayed by the 204 team made this possible. An incredible achievement from all of the team as well as the NHS and Reserve nurses, who dedicated their time to the training and exercise, and in turn, have developed incredible leadership, management and clinical skills working in austere and challenging environments.
Corporal Christopher Finnegan 204 (NI) Field Hospital
Climbing the Crib Goch ridge during AMSTTE training