Fort Drum medevac training started Monday

FORT DRUM — Army officials were happy with the early results of training for soldiers and helicopter pilots on medical evacuations.

The training launched Monday with a demonstration put on for members of the media in a field behind Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

For the training, soldiers called in the injuries of a dummy, a series of sandbags playfully named Spc. John Dough, through a nine-line medevac request, which codifies injury and location information, in order to receive assistance.

About 15 minutes after the initial request was made, a Black Hawk helicopter specially marked with medical crosses arrived on the scene from the airfield. Loaded into the helicopter, Spc. Dough was taken to the airfield.

The demonstration was the first of what should be several training exercises on medical evacuations, after the September return of C Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade from Afghanistan.

Capt. Scott D. Elwell, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, said the training was a regular part of being in a combat area.

“This isn’t just something that applies here at Fort Drum; it applies during deployments as well,” Capt. Elwell said. He said the ability to call in medical support is one of the most important capabilities for soldiers to have.

Maj. Michael McFadden, commander of C Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, said that his unit’s piloting skills are “perishable,” and that extra training kept the soldiers ready for their next deployment.

The planned use of the medevac helicopters was clarified several times during the day, with officials saying the Army helicopters will be used only for training and for transporting soldiers injured during on-post training exercises, and not for assisting in civilian medical emergencies. The medevac helicopter can take patients only to Upstate Medical University, Syracuse. Discussions are in place to find an alternative landing spot for the helicopters at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown.

Brig. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, deputy commanding general for support, 10th Mountain Division, said he wanted to avoid confusion when the helicopters were seen by residents around the area.

“When you see helicopters flying, then you can understand that’s what we’re doing,” Gen. Dahl said.

He said the training would continue until the medevac unit had to deploy, which is projected within the next 18 months.