Ellsworth conducts mass casualty exercise; partners with Local Army National Guard

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dylan Maher
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The 28th Medical Group and 28th Mission Support Group recently tested their abilities in a simulated combat zone, applying Tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), medical evacuations, and joint-integration during exercise Ready Buffalo, Aug 2, 2024.

Ready Buffalo, developed by the 28th MDG, provides medical personnel the opportunity to practice their tactical training skills and work in a joint environment. This exercise also prepares medics for the 2024 Air Force Special Operations Command Medic Rodeo Challenge, held at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

“We want to ensure our medic rodeo team is competent in all TCCC guidelines, trauma skills, communication, coordination, delegation, and medical evacuation procedures,” said Senior Airman Joshua Reiner, 28th Healthcare Operations Squadron ambulance services technician. “Identifying the deficiencies and learning from them here will help us when it comes time for the rodeo challenge.”

The Medic rodeo team was comprised of four members: 1st Lt. Aaron Esparza, TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration flight commander, Staff Sgt. Elijah Fox, ambulatory services technician, Senior Airman Brianna Middel, independent duty medical technician and Airman 1st Class Samuel Ofei, medical logistics technician. Reiner and Senior Airman Jacob Maltos were tasked with overseeing and evaluating the medic rodeo team’s ability to execute their TCCC readiness skills.

Over a dozen Airmen across the 28th Bomb Wing volunteered as the simulated trauma patients, where they donned professional make-up and simulated injuries. While roleplaying the behaviors and actions of a wounded victim, the Rodeo team and other participants were tested on their ability to respond and treat patients under pressure.

“I feel we executed the mission well and prepared our team to be top competitors in the upcoming rodeo challenge,” said Reiner. “Additionally, this exercise built strong relationships with our mission partners and joint forces.”

Ready Buffalo added another layer of complexity with the addition of 28th MSG’s Security Forces, Fire Protection, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and the Rapid City Army National Guard providing their respective services.

The 28th SFS made their appearance in Ready Buffalo by responding to the training location for a simulated active shooter call, sweeping the location for enemy activity, and working alongside Ellsworth’s first responders to ensure the safe evacuation and treatment for simulated trauma patients.

EOD then secured the training location from any potential explosive activity so SFS members could contact the Rapid City Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment, and send an HH-60M Black Hawk to carryout medical evacuations.

“It’s simple enough to bandage a person who’s not moving or apply a tourniquet to a dummy,” said Master Sgt. Mark Allen, 28th Security Forces Squadron section chief of training. “Practicing those skills with actual patients that are constantly moving and providing you on the spot feedback truly allows our Airmen to build the proficiency and adaptability required to carry out those TCCC skills in deployed environments.”

Exercises involving medical procedures and security measures such as Ready Buffalo requires extensive planning, coordination and depends on members performing various duties during stressful situations.

“Our team feels a great sense of accomplishment after working alongside medical, fire protection and EOD, and even coordinating the HH-60s to land at Ellsworth to support this exercise,” said Allen.