JOHNSTON, Iowa - Surrounded by makeup palettes and face putty, an Iowa Army National Guard Soldier is using the moulage technique to create realistic mock injuries for training during a medical rotation at the Camp Dodge Sustainment Training Center (STC).
"It adds realism to our training atmosphere," said Sgt. Krystal Thibault, a medical trainer at STC who specializes in moulage application. "It allows medics to think through real injuries and prioritize their treatments."
Rather than looking at a piece of paper and following an algorithm step by step, Thibault said Soldiers receive higher quality training when they treat a patient dynamically.
It also teaches them to stay focused when they're faced with gruesome injuries and to remember to treat secondary injuries before they become serious ones.
"Even though an evisceration might be eye-catching, it might not be the thing that's actually going to kill our patient," said Thibault.
Thibault didn't have any formal training when she was asked to fill this role at STC, but being a mom gave her some experience. She makes sure to have fun with makeup and create unique costumes.
"I always say I'm not a very creative person, so this is one of the few times I'm able to use some creativity," said Thibault.
The moulage process can be used to simulate many types of wounds, and Thibault is always thinking of new scenarios to add. She once found a Soldier who could tolerate black licorice and stuck a small piece on a tooth to simulate an abscess.
But looking the part of a casualty is only half the battle.
"I'm making sure they understand how they need to act for a scenario, otherwise it doesn't add as much realism," said Thibault.
With well-executed mock injuries and a full profile on how to conduct themselves during a casualty role play, Soldiers completing a medical rotation at STC will receive highly realistic training that will prepare them for real emergencies.