An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | May 26, 2022

Idaho Army Guard conducts joint medevac, casualty training

By Crystal Farris, Idaho Army National Guard

BOISE, Idaho – Medics from the Idaho Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment, conducted air medical evacuation and casualty treatment training at the Orchard Combat Training Center May 17.

The training was supported by members of Detachment 1, Company Golf, 1st of the 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, and several of its UH-60 Black Hawks, providing 20 field artillery medics practice in air medevac scenarios during their two-week annual training.

“I learned to stay calm and let the training I received in school take over,” said Spc. Regan Esplin, a 1-148th FAR medic. “I love being a medic, all the training that goes with it and everything about trauma medicine because it’s very immediate and the reward is you know how to save someone’s life. These kinds of experiences are crazy, and not a lot of people get paid to treat casualties in a combat environment.”

The event was Esplin’s first annual training with the battalion and a first opportunity to train with flight crews after graduating from the U.S. Army’s 68W Combat Medic Advanced Individual Training in 2021. She administered an IV and assisted other combat medics in stabilizing a patient.

Combat medics and flight teams loaded “patients” into UH-60 Black Hawks for evacuation to a Role 1 treatment facility. The medics offloaded patients from the aircraft and evaluated, treated and stabilized them by administering tourniquets, IVs and ventilators.

“Training with medic and flight teams enables us to see how ready we are to respond to real-world situations and also make sure our newer medics get exposure to those situations in a tactical training environment first,” said Capt. David McDonald, a 1-148th FAR medical provider. “Depending on the situation, we may need to call in air medevac teams to transport our injured over long distances on the battlefield.”

In a tactical environment, the medical unit provides Role 1 care, which is the treatment a patient receives before surgical intervention, including self-aid, buddy-aid, tactical combat casualty care, tactical evacuation and medical evacuation, McDonald said.

When deployed in a tactical environment with the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, the battalion would coordinate the evacuation of patients to a Role 2 medical station provided by the brigade’s Company Charlie, 145th Brigade Support Battalion. The Role 2 station offers surgeons, nurses, a pharmacy and short-term care.

The training is important to help combat medics become comfortable around aircraft, said 1st Lt. Katherine Smith, executive officer with the medevac detachment. Members of her unit also train with combat medics so they understand each other’s operating procedures.

“Different types of units that work together have to understand how the other operates,” said Smith. “In this case, the 1-148th combat medics need to understand how our pilots come into a landing zone and handoff a patient. What we need to know from them is at what point those medics need our assets to supplement that continuum of medical care.”
 

 

 

Related Articles
The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group, working with the Boise Fire Department, assisted in the rescue of two rafters on the Owyhee River in Malheur County, Oregon, May 15.
Idaho Army National Guard, Boise Fire Department Conduct Water Rescue
By Maj. Robert Taylor, | May 16, 2025
BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group, working with the Boise Fire Department, assisted in rescuing two rafters May 15 on the Owyhee River in Malheur County, Oregon. Two individuals were rafting...

U.S. Army Spc. Edward Snyder from the North Dakota Army National Guard participates in the Combat Traning Scenario event of the 2025 Best Warrior Competition at the Orchard Combat Training Center, Boise, ID on May 07, 2025. The Idaho National Guard hosted the Region VI 2025 Best Warrior Competition May 4-9. The competition highlights the adaptability, resilience and lethal precision of our forces, reaffirming the National Guard citizen-Soldiers' unwavering readiness for every mission. Thirteen competitors from throughout the Army National Guard battled it out in a physically and mentally challenging six-day competition to determine this region’s Army Guard Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Idaho Army National Guard Hosts Region VI Best Warrior Competition
By Staff Sgt. Jadyn Eisenbrandt, | May 12, 2025
GOWEN FIELD, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard hosted the Region VI Best Warrior Competition May 4-9 at Gowen Field, challenging participants with six days of physically and mentally demanding events to determine the region’s...

HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crews trained with the Boise Fire Department's technical rescue team March 27- 28 near Gowen Field. The training helped qualify Boise Firefighters for conducting hoist operations in conjunction with Idaho Army National Guard air crews when called upon by state or local agencies to assist with search and rescue efforts. The two organizations work hand in hand frequently, combining skills and expertise to enhance the effectiveness of both organizations when responding to emergencies.
Idaho National Guard Trains With Fire Department
By Mike Freeman, | April 10, 2025
BOISE, Idaho – HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crews trained with the Boise Fire Department’s technical rescue team last month, helping firefighters qualify to conduct hoist operations with the Idaho Army National Guard aircrews...