JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany – U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 134th Medical Company Ground Ambulance, 109th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, are participating in Exercise Combined Resolve 24-2 near Hohenfels, Germany.
Combined Resolve 24-2 is a U.S. Army multi-domain large-scale combat operation exercise in Europe. This exercise consists of synchronized command and control, fire support, logistics and maneuver planning and execution using simulations and live fire drills while using NATO operational processes and doctrine.
During the exercise, the 134th Medical Company Ground Ambulance unit provided medical support to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment.
Throughout the year, the Soldiers hone their skills at monthly drills and put those skills to the test at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. Exercises like Combined Resolve enable the Soldiers to improve their clinical skills by operating a battalion aid station, which is a primary capability of the unit.
“Participating in this training exercise gives us an opportunity to execute the functions we train on, such as medical evacuations and supporting real-world aid stations,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ben Barnes. “[It] gives us invaluable hands-on experience performing our jobs at a high level.”
The 134th Medical Company is one of seven medical ground ambulance companies in the National Guard. Every Soldier who traveled to Germany for Combined Resolve 24-2 is already a nurse, in college for nursing or thriving in another discipline.
“This is a very highly skilled and intelligent group of Soldiers we deployed to this training exercise,” said Barnes.
The 134th Medical Company commander used a merit system to select the Soldiers participating in Combined Resolve 24-2. Criteria included completing professional development online training, physical fitness test scores and overall performance. This exercise was an opportunity to leave Iowa and experience a unique annual training period.