Camp Bullis
A few weeks ago I went to a week long training for deployment. Although the first half of the week was a bit on the side of boring (some of those briefs really lacked any interesting information) the second half was quite fun. We basically learned how to run our own CASF unit. This involves loading and unloading patients on liters from aircraft of multiple shapes and sizes, helicopters, ambulances, ambus, and deuce and half. We also run the security (including carrying weapons), the patient holding unit, logistics and general other items involved in a deployment environment. We had a good group, I went with a few people from Wright Patterson and overall had a nice break from the world of floor nursing to the broader world of the military.
I realized on this trip how crappy Army accomodations could be (mine were great!), how annoying and disorganized a TDY could start and end well, how warm it is in Texas in March, how lovely San Antonio is and how to wake up to M16's firing and how to fall asleep to mortars "exploding". We stayed in deployment conditions (which are nice for nice, this IS the Air Force after all) and I had hot meals and a shower every day.
We had a full 1 1/2 days of running a simulated CASF. When I received my chance to work security I found out I was senior officer of the security team and if we had to "bug out" (ie run for the bunkers) I would be in charge of leading MY bunker. I carried an M16 (heavy and very real looking but no moving parts) and an M9 on my hip but never both weapons at the same time. There was a particular MSgt who kept taking the M16 and stating "you officers carry an M9 anyways so give me the real gun" or "I am going out to check out this security risk and need a weapon with some range so give me your weapon." This was a SIMULATED event. We did not actually shoot. It was interesting on security because when we had trouble, you stood in front of that tent door to protect everyone inside, you were the last line of defense. I was not uncomfortable in that role, just a switch from the nursing world where you are a completly different "last line of defense". We also did anti hijacking which was checking patients and belonging for illegal or harmful items. You learn what to do if you find a grenade, a host of grenades, weapons or any such similar item. The cadre strongly reinforced the importance of antihijacking for safety. We heard stories of soldiers flying all the way to Germany with grenades in their hands with the pin pulled, rolling patients over on their liter and finding weapons, or strings of grenades with the pins pulled and some very fragile but ingenius device keeping them from detonating.
Another teaching item intrigued me as well. If we were ever mortared or under attack, you lower your patients to the floor and cover their body with yours. I know this would be an instinctual reaction for me but the idea that it was taught to me threw me off. It really gave me something to think about but not because I am unwilling or unable but because it is considered part of my JOB.
I learned how to use Nogs (i.e. NVG's or night vision goggles), including the infrared option, as well. We do come into situations where we have to load/unload patients at night under blackout conditions and thus need to wear NVG's to see what we are doing/where we are going. We all wore the cheaper end of the NVG price point at about $1-2,000 per pair I believe. It really throws off your depth perception when you wear them. It is a little like walking around with a camcorder over your eyes with the lens on zoom. It was fun, funny, and difficult to imagine the Spec ops guys running around with these on with my depth perception the way it was. Needless to say, the Spec Ops guys get WAY better stuff than I do.
So I won't tell when I am deploying because I don't know IF or WHEN. But you can't say the military isn't properly preparing me to do it!
CASF (contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility)
I realized on this trip how crappy Army accomodations could be (mine were great!), how annoying and disorganized a TDY could start and end well, how warm it is in Texas in March, how lovely San Antonio is and how to wake up to M16's firing and how to fall asleep to mortars "exploding". We stayed in deployment conditions (which are nice for nice, this IS the Air Force after all) and I had hot meals and a shower every day.
We had a full 1 1/2 days of running a simulated CASF. When I received my chance to work security I found out I was senior officer of the security team and if we had to "bug out" (ie run for the bunkers) I would be in charge of leading MY bunker. I carried an M16 (heavy and very real looking but no moving parts) and an M9 on my hip but never both weapons at the same time. There was a particular MSgt who kept taking the M16 and stating "you officers carry an M9 anyways so give me the real gun" or "I am going out to check out this security risk and need a weapon with some range so give me your weapon." This was a SIMULATED event. We did not actually shoot. It was interesting on security because when we had trouble, you stood in front of that tent door to protect everyone inside, you were the last line of defense. I was not uncomfortable in that role, just a switch from the nursing world where you are a completly different "last line of defense". We also did anti hijacking which was checking patients and belonging for illegal or harmful items. You learn what to do if you find a grenade, a host of grenades, weapons or any such similar item. The cadre strongly reinforced the importance of antihijacking for safety. We heard stories of soldiers flying all the way to Germany with grenades in their hands with the pin pulled, rolling patients over on their liter and finding weapons, or strings of grenades with the pins pulled and some very fragile but ingenius device keeping them from detonating.
Another teaching item intrigued me as well. If we were ever mortared or under attack, you lower your patients to the floor and cover their body with yours. I know this would be an instinctual reaction for me but the idea that it was taught to me threw me off. It really gave me something to think about but not because I am unwilling or unable but because it is considered part of my JOB.
I learned how to use Nogs (i.e. NVG's or night vision goggles), including the infrared option, as well. We do come into situations where we have to load/unload patients at night under blackout conditions and thus need to wear NVG's to see what we are doing/where we are going. We all wore the cheaper end of the NVG price point at about $1-2,000 per pair I believe. It really throws off your depth perception when you wear them. It is a little like walking around with a camcorder over your eyes with the lens on zoom. It was fun, funny, and difficult to imagine the Spec ops guys running around with these on with my depth perception the way it was. Needless to say, the Spec Ops guys get WAY better stuff than I do.
So I won't tell when I am deploying because I don't know IF or WHEN. But you can't say the military isn't properly preparing me to do it!
CASF (contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility)
posted by Noellebellz at 6:58 PM
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