In an impactful convergence of military precision and medical proficiency, Texas State Guard (State Defense Force) service members from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, undertook a significant training and certification in Air Force aeromedical evacuation tactics at the Texas National Guard Armory in Waxahachie, Texas, on March 16, 3024. Under the vigilant oversight of Captain Margarita Elestewani, Officer-in-Charge of the certification, the personnel engaged in comprehensive drills on the utilization of medical litters for lift and carry maneuvers, alongside critical protocols for the triage and transport of wounded civilians. The curriculum emphasized mastering the En Route Patient Staging System (ERPSS), delineating both the Aeromedical Point of Embarkation (APOE) and Aeromedical Point of Disembarkation (APOD), pivotal in orchestrating a cohesive response to disasters. This rigorous training day, steered by the adept guidance of Captain Elestewani and Sergeant Ellen Drtnyden, not only honed the 1st Bn’s operational acumen but also fortified its foundational role within the Texas Military Department’s (TMD) disaster response strategy.
Lieutenant Colonel James McCune, Commander of the 1st Bn, expressed his admiration for the battalion’s unique composition of soldiers, leaders, and medical professionals, including a broad spectrum of licensed and certified healthcare practitioners. This multidisciplinary team participated in a series of training and testing to achieve their readiness skills certification, enabling them to operate alongside Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard units in disaster scenarios. Reflecting on the lessons learned from past operations, such as the significant military response during Hurricane Katrina in 2015, the training underscored the importance of seamless, safe patient transfer processes during evacuation. With a focus on collaborative efforts with the USAF, TXANG, and TXARNG, the TXSG’s integration into the ERPSS/APOE-APOD framework exemplifies a strategic alignment towards enhancing the state’s capacity to safeguard civilians amidst crises, thereby elevating the standard for military-led medical assistance in Texas.
Texas State Guard service members from the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, received training and certification in Air Force aeromedical evacuation tactics, including procedures for lift and carry using medical litters, as well as instruction on how to receive wounded civilians and triage patients to and from various locations held at the Texas National Guard Armory in Waxahachie, Texas, on March 16, 3024.Cpt. Margarita Elestewani, Officer-in-Charge of the certification, explained the relevance of the military ERPSS (En Route Patient Staging System), also called Aeromedical Point of Embarkation (APOE) and Aeromedical Point of Disembarkation (APOD) in Texas. The training prepares and maintains an important capability contributed by the Texas Military Department (TMD) to support disaster response in Texas. Cpt. Margarita Elestwani and Sgt. Ellen Dryden led the day-long medical training program for the 1st Bn, which is the medical unit of the 1st Bde. The training focused on the APOE Medical Staging Team responsibilities and the APOD Medical Reception Team duties.Ltc. James McCune, Commander, 1st Bn, said, “I am truly amazed and blessed by the complement of soldiers, leaders, and medical professionals within my battalion, which includes medical doctors, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, registered professional nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and emergency medical technicians.” “Everyone is certified and licensed in the state of Texas.”Twenty soldiers participated in the training and testing to earn their readiness skills certification. This allows them to participate alongside Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard components in the reception and removal of injured civilians in the aftermath of a man-made or natural disaster.In 2015, the large national military response to rescue and evacuate civilians from New Orleans was shown to be of the utmost value during Hurricane Katrina, saving many lives. The ERPSS/AAPOE-APOD paired MRPs are a joint capability of the TXSG alongside other TMD branches. Training focused on the process being seamless and safe for the patients cared for in transit, away from an active hurricane threat to areas of safety inland. The MRPs involve joint work with the USAF, TXANG, and TXARNG, demonstrating essential teamwork as TXSG service members serve alongside other military and civilian medical teams on the ground when dealing with disasters, including the potential for pre-landfall and post-landfall patient evacuation.After the classroom session, teams were formed carrying medical litters, actively engaged in various support roles, and caring as EMS or nursing professionals for the enroute patient, based on the patient scenario. Several 1st Bde physicians are also trained in APOE-APOD.The 1st Bde, which may support coastal or inland MRP locations, is the next TXSG Brigade to be trained in standardized APOE-APOD roles in Aeromedical Operations Training Year Two (AOT-02) in preparation for joint work in patient evacuation. The TXSG AOT-02 Instructor Class had just completed joint training in San Antonio at Camp Bullis and JBSA Lackland with the USAF and the TXANG in February 2024. TXSG 6th Bde facilitated and welcomed the AOT-02 instructors, including three servicemembers from 1st Bde.(Photos by Pfc. Art Galias) #Duty #Honor #Texas #texansserving #TexansServingTexas #TXSG #txsgmedical
Source: Texas State Guard
