In January, the 11th Medical Company of the 61st Medical Battalion, Tennessee State Guard (State Defense Force – TNSG), strengthened its ongoing partnership with the Tennessee Army National Guard by providing direct medical training and certification support to FMS 12. This engagement reflects the growing and highly professional role the Tennessee State Guard plays in supporting the readiness and health of National Guard soldiers across the state.
FMS 12, or Field Maintenance Shop 12, is a unit within the Tennessee Army National Guard responsible for providing field level maintenance support to Army National Guard equipment and vehicles. These maintenance units ensure that tactical vehicles, generators, communication systems, and other essential equipment remain mission capable. While their primary role centers on mechanical and logistical readiness, soldiers assigned to FMS units must also maintain basic emergency response skills, particularly as they often operate in training environments, disaster response missions, and combat deployment settings where medical emergencies can occur.
During the January training event, the 11th Medical Company provided professional level certification in AHA BLS/AED, ensuring FMS 12 soldiers are prepared to respond effectively during life-threatening emergencies. AHA BLS/AED refers to Basic Life Support training developed by the American Heart Association. This is not a basic community CPR course, it is a healthcare-provider level certification designed for clinical professionals and first responders.
The AHA BLS/AED course trains participants to perform high-quality CPR on adults, children, and infants, as well as operate the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) safely and effectively. The training focused on providing rescue breathing, relieve choking due to airway obstruction, and function as part of a coordinated team during cardiac arrest scenarios. It also teaches recognition of cardiac arrest, stroke, and other life-threatening emergencies. This certification is typically required for nurses, physicians, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, law enforcement officers, dental professionals, and other healthcare providers. By certifying Army National Guard soldiers to this standard, the Tennessee State Guard ensures they are equipped to deliver immediate lifesaving care until advanced medical personnel arrive.
This level of training benefits these soldiers not only in uniform, but also in their civilian communities. Whether responding to a medical emergency at a training site, assisting during a domestic disaster, or deployed overseas in support of federal missions, these soldiers now possess the skills necessary to intervene in the critical first minutes of a medical crisis. Immediate CPR and AED use can dramatically increase survival rates during cardiac arrest, and this training directly enhances force protection and survivability.
The 11th Medical Company operates under the 61st Medical Battalion, a highly specialized and elite medical formation within the Tennessee State Guard. The 61st Medical Battalion has built a reputation for delivering professional medical support across the Tennessee Military Department. Over the past several years, the battalion has provided direct support to both Army and Air National Guard units in Tennessee, assisting with medical readiness evaluations, conducting triage and combat casualty care training, and participating in major joint exercises alongside US Army Active Duty and National Guard units.
The battalion has trained alongside elements of the U.S. Army, including participation in joint medical exercises with elite Army hospital units, where Tennessee State Guard medical personnel worked in integrated environments that simulated real-world battlefield and disaster response conditions. They have also provided lifesaving combat care training to soldiers of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, further reinforcing their ability to serve as a force multiplier within the state.
The strength of the 61st Medical Battalion lies in its personnel. Its ranks include board-certified physicians, surgeons, dentists, registered nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and other licensed healthcare professionals who volunteer their expertise in service to the state. In recent years, the Tennessee National Guard has faced shortages of medical professionals, a challenge seen across many states. The Tennessee State Guard stepped forward to help close that gap, offering its highly credentialed medical corps to support health assessments, readiness screenings, and training missions.
As a result, the 61st Medical Battalion has performed missions that few State Defense Forces have had the opportunity to engage in. From working hand in hand with National Guard medical units to participating in large scale joint exercises with U.S. Army hospital formations, the battalion has demonstrated that a well-organized and professionally staffed State Guard medical unit can deliver meaningful, operational-level support.
The January training event with FMS 12 is another example of this expanding partnership. By certifying Tennessee Army National Guard soldiers in AHA BLS/AED, the 11th Medical Company not only enhanced individual readiness but also reinforced the broader medical resilience of the Tennessee Military Department. In an era where medical readiness, force protection, and rapid emergency response are more critical than ever, the Tennessee State Guard continues to prove itself a dependable and professional component of Tennessee’s total military force.
11th Medco providing direct support to the TNARNG FMS 12 with certification in AHA BLS/AED.
Source: Tennessee State Guard – American Red Cross – American Red Cross
