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EMF-K Det Kilo Complete Pre-deployment Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100809-22
8/9/2010

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Bill Gowdy, Expeditionary Medical Facility - Kuwait Public Affairs

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- Expeditionary Medical Facility - Kuwait (EMF-K) Detachment Kilo medical personnel, hospital corpsmen and support personnel completed pre-deployment training at Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute (NEMTI) at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Aug. 4.

This training represents one of the steps the nearly 200 Det Kilo members must complete before arriving in Kuwait to relieve Det Juliet.

"The training this time was much more organized and focused than in the past," said Capt. Kevin Kennedy, Det Kilo's student officer in charge, who previously attended the training four years ago. "The training is extremely valuable and will prepare our team for the environment and tasks we may face once we deploy."

NEMTI's training focused on the medical aspects of deploying to a forward field medical facility and covered topics including trauma care, patient transport and setting up and breaking down a portable field hospital.

"This training gave me a greater appreciation of what our fellow service members are facing daily in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Pennypacker, a Medical Corps officer. "But the best aspect of the training at NEMTI has been the team building and the speed and strength with which our Det Kilo team bonded as a unit."

Training also covered aspects unique to wartime deployment to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility, such as weapons qualifications, improvised explosive device avoidance, land navigation, convoy fundamentals and basic language training.

Detachment Kilo personnel also participated in the Tactical Combat Casualty Course (TCCC), a series of classes designed to instruct the skills necessary for care under fire, tactical field care and tactical evacuation care. This portion of TCCC concluded with a final exercise during which selected Medical Service Corps officers, corpsmen and non-medical students individually had to successfully accomplish five rescue medical tasks under simulated battle conditions.

According to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Robert Mowry, TCCC courses closely resemble real-time medical functions in contingency areas.

"The TCCC curriculum we were presented was outstanding," he said. "I was really impressed by the FINEX and how it was designed and executed. It was representative of the pressure of working under battle conditions."

This NEMTI class was unique, not only because it was the largest class ever, but because it was the first time the course ran three weeks. It was also the first time they incorporated several new training evolutions such as the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, which simulates a Humvee roll-over and is designed to teach students what to do and how to exit their vehicle in the event of a mishap.

Detachment Kilo non-medical personnel, including a chaplain, culinary specialists, masters-at-arms and Sailors from a dozen other ratings, also completed the training, which according to Senior Chief Yeoman Augustine Cooper, the student senior enlisted leader, is important information.

"Even though I'm not a corpsman, I'm glad I've had this training because if the need ever arose, I now know I could save a shipmate's life," she said.

According to Nurse Corps officer Ensign Emily Brown, the TCCC course served two purposes.

"I thought the training we received was an eye-opening experience," she said. "The training prepared us for Kuwait and if we need to go forward into Afghanistan as well. But more importantly it was a fantastic team-building experience. I'm looking forward to working with this crew for the next six months in Kuwait."

According to NEMTI staff, Detachment Kilo personnel successfully completed the training.

"The staff and I were very impressed by how quickly this group came together and melded as a cohesive unit," said NEMTI Officer in Charge, Capt. Thomas J. Sawyer. "Their enthusiasm and sense of purpose has impressed us all and enhanced the entire course of instruction."

Det Kilo student Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Krystal Way said completing the courses created a lasting impression.

"I came into this training not knowing what we'd be doing in country, but now I feel fully prepared and trained to do my job in Kuwait, and I can't wait to get there," she said.

The next stop for Det Kilo is the transit to Kuwait where the nearly 200 personnel will take over responsibility from Det Juliet. Det Juliet has been in theater since January.