Sunderland Medics Tested in Army Exercise
They've battled freezing Cumbrian temperatures during a gruelling training exercise
Three Army medics from Sunderland have been battling freezing Cumbrian temperatures during a gruelling training exercise designed to test their ability to work anywhere in the world.
Privates Adam Gibson and Luke Kirtley, and Captain Terry McDermott, joined around 130 Regular and Reserve soldiers on Exercise Burton Fell which saw them assessing and treating simulated casualties in conditions designed to look and feel like a real-life conflict zone. All three serve in the Army Reserve with Sunderland-based 251 Squadron,
3 Medical Regiment which is responsible for providing pre-hospital care for soldiers on operations. Adam, 25, works full time as an Army Recruiter but serves in the Reserves in his spare time. He said the training has been demanding:
- “On operations I would act like a paramedic; following the troops on to the ground, treating injuries in tents. Today I was treating simulated casualties with catastrophic bleeding – applying tourniquets and clotting treatments. Now that we’re integrated with the Regular Army the training has really improved.”*
Luke, 19, is studying uniformed services at South Tyneside College and hopes to continue his medical career as full time Army medic after he graduates. He said:
“My college friends know what I do, I even persuaded one to join up! On operations we would be waiting for patients to come in and treating them near to enemy lines. This is the first time I have been on an exercise like this and so I’ve learned a lot about treating the casualties as soon as they arrive. I enjoy the challenge.”
Terry, 38, (PICTURED) works as a nurse at South Tyneside Accident and Emergency Department but has served in the Army Reserve for eight years, she said:
“I love the challenges, the different clinical skills and the travelling that I would never get through the NHS; I’ve worked in Cyprus, Germany, Georgia and Belgium. Coming out to work in the field is what I adore about being in the Army Reserves.”
Exercise Burton Fell was the first time the Regiment’s Regular and Reserve soldiers had worked together on such a scale. They will work side by side again on a similar exercise in Kenya later this year, after which they will be expected to deploy on operations together anywhere around in the world.
Personnel spent days living and working under canvas deep within Cumbria’s Warcop military training area in temperatures as low as -2 °C. They worked with actors, many of them amputees, and medical effects specialists to simulate some of the most traumatic injuries they might face on military operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Aidy Meredith, Commanding Officer of 3 Medical Regiment, said:
“We’ve got some very competent Reservist soldiers that will add to the competence we have within our Regular soldiers, and one of the most satisfying things I’ve seen this week is how well they’ve all blended together; they’re all getting out to deliver healthcare on the ground.”
Half of 3 Medical Regiment’s personnel are Reservists and although its headquarters is in Preston, Lancashire, it draws staff from across UK. It provides first aid, resuscitation and ambulance transport to front-line forces. It has two sub-units of Army Reservists; 64 Squadron, which is based in Chorley, Lancashire, and 251 Squadron based in Sunderland.