“The ANG kind of broke the barrier and heightened the next level of training for us in the medical service here,” said SMSgt Roberto Brabham of the 113th Wing. Brabham had recently witnessed the installation of the next evolution in medical training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
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Air National Guard Leads the Way in Medical Training Innovation
“The ANG kind of broke the barrier and heightened the next level of training for us in the medical service here,” said SMSgt Roberto Brabham of the 113th Wing. Brabham had recently witnessed the installation of the next evolution in medical training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
A New Era of Medical Training for the ANG
The Air National Guard (ANG) is facing the future head-on by revolutionizing the way that every Guardsman receives medical training with a historic investment in state-of-the-art technology. This year, Operative Experience, Inc. (OEI) will place a total of 206 high-fidelity TCCS Plus Pro male and female medical simulators at 103 ANG sites nationwide.
Historic Investment in Cutting-Edge Technology
If it sounds like a big project, that’s because it is. This visionary undertaking is the first of its kind in the military space. Its sole purpose? To save lives and improve health care results across the ANG.
The simulators will support training for Air Force Surgeon General-mandated program MEDIC-X (required for ANG medics) and Department of Defense-mandated Tactical Combat Casualty Care (required for all Airmen). Because every Airman at every ANG base in the nation will be trained in medical techniques using TCCS Plus Pro mannequins, every future Airman will be able to respond to emergent situations with confidence and knowledge. In turn, those experiences will help to improve patient care and outcomes across the Guard.
Addressing Limitations of Previous Training Methods
Before the TCCS Plus Pro, options for medical training were often limited to low-fidelity, less lifelike unisex or male simulators with fewer (or no) customizable options. In turn, training for Airmen was also limited, less lifelike, and with fewer options for practice. In addition, before the emergence of OEI’s anatomically accurate female trauma care simulators, service members were not able to accurately practice caring for a female patient, even though women make up over 20% of the ANG’s force.
The Advanced Capabilities of the TCCS Plus Pro Simulators
TCCS Plus Pro mannequins can also do things that others simply can’t, offering options for more accurate, true-to-life experiences. Not only do the high-fidelity simulators have realistic responses to procedures, they offer a variety of skin tone options and medical trauma experiences, fully articulating joints, and real-to-life tissue and skin.
Durable, energy efficient, and clocking 10 hours of battery life, these modular and adaptable simulators can easily be taken into the field for exercises. Airmen will be able to practice medical airlift and transport missions, scenarios where equipment is limited, or situations that are more rugged and compromised.
“In previous conflicts, we sent inexperienced medical personnel down range for them to return and cite how much they learned. In modern times, through the use of simulation, they will be best prepared to provide life-saving treatments to service members,” said Jason Robbins, Vice President of Programs and Global Support at OEI.
Enhanced Response During National Crises
Realistic, detailed training and high-fidelity medical equipment benefits civilians, too. While National Guardsmen regularly deploy internationally, the ANG also responds to national emergencies and crises. Guardsmen regularly interface with the local population, oftentimes in situations that warrant emergency medical care. Airmen who are highly trained can offer steadier leadership and better results in even the most challenging of scenarios—whether that’s to a grandmother experiencing chest pains after a tornado or a hiker with a broken bone, stranded during a flood.
A Partnership and Commitment to Medical Proficiency
As the ANG meets the demands of the future now, OEI stands alongside the men and women of the Guard.
“Investing in a suite of TCCS Plus Pro simulators at every base demonstrates the Air National Guard’s deep, unwavering commitment to medical proficiency across the ranks,” said Lou Oberndorf, OEI’s Chairman and CEO. “It’s a milestone for the military that will provide the highest level of education to service members.”
