English: www.usaraf.army.mil

Swazi soldiers participate in mass casualty scenario

By Staff Sgt. Lesley Waters CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

MANZINI, Swaziland (August 6, 2009) – Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) soldiers showcased the skills they learned during three-days of classroom training to USDF and U.S. military leaders, as well as members from the U.S. embassy during a mass casualty scenario here, Aug. 6.

The mass casualty scenario was part of exercise MEDFLAG 09, a joint and combined military exercise conducted by U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) which supports the AFRICOM commander’s Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy wherein U.S. military send medical capabilities to African countries.

“It is very important for our U.S. service members to foster relationships with the Swazi soldiers and villagers from the surrounding communities,” said MEDFLAG Co-director Army Lt. Col. Michael Money. “It is a give and take relationship; we provide our skills sets to the USDF and in turn, it is also valuable for our folks to learn from our counterparts and take that knowledge back with us to the states.”

As part of the scenario, USDF soldiers were on patrol in the local area and responded to a simulated vehicle crash. The soldiers and Swazi medical members arrived on scene where several U.S. service members, posing as injured victims, lied on the ground with various degrees of injuries. The USDF and medical team were evaluated on how they approached an accident scene, setting up a triage location, administering basic life-saving steps, applying bandages and tourniquets, carrying injured victims and evacuating the injured from the scene.

“The USDF soldiers and medical staff did an exceptional job,” said Army Sgt. Terry Draper, 212th Combat Support Hospital medic and MEDFLAG first responder familiarization instructor. “It was great to see the successful culmination from the three days of classroom training we provided to them.”

Some of the simulated injuries included head trauma, sucking chest wound, severed arm, abdominal injuries, first degree burns, broken leg, broken arm and a casualty.

MEDFLAG 09 exercise is still scheduled to provide humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) events, to include medical, dental and veterinary assistance to the people of Swaziland.

The U.S. service members are in Swaziland at the invitation of the Swazi government and in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Mbabane and will remain in Swaziland for the duration of the exercise. Upon completion of the exercise, the U.S. service members will return to their home stations.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Sobantu Dlamini, speaks following the mass casualty (MASCAL) scenario of a simulated vehicle crash as part of the two-week MEDFLAG 09 exercise at the USDF Headquarters parade grounds, Aug. 6. The U.S. service members are in Swaziland at the invitation of the Swazi government and in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Mbabane. MEDFLAG is a joint and combined military exercise between the USDF and U.S. Army Africa that supports the U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) commander's Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) strategy wherein U.S. sends medical capabilities to African countries. (Photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Lesley Waters)