Page 9 - NATO Supplement

INTRODuCTION: NATO OPERATIONAl CONTExT n 7

Canada, and the United States steered the Re- Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guide-
search Workshop (RWS). The United States lines who currently chairs the Committee on Tac-
appointed COL (Dr.) Annette Hildabrand and tical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC), was the
NSHQ Medical Advisor, LTC (Dr.) Daniel keynote speaker. Dr. Norman McSwain (USA),
Irizarry, as RWS co-chairs and Dr. Robert Foster founder of the PHTLS course, was selected to
(USA) as the HFM mentor. share insight about the M-PHTLS curriculum
and its influence on U.S. combat medic train-
The RWS design was also unique. Two expert ing programs. COL (Dr.) Annette Hildabrand
panels were created to operate jointly during the (USA), Office of the Assistant Secretary of De-
RWS deliberations to reach actionable recom- fense for Research and Engineering, presented for
mendations for NATO. The first expert panel COL (Dr.) Rob Lutz (USA), Commander, U.S.
was centered on the science and technology of Joint Special Operations Medical Training Cen-
training; the HFM medical simulation and train- ter (JSOMTC), discussed mapping SOF medic
ing expert panel members (for this report, re- tasks to curriculum and skills acquisition. Dr.
ferred to as the HFM Expert Panel), composed of Marcus Rall (DEU), Director of the University of
government, industry, and academia, collectively Tuebingen Medical Simulation Center, provided
represented over 200 years of medical simulation, insights into matching curriculum and training
training and education experience. The second to simulation. Mr. Tom Doyle (CAN), Chief
panel, the SOF Medicine Expert Panel (SOF- Learning Officer for CAE Healthcare, a com-
MEP), consisted of designated SOF representa- pany producing high-fidelity combat simulators,
tives selected by their national SOF Commanders provided an overview of simulation technology
and Surgeon’s General. The SOFMEP represen- from a historical perspective. His presentation in-
tatives from 15 nations actively engaged in RWS cluded a baseline of simulator classification based
discussions providing the HFM Expert Panel on fidelity, complexity, and capability. Balancing
critical insight into NATO SOF challenges and the technology discussion, COL (Dr.) Annette
constraints as they relate to national SOF medical Hildabrand (USA) addressed the benefits and
training programs. challenges of using live tissue models in medical
training. Mr. John Pickup (U.K.), Managing Di-
Topic presentations were carefully ordered to rector of Amputees for Action, a corporate source
enable a logical discussion flow starting with for combat trauma actors used in many European
NSOCM training curriculum, and then teach- SOF combat medical simulations, addressed the
ing requirements and whether simulation tech- use of amputee role players in combat trauma
nology could meet those requirements. Next, training. Mr. Shannon Swain (USA), contractor
the panels discussed various modalities available representative from the PEO STRI, discussed
to meet those requirements and concluded with logistical and management challenges in build-
recommendations for validation and future de- ing U.S. Military Simulation and Training Cen-
velopment of medical simulation technology for ters (MSTC). These centers train conventional
combat trauma training. U.S. forces in basic combat lifesaver skills using
simulation equipment. The RWS also included
The HFM Expert Panel presenters were carefully presentations on SOF operational issues by Aus-
selected for their knowledge, expertise and expe- tralian Special Operations Forces and Norwe-
rience. Dr. Frank Butler (USA), a former SOF gian Special Forces personnel. LTC Peter Anders
physician, U.S. Navy Seal and author of U.S. Christensen (DEN) shared a curriculum concept