KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N. M. - Airmen from the 377th Medical Group put their skills to the test in a Sustainment Operations for Air Force Medical Service Response (SOAR) aircraft mishap exercise at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., April 16, 2026.
The exercise was the culmination of the 377 MDG and A6A Associates, a consulting and training firm specializing in emergency management and healthcare preparedness.
“The first day is training focused and letting the Airmen know what is expected of them,” said Norma Grandberry, an A6A medical analyst. “We’re training them with a walk-run approach to prepare for the exercise tomorrow.”
Members of the 377 MDG touched upon field response team deployment staging, mass casualty triage, and aircraft mishap procedures in a classroom setting.
“Everyone thinks this may not happen, but the day it does, I believe we’ll be prepared,” said Airman 1st Class Tyler Dobbs, 377 MDG aerospace medical service specialist. “You have to be prepared for the worst, and that’s what we’re doing.”
The training event centered around a three-hour exercise scenario that tested field response team members’ emergency response readiness, which included participation from civilians from the greater Albuquerque area, allowing Airmen to have a realistic environment to practice hands-on triage, patient care and medical evacuation procedures under high-pressure conditions.
“Our objective is for the teams to have confidence in their ability to respond and perform,” said Chad Claar, civilian SOAR team lead. “Especially when a lot of medical teams or regional teams come together and have to integrate to accomplish a common goal.”
The SOAR exercise reinforced the 377 MDG’s ability to respond to real-world emergencies, ensuring Airmen are prepared for high-pressure medical scenarios–anywhere in the world.