MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Airmen from the 341st Medical Group participated in the first ever Sustainment Operations for Air Force Medical Responders (SOAR) exercise on July 18, 2024, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.
Prior to the SOAR exercise, the 341 MDG participated in Ready Eagle I and II, which are larger five- and three-day training exercise programs with similar intents.
SOAR is a two-day exercise designed to sustain medical response capabilities focused on providing quality patient care, specifically in instances that involve public health emergencies, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosion (CBRNE) events or disasters such as aircraft mishaps.
“This is the Air Force Medical Services pilot for SOAR,” said Adam Christmann, chief executive officer of A6A Associates. “Global Strike has been the lead on this effort and it’s been outstanding. We are so thankful to Malmstrom, because it is a lot of effort to do a pilot and the 341st has been outstanding. We’re going to learn a lot here. We’re going to be able to develop the program based upon the outcome here with the 341st.”
As the pilot unit, the 341 MDG is testing this program out for the entire Air force Medical Services. Members from major commands such as Air Force Material Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Mobility Command, AFGSC and Pacific Air Forces were present to watch the exercise.
Approximately 220 Airmen from 341 MDG and the Malmstrom fire department, plus 30 volunteers from the base, participated in the response to a simulated explosion and chemical contamination. Patients were triaged, decontaminated and brought into the clinic for further treatment.
“One of the most important pieces we can take out of this experience is that readiness mindset and being ready for operations that can go south in a moment,” said Capt. Isaac Bacon, medical readiness officer, 341 MDG.
Planning for these types of exercises typically take up to four months allowing providers to clear their schedules, sourcing volunteer patients and preparing Airmen with training materials.
“We’re very fortunate to be the first medical unit to experience SOAR,” said Bacon. “This is designed to be a continuous improvement exercise process and as a small MTF in the middle of a rural community, it’s really incredible to be able to receive feedback on how to improve them.”