Joint training readies US, Kuwaiti forces for mass-casualty emergencies

A joint training exercise between Kuwaiti and US forces held at Camp Buehring in Udairi will foster better co-operation between the two countries in times of crisis, security analysts told Al-Mashareq.

The Pacemaker III training focused on preparing Kuwaiti medical emergency personnel and allied forces to respond to wide-scale, mass-casualty emergencies.

About 25 soldiers from the US military's 3rd Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, participated in the training on April 2nd.

The exercise simulated an oil rig explosion.

During the drill, US soldiers worked alongside Kuwaiti medics and staff from al-Jahra Hospital to triage and treat 10 simulated casualties, with injuries ranging from mild to life-threatening, according to the US Department of Defence.

Medical preparedness

"The participation of members of the medical staff at al-Jahra Hospital in operational training with military forces from Kuwait and the US represents a valuable addition to the provided training," said Col. Saadan al-Ghanem, who is retired from the Kuwaiti forces.

"The training focused on assisting the wounded and injured in the areas of operations, providing them with medical services on the battlefield, and evacuating them by helicopter to the hospital," he told Al-Mashareq.

"In this training, the attack involved the bombing of an oil rig with resulting injuries in the incident," he said. "The nursing staff worked with doctors and military personnel to save the lives of ground forces troops."

Al-Ghanem said this type of scenario "is indeed likely to occur and requires medical preparedness to handle these kinds of non-conventional injuries".

"Not too long ago Iran-backed militias attacked oil supply lines in Saudi Arabia and set fire to an oil pipeline," he said, adding that the fire was immediately brought under control.

"This means that we are facing a real threat of attack on energy security in the Gulf region, and therefore it is imperative to be fully prepared, anticipate the occurrence of such attack and know how to mitigate its impact," he said.

This includes knowing how to treat injuries sustained by ground forces soldiers and commanders, he added.

Enhanced co-operation

One goal of the training was to gain an understanding "of the ways our enemies in the region think", said Kuwaiti medical crisis and disaster specialist Dr. Ahmed Buhumaid.

Their primary objective is to undermine confidence "in our ability to protect our oil supply to various global markets", he told Al-Mashareq.

"We are in dire need of this kind of training," Buhumaid said. "Our medical staff have indeed benefited greatly from working alongside our US allies."

Enhanced co-operation between US and Kuwaiti ground forces "will improve joint operations in providing medical relief and quick treatment of wounds and injuries, regardless of their nature and extent", he said.

"US forces have extensive experience in dealing with the Gulf region and they are a reliable and co-operative partner," he said, noting that US forces "work to safeguard security, not only for their own benefit but also for the benefit of all people of the world who seek security, stability and prosperity".

Training exercises such as the recently concluded Pacemaker III will help reduce losses in resources, equipment and human lives, according to human resources development and training expert Bassam al-Braikan.

"This time the focus was on saving lives, which is one of the noblest objectives that mankind co-operates to achieve, as all losses can be compensated for except human lives, which are irreplaceable," he told Al-Mashareq.

The US has extensive experience with medical relief, and US soldiers have the capability to evacuate and rescue the wounded in all environments, he said.

"Our Kuwaiti combat and medical elements have certainly benefited from taking part in this training," he said. "The exchange of expertise went well and benefited both sides."