Hey Cav med guy...where ya been? If you haven't been visiting this site often you may have missed some of the articles. Not to worry - gotcha covered. Click HERE for Old Front Page News and you'll be able to catch up with past articles.

Ukrainian forces rescue wounded troops with ground drones

Drones are surging on the battlefield, giving both Ukrainian and Russian forces persistent surveillance options and the ability to carry out precision strikes in a miles-wide kill zone that extends in either direction along the front line. Movement in the kill zone has become extremely dangerous and has effectively erased the long-held hope of getting wounded troops critical life-saving trauma care within the "golden hour" — the first 60 minutes after a severe injury when medical treatment determines whether a soldier lives or dies. The situation has changed dramatically since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion; golden hour has been replaced by a golden day, or some longer stretch of time. The situation has "changed dramatically" since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion; golden hour has been replaced by a golden day, or some longer stretch of time.

Although it can be difficult, there are ways to get wounded troops out of the kill zone. Ground robots, for instance, have become an increasingly popular choice for Ukraine because they lower the risk for medical crews. Kyiv's forces plan out routes for the small vehicles, sometimes working at night under the cover of darkness. However, Russian drones will also track the robots. And Ukrainian troops have said that they experience technical issues at times, which could leave wounded soldiers exposed and vulnerable. His assessment reflects past warnings from combat medics and soldiers fighting in Ukraine, as well as Western officers training Kyiv's forces, that drones have made immediate casualty evacuations nearly impossible, forcing a change in the approach to medical treatment.

Vietnam, Cambodia conduct joint military medical drill

Military medical forces from Vietnam and Cambodia conducted a joint search-and-rescue and disaster response drill this week, including helicopter deployment and casualty evacuation simulations. The exercise took place at the Ben Cau Community Service and Logistics Center in Tay Ninh Province as part of the second Vietnam–Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange. The drill’s scenario assumed heavy rainfall of 350–400 mm in Tay Ninh, causing the Mekong and Vam Co Dong rivers to rise above Level 3 emergency thresholds. A powerful EF3 tornado swept through Ben Cau Commune, collapsing three high-rise construction sites. More than 500 people were reported injured, buried, or trapped. The north area of Ben Cau Market, where a 2,000-square-meter construction project collapsed, became the epicenter of rescue efforts. Immediately, a mobile field tent was set up near the disaster site. Upon Vietnam’s request, Cambodia dispatched military medical forces to assist. Vietnamese and Cambodian medical teams cooperated in triaging, stabilizing, and transporting severely injured victims to higher-level medical facilities via ambulance. Within the mobile field hospitals, patients were classified and stabilized before being moved for further treatment. Military doctors from Military Hospital 7B were seen transporting severely injured victims by helicopter to shorten evacuation time and ensure the “golden hour” for trauma treatment. Strict coordination between air crews and ground teams was executed in line with real-world procedures.

Fort Bragg DUSTOFF performs first in-flight
 pre-hospital blood transfusion

Charlie Company of the 3-82 General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) is the first active Army unit to perform an in-flight pre-hospital blood transfusion outside a combat zone. Also known as the Fort Bragg “All American”, DUSTOFF Charlie Company conducts medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations year-round to support the installation and the surrounding area. Since the activation of the installation's whole blood program, flight medics have been authorized to transport blood and administer transfusions during aeromedical evacuations, which significantly improves patient survivability during pre-hospital transport.

While whole blood transfusions are commonly performed in combat zones, this is the first of its kind. On the afternoon of April 30, 2025, the company's operation cell received an urgent 9-line MEDEVAC request containing limited information: a critical condition patient in the vicinity of Mott Lake, N.C. Upon arrival, the duty crew quickly made judgments and coordinated with on-scene agencies, resulting in a safe aircraft landing. After receiving the Fort Bragg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) patient care report along with the patient, Beighley assessed that the patient required blood authorized from the whole blood program. During the transport, she had only minutes to provide critical medical interventions to improve the patient's outcome. Among them, Beighley executed the blood transfusion.

The patient was successfully transferred to the Womack Army Medical Center for higher-level medical treatment. King stated this MEDEVAC mission stood out among others because of intricate coordination with emergency services, supporting agencies, and crew synchronization, particularly between the flight medic and crew chief, which is essential to executing a successful operation. “In situations such as that call, we don’t have to ask questions. Everyone is prepared and knows what their role is,” said Sullivan. Collaboration among the Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg Range Operations Center, Fort Bragg Fire and Emergency Services, military police and Charlie Company are critical to medical evacuation success. The All American DUSTOFF is committed to enhancing patient care standards during aeromedical evacuations by consistently achieving new performance milestones.

DRONES USED TO TRANSPORT MEDICAL SUPPLIES

visited the multinational HOSPEX medical exercise in Lithuania, a component of the larger Swift Response 25 drill. The visit featured key observations of medical training activities and drone resupply demonstrations, reflecting the U.S. Army’s ongoing effort to evaluate new unmanned systems, such as the TRV-150 and Flying Basket drones, in field care logistics within NATO exercises. These systems were tested to assess their ability to deliver medical supplies in high-risk areas where conventional resupply methods are limited by terrain, exposure, or enemy threat.

The utility of a drone lies in overcoming terrain and threat constraints that hinder conventional methods, ensuring that medical materials are delivered faster and with less risk to human personnel. The drone’s ability to reach remote or contested zones without requiring a convoy or helicopter enables a more responsive casualty care system, especially in areas under threat of enemy observation or fire. This capability is especially critical during the “golden hour,” when delays in resupply can drastically reduce survival chances

Aviator Sunglasses

Many of us probably believe the worlds of the military and fashion are mutually exclusive. Fashion is a popular style or trend that often includes rare, high-priced wearable art... while the military prides itself on utilitarianism, a calling born of necessity while wearing clothing designed for heavy wear-and-tear. It may come as a surprise, therefore, that the U.S. Army’s fondness for design extends to more than just the most updated lethal weaponry, vehicles and warfare tactics. Its impact on fashion can be seen daily worldwide, without the consumer realizing its history.

From the runway to faces around the globe, “aviator” sunglasses were initially developed for Army Air Corps pilots prior to World War II. If you have ever wondered why these sunglasses have their distinctive shape, it is for much more than fashionable reasons. The design protected the eyes of pilots from 360-degree sunlight, as well as covering the entirety of the eye socket for even more shielding from the sun’s rays. Next time you throw on your favorite pair of aviators, remember you have the Army Air Corps to thank.

lost and missing members

It's been a few years since the Historian, and I asked for help finding lost members of the 15th Med Bn. We'd appreciate it if you'd go to our Missing Members page and see if you know the contact information for any listed. If you know the whereabouts of a missing member, please complete the update form by clicking the link above the table.