British Army reservists have tested their specialist medical skills with rescue services in Scotland.
Members of 144 (Parachute) Medical Squadron, who are based in Glasgow and part of 16 Medical Regiment, recently took part in a multi-agency exercise with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Scottish Multi-Agency Resilience Training and Exercise Unit.
Multi-agency exercise
The multi-agency exercise, which simulated a gas explosion in a village, was designed to allow soldiers to develop their skills: collaborating with other agencies, decision-making in a dynamic and evolving operational scenario and leadership.
During the exercise the squadron established and operated a functioning Pre-Hospital Treatment Team and casualty clearing station, to assist in the co-ordination of the major incident.
“As Army Reservists, many of us also work in the NHS and other emergency services. Collaborative training brings those skills together and keeps our medics sharp on the basics, while ensuring we’re ready to provide care in the most complex environments.”
How collaborative training brings soldiers together
When asked what value this type of collaborative training brings to soldiers, Officer Commanding 144 (Parachute) Medical Squadron, Major Josh March, said:
“Soldiers and officers in 144 (Parachute) Medical Squadron are trained to treat the injured from the first minutes, through evacuation and into damage‑control surgery.
“As Army Reservists, many of us also work in the NHS and other emergency services. Collaborative training brings those skills together and keeps our medics sharp on the basics, while ensuring we’re ready to provide care in the most complex environments.”
“Joint training like this is crucial to future operations. It harnesses skills that contribute to working with host Nation services and administering mass casualty situations.”
Why training is crucial to future operations
Captain Matthew Young, the squadron’s training officer, said:
“Joint training like this is crucial to future operations. It harnesses skills that contribute to working with host Nation services and administering mass casualty situations.”
The exercise, hosted by the SFRS, saw operational fire crews from Clarkston, East Kilbride, Cumbernauld, and Bellshill attend.
SFRS, Watch Command and UK-ISAR Crew Leader, Steve Adams said:
“Exercises like this are vital in strengthening our operational readiness and ensuring we continue to work effectively with our partners to keep communities safe.”
16 Medical Regiment
16 Medical Regiment supports 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s global response force. Its personnel - including consultant orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, nurses, and combat medical technicians - are specially trained to deploy by parachute, helicopter, or airlanding.
144 (Parachute) Medical Squadron is the only reserve medical unit with a parachute capability. They provide vital dismounted first line medical and secondary healthcare support to both soldiers and civilians all over the world, as part of the Global Rapid Reaction Force.
The squadron is a multi‑role medical unit with capabilities ranging from pre‑hospital care, primary healthcare, damage‑control surgery, and medical evacuation, through to medical command and control. Whilst providing medical personnel for operations across the globe, as an Army Reserve squadron the specialist skillsets of its soldiers and officers also enable it to make a strong contribution to national resilience within the UK if called upon.
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