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Airmen assigned to the 5th Medical Group practice litter carry procedures during Sustainment Operations for Air Force Medical Services Response (SOAR) training at Minot Air Force Base on Sept. 23. Photo by U.S Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony Ramey.

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – Medical personnel from Minot Air Force Base participated in Project SOAR, or Sustainment Operations for Air Force Medical Services Response, a two-day training exercise designed to strengthen medical readiness and validate response capabilities during an aircraft mishap and mass casualty scenario.

The Air Force Global Strike Command-facilitated exercise focused on preparing Medical Contingency Response Plan (MCRP) teams to respond to a simulated mass casualty incident resulting from an aircraft mishap.

The training provides medical personnel an opportunity to practice their response procedures, strengthen coordination between teams and validate their ability to provide care during an all-hazards emergency.

“The Minot Medical Group is a critical partner to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing,” said Capt. Cole Edwards, medical readiness flight commander. “We have to be ready at a moment’s notice to provide care, respond to the mission and support our partners wherever they’re needed.”

The first day of Project SOAR consisted of classroom instruction and functional drills involving several MCRP teams, including triage, field response, clinical care and disaster mental health.

The training transitioned into a full-scale exercise on the second day, simulating an aircraft mishap involving multiple casualties. Exercise participants portrayed injured personnel using simulated injuries and moulage, allowing medical teams to practice providing care in a realistic environment.

During the full-scale exercise, medical personnel responded to simulated casualties while coordinating across multiple functions. The scenario allowed participants to apply procedures practiced during the first day while providing hands-on clinical care in a controlled training environment.

Exercises such as Project SOAR help medical personnel maintain proficiency and prepare for the challenges associated with responding to aircraft mishaps and other mass casualty incidents.

“This exercise gave us an opportunity to test how effectively our clinicians can deliver care in a field environment and, just as importantly, how well we coordinate with our community partners to ensure we’re ready to respond as one team,” said Edwards.

The training also supports Department of War and Air Force medical readiness requirements while helping sustain the capabilities of MCRP teams to respond to a range of emergency scenarios.

Through recurring training and realistic exercises, Minot AFB medical personnel continue to build the readiness and coordination necessary to provide timely medical response during contingency operations.