"The ATTC better prepares us than any other training," said Army Reserve Lt. Col. Edward Southern, M.D., a surgeon with the 936th Forward Surgical Team. "We're in a hands-on situation, working with the team, combining all our civilian strengths while learning from the trainers- it's very rewarding to work here and save lives."

The mission of the ATTC is to ensure clinical readiness for lifesaving Army and Army Reserve forward surgical teams. These teams, created following the Persian Gulf War, are highly mobile medical units that stabilize combat injuries on the front-line battlefield, extending a patient's "golden hour," the critical treatment window for resuscitation.

Forward surgical teams, consisting of surgeons, nurses and medics, are the primary source of immediate medical care for soldiers on the battlefield, assessing and treating injured soldiers before they are transported to field hospitals for long-term care.

While the center hosts Army and Army Reserve units throughout the year, recent preparations for war in Iraq and Afghanistan have placed an urgent emphasis on training Army Reserve medical soldiers. Reservists provide 60 percent of the Army's medical capabilities, applying their civilian expertise and Army training to save lives on the battlefield.

Visiting units learn about trauma medical procedures and lifesaving techniques. The ATTC also helps prepare soldiers mentally for challenges that lie ahead.

"Each individual coming through the rotation has verbalized an understanding that they will be caring for somebody's son, somebody's father," said Maj. John Groves, RN, director of education at the ATTC. "They put pressure on themselves, realizing the mistakes they make may be the difference between life and death. America's treasures will be cared for by people who recognize that and take it very seriously."

Units travel across the country to attend two-week or month-long immersions at the ATTC. Miami's vast urban setting provides a realistic opportunity for treating combat-like trauma injuries in a high-stress environment.

Each team’s training culminates with the "Super Bowl" event, where the 20-member teams take over the hospital's trauma resuscitation area, with trainers providing comprehensive evaluations after each patient. Each member of the team receives invaluable training and feedback to care for and heal U.S. forces on the battlefield.

"Being ready to take care of civilians or patients on the battlefield will save lives," said Col. Thomas Knuth, commanding director of ATTC. "There's no more realistic training, no better way to get ready, than what they get here in the urban trauma site. This mission is critical to the Army's success on the battlefield."

Source: U.S. Army