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KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, Okinawa, Japan -- Marines and Sailors with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group participated in Exercise Inochi No Onjin, June 8, 2018, at Kin Blue Training Area, Okinawa, Japan.
During Inochi No Onjin, which means “lifesaver,” Marines and Sailors refined casualty care techniques through a series of simulated casualty evacuations.
“This exercise really allowed us to flex our muscles,” said Lt. Cmdr. Krystal Chunaco, a shock trauma nurse with 3rd Medical Bn. “It helped us practice working our utilities, motor transports, and of course the medical component.”
Field medical corpsmen provided point of entry care including triage, stabilizing, and preparation for follow-on treatment. Additionally, a forward resuscitative surgical system was present, providing Navy surgeons a platform for simulating life-saving care procedures.
“The grand scope of this exercise was practicing the en-route care component,” Chunaco said. “We received simulated patients from the point of injury; we stabilized, resuscitated, and finally packaged them up for the next echelon of care. ”
The many simulations performed during the exercise maintained the battalion’s competency in patient evacuation, medical regulating, and role-two capabilities. More importantly, Inochi No Onjin increased interoperability between joint services on both command and control and en-route care.
“This field training exercise was particularly important because it is a joint effort,” said Cmdr. Ron Schoonover, the commanding officer of 3rd Medical Bn. “We and our Army, Air Force, and Marine partners were focused on the same goal: strengthening mission essential tasks vital to the readiness of the United States Armed Forces.”