At dawn, just outside the perimeter of RAAF Base Amberley, 1 Expeditionary Health Squadron (1EHS) assembled a system of tents that looked at first sight like a standard field setup.
Hidden within was a fully operational medical treatment facility, complete with emergency, surgical capabilities, an intensive care unit, pathology, radiography, sterilisation and environmental health.
Operated by 1EHS as part of Exercise Viper Walk, the setup showcased Air Force's Role 2 Bravo Medical Treatment Facility - a key element in providing lifesaving medical support in deployed environments.
Exercise Viper Walk tested expeditionary health capabilities across three separate locations, bringing together ADF and coalition personnel.
Air Force played a pivotal role, particularly through its Role 1 and Role 2 Forward medical capabilities.
The Role 1 facility focuses on primary health care, including triage and stabilisation, while the Role 2 Forward capability extends this with enhanced resuscitation, surgical intervention and short-term post-operative care.
These ensure casualties receive immediate medical attention before being evacuated to higher levels of care at the Role 2 Bravo facility.
Additionally, the exercise demonstrated the Expeditionary Primary Health Care system, incorporating medical, dental and physiotherapy services to support deployed personnel.
These services are crucial in maintaining the fighting force's readiness and ensuring that minor injuries do not become mission-limiting conditions.
'Exercise Viper Walk has evolved due to the need for higher-fidelity health training and interaction across the continuum of healthcare delivery to the combat casualty.'
Commanding Officer 1EHS Wing Commander Ajitha Sugnanam highlighted the importance of integration and interoperability to understand strengths and weakness of the operational system.
"1EHS collaborated with 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (3AES), and the Health Operational Conversion Unit, along with personnel from other Air Force units, Army, the New Zealand Defence Force, and United States Pacific Air Forces," Wing Commander Sugnanam said.
"During the exercise, we focused on the points of interaction required through the land trauma system including a tactical-level casualty regulation centre, surface evacuation, handovers from Army forward teams to the Air Force R1 and R2B over to 3AES for strategic evacuation."
Participating for the second time in Exercise Viper Walk, 1EHS had the opportunity to refine their skills in line with the ADF's focus on ensuring deployed medical teams are capable of not only saving lives in the field but also making critical decisions about the continuation of care.
That might mean managing them in the field, returning a soldier to duty or facilitating their evacuation for further treatment, 1EHS Executive Officer Squadron Leader Rob Kelly explained.
"Exercise Viper Walk has evolved due to the need for higher-fidelity health training and interaction across the continuum of healthcare delivery to the combat casualty, from point of injury through to either a return to the fight, or the successful evacuation and rehabilitation out of the operational theatre," Squadron Leader Kelly said.
'The concept of a health asset that is transportable on one aircraft, delivering life-saving resuscitation/surgery which can achieve final operating capability within hours of landing, was fully exercised and realised.'
One of the key achievements of Exercise Viper Walk was the successful demonstration of the ADF's most agile Role 2 Bravo capability.
Squadron Leader Matthew Lee, 1EHS senior medical adviser, reinforced this milestone.
"The concept of a health asset that is transportable on one aircraft, delivering life-saving resuscitation/surgery which can achieve final operating capability within hours of landing, was fully exercised and realised," Squadron Leader Lee said.
This capability is a game-changer for expeditionary health operations, enabling the ADF and its partners to establish an advanced medical treatment facility in austere environments with minimal setup time.
The agility of this system enhances battlefield survivability, ensuring that critical care is available as close to the frontlines as possible.
After successful completion of Exercise Viper Walk, 1EHS personnel continued to enhance their skills in a series of Force Generation activities.
These activities ensure personnel are individually prepared for the challenges of rapid deployment, sustained operations and other complications during conflict such as casualty care under fire.
The success of the exercise and Force Generation activities highlights the increasing agility of the ADF's forward health capabilities, setting a new benchmark in expeditionary health support for future operations.
