Exercise STRIKING VIPER prepares 1 Field Ambulance for more domestic operations across Canada

This past summer, 1 Fd Amb members were also dispersed across Western Canada where they provided aid as far north as Yellowknife and Iqaluit (Operation NANOOK), as well as into British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to provide medical care to remote communities stricken by COVID‑19 outbreaks. More recently, British Columbia initiated another request for assistance (RFA) due to the massive flooding across the southwestern parts of the province, while the province of Saskatchewan initiated an RFA for COVID‑19 treatment relief.

The wide variety of taskings and operations has seemed endless, resulting in very little downtime for some members who have been away from home for much of the past year. This high operational tempo has shown the strength and resiliency of our members, and provided valuable lessons learned for the organization to build upon.

With the recent focus on providing direct healthcare support to local populations, 1 Fd Amb kicked off Exercise STRIKING VIPER on Nov. 29, 2021 in the Lecture Training Facility and surrounding areas at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton in order to focus on humanitarian relief efforts. The purpose of Ex STRIKING VIPER was to hone our medical and military skills of providing humanitarian aid domestically in the face of any potential crisis. During the course of Ex STRIKING VIPER, 1 Fd Amb provided immediate lifesaving care for civilian and military members following a devastating earthquake which rocked the province of Alberta, resulting in an RFA for care to the local population.

The three‑day exercise saw much needed hands‑on training for a variety of Canadian Armed Forces members, from med techs and doctors in trauma teams or ambulances, to signal operators and junior officers who manned the communications lines. Medical Company Sergeant‑Major Master Warrant Officer Cheryl Belanger stated that “the growth and experience‑sharing between members and teams was incredible to witness firsthand,” especially as for many members this was their first time operating in a brigade medical station (BMS). The BMS had the space, cover (tentage), equipment and electronics to triage, treat, hold and even isolate many different kinds of patients, from those requiring immediately life‑saving procedures, to others suffering from COVID‑19 or even gastro‑intestinal symptoms due to a lack of clean drinking water in the affected communities.

1 Fd Amb was able to utilize four ambulances with the establishment of a helicopter landing zone in a nearby field, which made rapid patient evacuation became possible via air if ground assets became compromised. Unfortunately, due to a real‑life RFA in B.C., 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron was unable to join us in exercising our combined evacuation capabilities. The exercise saw a variety of treatment methods on display, as well as transportation with a collection of four ambulances assembled for rapid response.

The many trauma teams were able to remain flexible and versatile throughout the exercise, even when layouts of the BMS were altered or sudden surprise guests arrived. Some such guests involved angry protestors, members of the local media, thieves or even 1 Health Services Group (1 HSG) Sergeant‑Major Chief Warrant Officer Line Plante and 1 HSG Commander Captain (Navy) Jeffrey Biddiscombe, who came in for a visit during the exercise.

Mentorship was provided at all levels, right from the top of 1 HSG down to the newest team members in an effort to foster learning and to strengthen skills for the future.

While the focus was squarely on 1 Fd Amb, 15 Fd Amb—the local reserve unit—was also able to provide one member for the exercise. Private Prankur Gaur arrived on the first day of the exercise and was thrown into the holding tent where they learned as much as they could in such a short time, stating that “the corporals there provided great insights and lessons and genuinely took time to make sure that it all made sense to me. The most difficult part was catching all the military terminology, and learning how to set up tentage and how the teams worked together. Seeing Sergeant [Todd] Cooney taking notes and provide care and guidance simultaneously was incredible for me to experience.”