British Army Reserve medical personnel have taken part in a large-scale emergency response exercise near Glasgow, training alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Multi-Agency Resilience Training and Exercise Unit.
The exercise took place at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service National Training Centre in Cambuslang and involved soldiers from 144 (Parachute) Medical Squadron, a Glasgow-based Army Reserve unit that forms part of 16 Medical Regiment.
According to the British Army in Scotland, the training was designed to test specialist medical skills in a realistic multi-agency scenario, simulating the aftermath of a gas explosion in a village environment.
The Army said the exercise allowed personnel to develop their ability in “collaborating with other agencies, decision-making in a dynamic and evolving operational scenario and leadership.”
During the scenario, the squadron established and operated a functioning Pre-Hospital Treatment Team and a casualty clearing station to support the coordination of a major incident response.
144 (Parachute) Medical Squadron is the only Army Reserve medical unit with a parachute capability. The unit provides “vital dismounted first line medical and secondary healthcare support to both soldiers and civilians all over the world,” as part of the Global Rapid Reaction Force.
The squadron operates under 16 Medical Regiment, which supports 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s global response force. The regiment includes specialist personnel such as consultant orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, nurses and combat medical technicians, all trained to deploy by parachute, helicopter or airlanding depending on operational requirements.
The British Army said the exercise formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure reservists can integrate effectively with civilian emergency services during complex domestic incidents, while maintaining readiness for overseas deployment.
