204 (NORTH IRISH) FIELD HOSPITAL ARE TRAINING HARD FOR EXERCISE ARDUOUS SERPENT

204 (North Irish) Field Hospital has been training hard for the demanding AMSTTE, Army Medical Services Tactical Training Exercise, which will be conducted by 2nd Medical Brigade at Strensall, York, in June.

Army Reserve, Regular Army and possibly Canadian and Irish teams will be tested over a series of gruelling and physically challenging events, (historically under arduous weather conditions, from torrential rain to extreme heat) over rugged terrain.

The events will test the teams in a wide variety of medical and military subjects and exercises set out in various stands which must be navigated to. This will start with a basic kit check to ensure all competitors are carrying the correct amount of weight and equipment, through to tests such as tactical casualty care under fire and Command Improvised Explosive Devices (CIED).

The team has recently attended training at Ballykinler, where high temperatures brought additional pressures. The team completed 18 miles, with mentally and physically challenging stands to complete along the way. These stands tested all team members and were followed by a session of battle PT which pushed their exhausted bodies to the limit. They completed a squadded march, followed by an assault course and finished off with a stretcher race….and they were all still smiling at the finish!

Still, plenty more training to go, with a trek up Ben Nevis planned soon.

Good luck to the team, from RFCA NI!