Medics deploy for training exercise, may affect access to hospital care Published Aug. 10, 2011 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A major field training exercise this month will affect access to care at the Keesler Hospital. Almost 100 "Dragon Medics" deploy to Camp Atterbury, Ind., about 35 miles south of Indianapolis, starting Monday to participate in "Vibrant Response 12/12A." They'll return Aug. 24. Col. (Dr.) Nicholas Miniotis, 81st Dental Squadron commander, leads the Keesler contingent. "The 81st Medical Group personnel will provide medical support to 7,000 military members," he explained. "Our people also will participate in the exercise to improve readiness skills under field conditions and interoperability with the Army command. The Air Force provides a mobile hospital that can provide emergency, surgical and short- term inpatient care. The EMEDS (expeditionary medical support field hospital) can be chemical protected and can include a team to decontaminate patients." Miniotis added, "The exercise is a requirement for the 81st EMEDS to become certified for the DCRF (Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Enhanced Conventional Weapons Response Force) mission. The 96-member Keesler group team participating in the exercise includes a surgical team, an emergency room team, staffing for a three-bed intensive care unit and 22-bed ward plus ancillary staff for a field hospital. Operations last approximately two weeksfrom processing here to return to Keesler." Keesler team members completed EMEDS training at Camp Bullis in San Antonio July 25-29. An EMEDS team from the 99th MDG, Nellis AFB, Nev., is also participating. Miniotis noted both EMEDS are "on call 24/7/365" and are tasked to be "wheels-up" in 48 hours or less to provide medical support during a major disaster involving CBRNE elements. The current tasking began Oct. 1, 2010, and ends Oct.1, 2012. The U.S. Northern Command oversees the DCRF, a secretary of defense-controlled joint task force that includes civil defense. Its primary objectives are to save lives and minimize human suffering by providing life-saving capability as soon as 96 hours following a CBRNE incident. The response force supports civil authorities to mitigate further loss of life and relieve suffering in response to a CBRNE disaster. The task force is capable of providing medical, decontamination, command and control, communications, logistics, transportation, casualty evacuation and public affairs assistance. The joint operating area includes the continental U.S., Canada, Mexico, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska.