KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A team of five Keesler medics from the 81st Medical Group recently competed in the 2015 Annual EMT Rodeo Sept. 17-18 at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The elite competition featured 21 teams of emergency medical technicians from 22 installations across the Air Force, competing in more than 19 different categories of competition.
The Keesler team, represented by Staff Sgts. Kyle Costello and Robert Desantis of the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, Staff Sgt. Juliet Corcillo and Airman 1st Class Adam Tellez of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron and Senior Airman Daniel Regner from the 81st Inpatient Operation Squadron, placed fourth overall.
“This was my first EMT rodeo,” Corcillo said. “As a team we worked flawlessly together; we brainstormed and talked out the scenarios and roles and assigned a lead medic to each event to ensure we didn’t miss anything. Together we felt unstoppable!”
During the two-day challenge, the Keesler medics competed in scenarios both familiar and unfamiliar to them in hospital, outdoor and simulated deployment environments.
“The first day, all our challenges were at the hospital and they mainly focused on trauma care,” said Costello, who was Keesler’s team leader. “A lot of what we did there was similar to what Corcillo and Tellez might see on their ambulance runs, since they respond to 911 calls on base.”
For the second day they traveled to nearby Melrose Air Force Range and participated in a commando challenge – a rigorous, script-based obstacle course in a deployed setting that put the participants’ self-aid and buddy care skills to the test.
While running through the commando challenge, teams had to administer care while also being aware of their surroundings – including simulated hostile fire, communication barriers and on-foot travel in the New Mexico heat, Costello explained.
“Running through the scenarios and being hands-on with them was great,” Tellez said. “The commando challenge was a lot of fun; it was really exciting when we could figure out what was going on right away during a call or scenario and can fine-tune our care to provide the best possible outcome. As much as this was a competition, it was great training too.”
“It was an absolutely amazing training experience, and I’m proud to be a part of Keesler’s “Almost top 3” EMT team,” Corcillo added.
The 81st MDG operates one of the largest medical facilities in the Air Force. Its primary mission is to maintain medical readiness for worldwide contingencies by providing quality, cost-effective health care for more than 27,000 enrollees, including almost 7,500 active-duty members. In addition, the 81st MDG commander oversees the Gulf Coast Multi-Service Market, which includes five military medical treatment facilities from Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans, coordinating care for 80,000 eligible beneficiaries along the Gulf Coast.