'Arduous Serpent' a tough exercise for our Medical Corps

Irish Defence Forces competing team in 'Arduous Serpent'

Well done to the Defence Forces Army team (pictured above) who placed second in the British Army's Annual Medical Service Tactical Training Exercise 'Arduous Serpent'. The British Army's annual competition pits the very best UK Armed Forces medical units and invited foreign military teams against each other. This year each team was assessed at 12 military and medical stands over 24 hours while covering a gruelling distance of 20km on foot.

The stands were:
1. IED cordon.
2. Running of a Role 1 Medical Facility.
3. Section in Attack.
4. Concealment of medical facility.
5. The Combat Estimate.
6. Falling Plates.
7. CBRN drills.
8. Treatment of casualties.
9. Triage.
10. Marking of a Helicopter Landing Site.
11. Log carry and Stretcher race.

The Irish Defence Force was again invited to attend this year and a team of 11 Army personnel travelled to the competition in Catterick, UK from 05 -09 June 2014. The team came 2nd out of a total of 20 teams.

Congratulations are also due to one of the competitors who very recently qualified as a Doctor and will shortly begin his internship in the West of Ireland. The ISMM wants to wish him all the best in both his Medical and Military Careers!