Maryland Air National Guard got together with their counterparts from different battalions within AFBiH for a medical exchange at Kasarna Kozara in Banja Luka to prepare them for their deployment as a security force. “Hopefully, you’ll never have to use the important lessons and skills you learned today and over the course of the past week” said U.S. Army Captain Harrison Bittenbender with the Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation, “but if you ever experience a situation where you would have to use this knowledge, it’s nice to know that the buddy to your left and right is as trained and prepared as you are – it gives you reassurance as a team.”
The exchange finished with a drill to put what soldiers had learned over the week-long course to the test, and the U.S. medics from the 175th Medical Group even packed special kits to help simulate real-life battlefield injuries. When the event was over, the team of medics from the Maryland Air National Guard expressed their gratitude to the Commander of the deploying Soldiers for allowing them the opportunity to be a part of their team and prepare them for their mission.
