2nd Health Brigade keeps soldiers in the fight

At first glance, the Australian Army’s Warfighter exercise series is just that, an opportunity to practise high-end combat operations within a tightly constructed but realistic real-world scenario.

CAPTION: Commander 2nd Health Brigade, Brigadier Louise Martin, visits soldiers at Shoalwater Bay during the South Queensland Warfighter Exercise. Story by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Rickey. Photo by Corporal Johnny Huang.

But a significant level of focus is also placed on those who support the troops at the forward edge of battle.

The 2nd Health Brigade is at the sharp end of everything the Army does, and according to its commander, Brigadier Louise Martin, when in the field it is difficult to tell her medics, nurses, doctors and specialists apart from those directly engaged with the enemy.

“That’s the goal, we are soldiers first and as an organisation we can’t be a liability to those we support, especially at the pointy end,” Brigadier Martin said.

“We need to make sure our people remain close to the fighting, and our tactical skills must be up to scratch. Our job is about bringing confidence to the war fighter, and supporting and sustaining Army’s fighting power.

“Our fighting men and women need to know we have their back, it’s all about trust.”

CAPTION: Commander 2nd Health Brigade, Brigadier Louise Martin, visits soldiers at Shoalwater Bay during the South Queensland Warfighter Exercise.

2nd Health Brigade has the capability to provide everything from point-of-injury care, primary health care as well as advanced resuscitation, damage control surgery, evacuation and allied health support.

Its personnel fill extremely complex roles but their mission remains simple: keep soldiers in the fight, save lives on the battlefield, and care for the wounded, injured and ill.

Despite the significant level of expertise contained within 2nd Health Brigade, Advanced Collective Training opportunities are vital, especially when exercises can present both real and simulated risk.

Under the Land Domain Training System, the training is robust, realistic and challenging, but it also needs to be safe.

“Our participation in this Warfighter, and similarly Talisman Sabre, is hugely important because in the deployable health space we want to support safe training activities,” Brigadier Martin said.

“But we also support ADF operations, so we utilise these collective training opportunities to prepare our people for the stress and challenges of working under combat conditions.”

The Warfighter Series focuses on large-scale Advanced Collective Training within Army’s Land Domain Training System.

CAPTION: Regimental Sergeant Major 2nd Health Brigade, Warrant Officer Class 1 Kimberly Kiely, visits soldiers at Shoalwater Bay during the South Queensland Warfighter Exercise.

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