The "Desert Medics" of the 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) set up an expeditionary command post at the Joint Training Center in Jordan with the assistance of soldiers from the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's operational command post.
This is part of an exercise 3rd MCDS has termed Operation Eagle's Landing to enhance the unit's expeditionary mission command capability with its medical equipment, services, and command and control within the U.S. Central Command area of operation.
"This is a proof of concept for 3rd Med to conduct split-based operations and rapid redeployment of a headquarters element," said Army Maj. Keith Horn, deputy chief of operations for 3rd MCDS. "We took a slice of our sections, pushed them forward, and established a tactical operations center, while exercising battle drills, so we can better find holes and places for improvement."
The operation gave 3rd MCDS soldiers the ability to see themselves as an organization and work through issues encountered as a team, increasing their operational readiness.
"This mission has been really successful," said Army Sgt. Major Donald Marr, 3rd MCDS Command Sgt. Maj. "We have been able to prove we are able to displace a portion of our headquarters, encounter initial communication issues, work through them, and continue with the mission."
In addition to working with 1st TSC, the Desert Medics collaborated with several other mission partners, including Area Support Group-Jordan, the Texas National Guard's 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion and Task Force Spartan. TF Spartan is the military organization executing Operation Spartan Shield, which maintains a U.S. military posture in Southwest Asia, sufficient to strengthen our defense relationships and build partner capacity.
"Once the planning began, it became a much more robust exercise. The initial talks were for something small," Horn said. "But because it's a more robust exercise, we were able to properly coordinate with our partners in order to complete this expeditionary mission."