NATO’s Largest Military Medical Exercise Taking Place in Bakonykúti

NATO and the world’s largest military medical exercise is currently underway at the Hungarian Defense Forces’ training area in Bakonykúti (western Hungary).

Major Máté Tóth, a member of the NATO Military Health Center of Excellence, shared on Tuesday that the inaugural military health exercise, named Vigorous Warrior 24, first took place 13 years ago with the involvement of five nations. Today, it has expanded to include 33 nations. While most nations have contributed medical units and field hospitals, some are engaged in planning and analysis.

The exercise encompasses a sprawling area of about 1,000 square kilometers, simulating medical support for tens of thousands of troops facing an imaginary adversary with similar capabilities.

Highlighting the critical role of timely medical care, Major Tóth emphasized that in Afghanistan, the survival rate of wounded soldiers exceeded 90 percent with prompt care. However, in active theaters of war, this rate significantly decreases. Therefore, their focus lies on maintaining high-quality care while dealing with a larger volume of casualties. Additionally, the exercises serve to identify and address any gaps or failures in the medical system.

In conjunction with the main exercise, teams are also preparing for chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear threats.

These simulations involve detecting and responding to threats, as well as practicing the seamless transfer of casualties to the healthcare system.

Major Tóth also highlighted the capabilities of the Hungarian Defense Forces’ Role 2 modular field hospital, located close to the battlefield. With a staff of 50-60, this facility can provide immediate care to the wounded, facilitating their transfer to state care facilities with the assistance of the National Ambulance Service (OMSZ). Furthermore, efforts are being made to streamline the involvement of civilian health workers in disaster situations, with organizations like the Hungarian Red Cross and the National Bureau of Investigation’s disaster victim identification unit actively participating alongside the OMSZ.

A significant aspect of the exercise is the practice of rapid mobility and adaptability of healthcare facilities. Drawing from recent experiences in the Ukrainian theater of war, where airstrikes on field hospitals occur approximately half an hour after reconnaissance drone sightings, Ukrainian soldiers are present to share insights and strategies with the participants.

Via MTI; Featured Image: MTI /Lakatos Péter