Force Protection military personnel conduct the Exercise ‘Dustoff’ to strengthen interoperability and operational capabilities in Iraq

 This activity allows the military personnel to achieve the improvement of their instruction and training in casualty aeromedical evacuation

Military personnel from the 22nd Force Protection Unit - AI of the NATO Mission in Iraq (UFP-AI XXII in Spanish) have carried out the Exercise ‘Dustoff’ near the Besmayah military base (also known as Besmaya Range Complex) for comprehensive training in aeromedical evacuation (Medical Evacuation or MEDEVAC) procedures.

This activity entailed the simulation of an incident with casualties, in which UFP-AI XII military personnel, including Spaniards, performed the initial reconnaissance tasks. To guarantee the safety of the area concerned, basic first aid measures were applied. The injured person was then transferred to the evacuation area to be received by military medical personnel, who facilitated a clinical assessment, determined the evacuation priority and applied the necessary interventions to stabilise the patient.

Once the patient was secured, the aeromedical phase of the exercise began, which involved coordination with the evacuation aircraft. UFP-AI XXII personnel established a secure perimeter for landing, allowing for a rapid and efficient transfer. The operation culminated in the transport of the injured person to the corresponding medical centre. Overall, the medical procedures to be followed in a real situation were reproduced at its most realistic standards.

The activity was an example of multinational interoperability for a unique procedure, with the integration of protection units, medical teams, control commands and aircrews from different NATO allied members. This cooperation involving practice tasks strengthens cohesion, improves responsiveness capability and enables the optimization of joint protocols, which are fundamental in a scenario where every second counts in saving lives.

NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) continues to develop activities of this kind to ensure the safety of its military personnel, while reaching the fulfillment of its mandate to provide support to the Iraqi authorities. Exercises such as ‘Dustoff’ do not only improve technical and operational capabilities, but also strengthen the spirit of cooperation between allied nations, which is the cornerstone of the mission’s success.

Spain’s participation in Iraq

Spain takes part in the two international missions deployed in Iraq: the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) and Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), led by the Global Coalition Against ISIS/Daesh, where Spain maintains a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG XXII).

The NATO mission in Iraq aims to help strengthen Iraqi security forces and defence education institutions by training and advising Iraqi defence and security officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and Iraqi military academies and military education institutions. NMI fully integrates civilian and military personnel, with the aim of multiplying the effectiveness of NATO’s efforts and maximising cooperation with other entities in the territory.