Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) hosted an integrated casualty receiving treatment ship (CRTS) exercise with medical personnel assigned to Boxer, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5 and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command San Diego (NMRTCSD), March 8-10.

The exercise simulated real-world traumas on a mass casualty scale. The simulated casualties were received on the ship’s flight deck and well deck. Sailors from all three commands integrated to form a combined medical team capable of treating a wide range of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises, to performing complex, life-saving medical surgeries.

“This exercise simulates everything that the medical center aboard Boxer is designed to do,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman Daniel Jimenez. “Boxer’s secondary mission is to be capable to support mass casualties, and this exercise puts those capabilities on display.”

During the exercise, live patients and manikins were used to simulate casualties and were first received in the upper vehicle deck, where it was simulated that a landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) entered the ship with casualties. The combined medical staff assessed all of the injured upon arrival and transported them to the medical triage by stretcher bearers. In the triage area, casualties were taken to battle dress stations, operating rooms or immediately into surgery where teams of critical care nurses and surgeons were ready to treat them.



“This exercise is really exciting,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ian Villones. “Bringing many different medical professionals together to share knowledge on how to respond to a mass casualty is really important.”

The exercise benefited Boxer and supporting commands two-fold. CRTS verified the ship’s capability as an emergency response vessel that not only cares for Boxer Sailors and Marines but also other military personnel or civilians who may call on Boxer for medical support during a large scale conflict or natural disaster. The exercise also enabled shipboard familiarization and integration of medical personnel from other commands including FST 5 and NMRTCSD.

“It prepares them for the fight,” said Capt. John Volk, chief nursing officer and deputy chief of staff for operations, Naval Medical Forces Pacific. “Ship familiarization and integration of the medical personnel that will be augmented with Boxer during deployment as well as supplies, facilities, and procedures is a major component of this training exercise.”

Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned Feb. 11, 1995 and is the sixth ship to bear the name. Boxer’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.

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