Behind the Scenes of “Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand”

Many of you may have tuned in last Sunday for National Geographic’s premiere of the two-hour special, Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand. I was recently invited by National Geographic to represent Army Wife Network at a press junket event at Moody Air Force Base prior to the documentary’s television premiere.

While at this special event, hosted by National Geographic, we were given access to the airmen from the 822nd Base Defense Squadron—the unit the special documents. We received a first-hand look at the training these men and women perform every day to ensure they are prepared for any mission they may face.

Here is an inside look into their training and just how efficient this unit is:

Military Working Dogs

The 822nd makes use of Military Working Dogs. I have seen working dog demonstrations many times before, and I never cease to be amazed when I get to see these amazing animals at work. They provide the airmen of the 822nd with another line of defense when maintaining the security of an area. Check out this amazing demonstration we were treated to by MWD Rambo.

Humvee Roll-Over Drills

This is an important training simulator that teaches the airmen what it will feel like to be in a Humvee when it rolls over. For our troops in Afghanistan, they live with the constant threat of a roadside bomb or IED when they take their vehicles out. If a Humvee or MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle) is hit by a bomb, it is likely that the vehicle could roll, and it is important for the airmen to know what that might feel like, how they should react, and how to get themselves out of a vehicle in an upside down position. I chose to participate in the drill and was surprised at just how quickly you can become disoriented after a roll-over, especially when you need to exit the vehicle.  It was an experience I won’t forget.

IED Training Lanes

Our troops also face the danger of IEDs and other potentially dangerous devices while walking on foot. IED lanes are training lanes created to help service members understand what signs to look for that could signal an IED or other device. This training affected me, as it truly made me realize how focused our troops must be when doing foot patrols and how amazing it is that they don’t become overly paranoid in the process. I was surprised by how effectively these IEDs and other devices can be hidden and how our troops must look for the smallest of signs that a device may be present, such as different colored soil or finger marks in the sand. It was mind-blowing to participate in, as you will see in the video here.

Combat Medic Training Demo

Each of the squads has airmen that are trained to provide immediate medical attention to a wounded service member. It was amazing to not only get to see the airmen performing the demo and how quickly they respond and react to injuries, but to see the equipment they train on. The medical “dummies” contain advanced technology that allow them to “bleed” and talk while the airmen are working on them. This gives the airmen an experience that is close to what it may feel like in an actual situation. I found it impressive as you will see in the video here, and I even got to help assist!

MOUT Exercises

While deployed to Afghanistan, the 822nd spent a lot of time in Afghan villages, working on relationship building, bringing needed supplies to the village, and as seen in the show, searching for dangerous Taliban targets. In order to train for the different scenarios a unit could face in these situations, they have Military Operations on Urban Terrain (or MOUT) training exercises. These are made-up, village-type settings, where troops are able to simulate different mission scenarios that would take them into these villages and train them how to react. We are able to witness the Reapers conducting one of these training exercises while at Moody AFB. Here is a video of the exercise, from the explanation about the training, to the mission brief troops would receive before embarking on their mission, their actual trek into the village, and how they react when they come under fire during their mission. It is amazing to see these service members and how they react to a dangerous situation.

It was great to see these men and women in action.  It reminded me a lot of my own active-duty days, and I could feel the sense of family and camaraderie among this squad.

One of the major feelings I took away from spending the day with these heroes is that I thought I understood what they did, but I had no idea. I think that, as spouses, we sometimes think that we are connected to our service member because of the time we spend engulfed in the military community, that we have some idea of what they go through when they are deployed, but this day showed me I had no idea.

It made me look at my own service member in a different light and gave me an even greater appreciation for what he has gone through on his past deployments. I will always and forever be amazed by our service members, from all branches of the military. They play an amazing role and are truly heroes who deserve our country’s utmost respect and appreciation. I was blessed to get this inside glimpse into their world and share it with all of you.

For more about Inside Combat Rescue: The Last Stand, check out this post about one of the airmen.