Wright State’s Calamityville hosts its largest joint medical training operation

The thunderous roar of Blackhawk helicopters and hundreds of controlled explosions echoed across Springfield, Fairborn and Wright State University’s Calamityville training facility on June 7 during Relentless Valor, a large-scale joint medical exercise.

The comprehensive training operation brought together nearly 400participants from the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, in coordination with the 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The multi-site exercise took place simultaneously at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport and Wright State’s Calamityville disaster training center.

The large-scale simulation replicated complex medical operations both on the ground and in the air following a simulated invasion scenario, providing critical training in contested environments.

“Frankly, it’s spectacular,” said Col. Michael Policastro, 445th Airlift Wing commander and a 2001 Wright State alumnus. “There has been a total buy in of the joint force partnership.”

Participants trained in aeromedical and casualty evacuations and procedures within a joint training environment that included agile combat employment, contested air space scenarios and large-scale combat operations.

“This is the largest exercise we’ve had here a Calamityville to date,” said Bill Harchick, Calamityville’s director of operations.

The training event was also international, attracting participants from 13 countries and 20 international partners who observed the exercise.