24.10.2013.

Exercise "Autumn 2013"

Demonstration exercise "Autumn 2013" of the fourth-class students for reserve officers of medical and veterinary services in the voluntary military service has been successfully completed today at the Military Medical Academy.

The theme of the exercise was treating of those affected in the conditions of emergency situation such as earthquake. For the students, apart from checking of the already acquired knowledge, the goal is to acquire the new ones, with mastering the skills and experience of command and control, medical tactical and joint tactical units and the organization of the medical phases and providing medical assistance.

Addressing the guests and the Austrian doctors who had just completed the course of "War Surgery" at the MMA and the Angolan military delegation, the Chief of the Military Health Department, Professor Brigadier General Zoran Popovic said that their presence encourages and gives impetus for the activities in education and training, which are the goal of this exercise at the renowned military medical facility, to be continued.

- It is my impression that the MMA Medical Training Center, that is the organizer of this exercise, achieves every year better and better results and thus recommends itself to be declared as a regional centre. It fulfils the main preconditions. It has highly qualified educators, has the proper equipment, and MMA medical personnel has respectable clinical experience in the care of injured and sick – General Popovic pointed out underlining that training of personnel to engage in peacekeeping missions is the task performed by the Training Centre, which is of particular importance for strategic goal of the defence policy that has more than 130 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces trained to participate in the UN mission in Congo, and the European Union mission in Somalia.

Head of Military Academy, Professor Brigadier General Marijan Novakovic said that the help and quick response to emergencies are obligation of all of us , not only to our citizens but also to our neighbours and friends .

- Natural disasters do not choose whom to hit and they come unannounced, but therefore we are here to be prepared if such help is needed – the head of the Military Medical Academy pointed out saying to the participants in the exercise that there is no doubt that activities are well prepared, and that they gained new knowledge and experience in command and control of medical and joint tactical units in the case of casualty and victims care in extraordinary situations.

Demonstration exercise "Autumn 2013" was continued at the MMA Poison Control Centre, where situation of leakage of gas and toxic substances from a chemical plant and clearing the consequences with treatment of the poisoned. I one of the working points, at the Banjica barracks, the work of mixed medical prevention and psychological-psychiatric-medical teams in the earthquake-affected area was presented. Activities of mobile surgical teams in combat casualty care and the aid station and air medical evacuation were also demonstrated.