Fazekas L, McCown ME, Taylor JB, Ferland KA. 19(1). 27 - 30. (Journal Article)
Abstract
Our intent in presenting this information is to increase the awareness of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) medical community and the overall international medical/military communities about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military medicine's premiere Vigorous Warrior Exercises organized by NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (MILMED COE). The Vigorous Warrior medical exercise series is conducted biennially, with four successful iterations since 2011. These international medical exercises engage military medical elements that enhance NATO capabilities and ensure that new NATO medical concepts are being exercised and tested across the full capability-requirement spectrum. The primary aims of these exercises are to provide NATO and partner nations a multipurpose platform to collectively train their medical forces and personnel; test and experiment new concepts and doctrines; medically evaluate national or multinational medical treatment facilities in accordance with NATO doctrine; produce medical lessons identified and lessons learned; and provide the participants with multinational experience to enhance the provision of health care in NATO operations. These exercises directly strengthen partnerships, improve military medical interoperability, and demonstrate the Alliance's commitment to improving international military collaboration. More than 1,000 medical personnel from 26 NATO and partner nations successfully conducted the joint, multilevel, multinational, medical live exercise Vigorous Warrior 2017 (VW17) throughout three locations in Germany during 4-22 September 2017. This article details the highly successful VW17 and paves the way for a very bright future for the Alliance's military medicine as well as a Vigorous Warrior 2019.
Keywords: NATO; Vigorous Warrior; NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine; NATO Deployment Health Surveillance Capability; Article 5; joint multinational medical exercise; interoperability; international military collaboration; NATO Concept Development and Experimentation; bioresponsiveness