352nd Special Operations Group medical personnel share ideas during multinational exercise Published April 8, 2010 By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marelise Wood 352nd Special Operations Group Public Affairs EVENES, Norway -- A two-member medical team recently deployed from the 352nd Special Operations Group and briefed local medics on the use of medical equipment in a field environment during Exercise Cold Response 10, an annual multinational training exercise in Norway. Lt. Col. David Luther, 352nd SOG surgeon, and Master Sgt. John Parish, 352nd SOG independent duty medical technician, invited their Norwegian counterparts to the training camp to share some techniques for equipment commonly used by both parties. "Today's main purpose was to integrate with our Norwegian counterparts," said Parish. "They have different levels of training than we do, so we think about their capabilities and show them what we have that will support them." The team highlighted several pieces of equipment, including one piece that is fairly new to the community. "We went over our ventilatory support machines for patients, which is basically respiratory support in the air," said Parish. "We also had the ultrasound machine, a capability we have recently acquired, which expedites the control of bleeding in the field." As the team transitioned into discussing the impact ventilators, the room was abuzz. "I think their favorite was the inter-osseous bone IV injector," Parish said. "When they found out that it involves a needle going through the sternum of the chest, they were quite excited, and also a little afraid." As the briefing came to a close, the local medics expressed great interest in continued integration. "We plan on having them come back out and see how we actually use this equipment on the aircraft," said Parish. Luther and Parish were part of a team of more than 200 352nd SOG Airmen who participated in the exercise. The exercise drew more than 8,000 participants from 14 nations.