The 30-person medical team designed to provide short-notice help and support to civilian hospitals who may deal with Ebola cases at home began training Wednesday at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Sunday ordered U.S. Northern Command to establish the team after a request from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The order from Hagel called for 20 critical care nurses, five doctors trained in infectious diseases and five trainers in infectious disease protocols.
The expeditionary medical support team is made up of 15 soldiers, six airmen and nine Navy personnel, said Don Manuszewski, a spokesman for U.S. Army North.
The team is expected to train through the weekend, and will then be able to respond within 72 hours if called, Manuszewski said.
They are being trained by trainers from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
In addition to training on how to use personal protective gear and properly handle potential Ebola patients, five of the 30 team members will receive specific training on "rigorous infection control practices for viral hemorrhagic fevers" such as Ebola, Manuszewski said.
They will then be able to provide training to civilian providers, if needed, as well as provide oversight and make recommendations for improvements in protocols, he said.
Most of the soldiers and all the airmen are stationed in the San Antonio area, he said. The Navy personnel came from San Diego, California; Portsmouth, Virginia; Pensacola, Florida; and Beaufort, South Carolina.
After training, if there's no immediate demand for their skills, the 30 team members will be return to their home stations and remain in a "prepare to deploy" status for 30 days, Manuszewski said.
"The current plan is to train this team of 30," Manuszewski said. "There's currently not a plan to expand that, but having a cadre of personnel who are already trained in providing care in rigorous control practices for viral hemorrhagic fevers would enable us to expand quickly if directed."
Michelle Tan is the editor of Army Times and Air Force Times. She has covered the military for Military Times since 2005, and has embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Gabon and the Horn of Africa.
