Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New York Army National Guard Medics Train in Brazil By Capt. Stephanie Fernandez and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni,
                New York National Guard
 FOZ DO IGUAZU, BRAZIL – Fifteen New York Army National Guard medics and physician assistants traveled to Brazil to participate in South America’s largest military humanitarian response exercise Aug. 12-18. The Soldiers, from the 466th Medical Company, Area Support, joined 100 other foreign military personnel from 13 countries and 1,700 Brazilians for Operation Parana III in Parana State. The New York National Guard and Brazil have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2018. “We really enjoyed the opportunity to integrate into the Brazilian medical team and see how other countries really treat and care for their soldiers,” said New York National Guard Maj. Shelly Respecki, 466th commander. “The entire staff really took us all in and were open to a collaboration of sharing best practices and techniques.” She said the exercise enabled members of the unit to size up their strengths and areas for improvement. The scenario — the U.S. Army’s first participation in the exercise since its inception in 2017 — simulated a catastrophic flood in the city of Santa Helena. The 466th Soldiers worked alongside the Brazilian Army medical personnel to open a Role II field hospital, which provide advanced trauma management, emergency treatment and surgical care. New York National Guard 1st Lt. Justin Perez, an intensive care unit registered nurse in civilian life, said he learned a lot working in the field hospital. “It was an incredible experience just to be able to see how the Brazilians in a medical setting work and how much we were able to learn from them and vice versa,” Perez said. “We were each teaching each other classes and even though we had that language barrier, we were eventually able to build up the chemistry a lot quicker than expected to be able to work cohesively together.” U.S. and Brazilian army medical personnel also collaborated outside the field hospital, responding to mass casualties, medical evacuations, first aid and trauma care. The 466th deployed to Kuwait in 2021 and 2022, so some Soldiers brought that experience. The Americans also assisted in helicopter medical evacuation missions — a great experience, according to Sgt. Brion Pasquale, a combat medic and civilian emergency medical technician. Also participating in the exercise were two public affairs Soldiers and a staff planner from the New York Army National Guard’s 53rd Troop Command. Maj. Robert Freed, who has a master’s degree in emergency management, was asked to serve as a planner in the exercise’s joint operations center. He managed a staff of five Brazilian officers and said the exercise “demonstrated the expeditionary capacity of National Guard units to successfully augment with foreign militaries during humanitarian emergencies abroad.” Brazilian Army 2nd Lt. Jemy Chen, a doctor, said working with the Americans and sharing techniques and equipment “was a positive experience that you can’t get in our everyday training.” Pasquale worked with Chen and said he was able to apply some of the techniques he’s learned in his civilian job during the exercise. “We had some issues with the stretcher going into the ambulance but were able to mix different techniques to find a way that we all felt comfortable with,” Pasquale said. “It was also fun to ride in an ambulance in a foreign country, an experience that I’ll never forget.” Brazilian Army Maj. Luis Gustavo said the exercise, which included troops from Mexico, Spain, Colombia and other countries, was the best he had participated in. “My troops do not have the international experience, and most have never left Brazil,“ Gustavo said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  New York National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 Brazil
 
 New York Guardsmen Conclude Southern Vanguard 24 in Brazil
 By Spc. Joseph Liggio,
  New York National Guard, Brazil Army Train Together
 By Sgt. Jordan Sutton,
  New York National Guard Medics Attend Brazilian Jungle Course
 By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni,
  More
 10th Homeland Response Force Conducts Collective Training5/21/2024New York, Connecticut Soldiers are Regional Best Warriors5/20/2024Connecticut Guard Deploys Cloud-Based Radar/Radio Connection5/17/2024 View more Guard News »
 Pennsylvania Guard Military Police Deploying to Guantanamo Bay5/21/2024
Maryland Air Guard Participates in Desert Flag 20245/17/2024
Georgia Army Guard Joins DEFENDER 24 Exercise in Sweden5/8/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 In Thailand, Hokanson Sees Enduring Partners in Name and Practice5/21/2024

National Guard Officer Candidates Train with Albanian Partners5/21/2024

New Hampshire Guard Welcomes Cabo Verde State Partners5/17/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil