Work

Bridging the gaps in prolonged casualty care: the Prolonged Evacuation Transport Team (PETT) programme

Year: 2025

Type: editorial

Abstract: In response to Ukrainian-identified training gaps in the Ukrainian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces (UAF SOF) medical evacuation chain, NATO SOF medical elements developed the Prolonged Evacuation Transport Team (PETT) training programme. The PETT programme provides critical knowledge and skills to Ukrainian SOF medical personnel to increase survivability and decrease morbidity during contested or prolonged evacuation. The bespoke 3-week curriculum uses components of existing US Joint Trauma System products. Medical professionals, such as paramedics, feldshers and nurses, excelled in the full curriculum, resulting in requests for serial iterations of the programme. However, those with limited medical training (1-3 weeks) faced a steeper learning curve. This finding revealed a requirement for the development of a truncated version of PETT, termed Prolonged Critical Lifesaving Skills. The PETT programme successfully advanced UAF SOF's medical capabilities and established a model for future standardised training in contested environments with prolonged evacuation timelines.

Source: BMJ Military Health

DOI: 10.1136/military-2025-003052

Authors: Benjamin James Ingram, P Parker, G Kucaba, J Silcox, P Guła

Institutions: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, University of Rzeszów, United States Army

Language: English

Topic: Trauma and Emergency Care Studies

Subfield: Emergency Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Uniwersytet Rzeszowski, United States Special Operations Command