Marine Commando Medics Ready - More than 100 medical staff from across the Armed Forces including Marine Commando Medics had participated in two week exercise.     Exercise Green Serpent was held at Royal Marine Base Chivenor and tested the ability of the Commando Forward Surgical Group to deal with multiple battlefield casualties quickly – and safely.  Chivenor is home to the Commando Logistic Regiment RM, which includes a Medical Squadron, and 24 Commando Regiment RE.

Actors from Amputees in Action and trainee Navy medics [from HMS RALEIGH] – all made-up with realistic wounds and fake blood – served as the casualties for the surgical group – around 80 personnel from the Commando Logistic Regiment, bolstered by surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and specialist medical staff drawn from all three Services working at hospitals across the UK.   As part of that return to what are known as ‘contingency operations’ – the ability to deploy around the world at short notice with the UK’s Response Force Task Group [A naval formation] – the Commando Forward Surgical Group is at five days’ notice to move in support of the lead commando unit (currently 45 Commando, RM based in Arbroath.