U.S. Navy, ADF Participate in Valkyrie Emergency Fresh Whole Blood Transfusion Training

26 May 2024

From Cpl. Juan Torres

“You guys are the Marines’ doctors; there’s no better in the business than Navy corpsmen,” U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lewis B. ‘Chesty’ Puller told his corpsmen during the Korean War.

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This enduring trust highlights the critical role Navy corpsmen play on the battlefield, a role that continually evolves with advancements in medical training and technology. When your line of work is to save lives in non-combat and combat environments, no realm of training should be left unseen.

In 2017, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Russell Wier, then the battalion surgeon for 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, recognized a pressing need. He saw the potential to save more lives by bringing emergency fresh whole blood transfusions to the battlefield. Inspired by the U.S. Army special operation’s Ranger O Low Titer Whole Blood Program, Wier developed the ‘Valkyrie’ program. This innovative initiative has since been adopted across I Marine Expeditionary Force and II MEF, bringing advanced life-saving capabilities to the corpsmen level.

“Valkyrie is our emergency fresh whole blood program. It’s a curriculum designed to teach students how to do live blood transfusions in the field, as well as manage and take care of multiple casualties with different injury patterns,” explained Petty Officer 2nd Class Abm Asim, a hospital corpsman and Valkyrie instructor with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, right, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, simulates drawing blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

Australian Army Sgt. Sean O’Regan, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, prepares to draw blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

Australian Army PTE. Melissa Murray, left, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, organize medical equipment during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, prepares to draw blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Abm Asim, center, a hospital corpsman with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, shows Seaman Albert Romarate, left, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3, and Australian Army Sgt. Sean O’Regan, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, how to properly prepare medical equipment to draw blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Asim is a native of Florida. Romarate is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Abm Asim, a hospital corpsman with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, demonstrates how to properly prepare medical equipment to draw blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Asim is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Abm Asim, center, a hospital corpsman with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, demonstrates how to prepare equipment to draw blood to Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, left, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), MRF-D 24.3, and Australian Army PTE. Melissa Murray, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Asim is a native of Florida. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

Australian Army Sgt. Sean O’Regan, left, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, and U.S. Navy Seaman Albert Romarate, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, organize medical equipment during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Romarate is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy medical personnel with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3 and Australian Army soldiers with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, participate in Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 15, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres) (This image was manipulated using masks as a blurring technique)

U.S. Navy Lt. Brett Marion, a lab officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, teaches U.S. Navy Corpsmen and Australian Army soldiers with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, about blood transfusions during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 15, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Marion is a native of Maryland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

Australian Army Brigadier Douglas Pashley, the commander of 1st Brigade, observes U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, and Australian Army Soldiers with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, participating in Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Clinton K. Hall, center left, the battalion commander of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, speaks with Australian Army soldiers during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Hall is a native of Nevada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher Parker, an intelligence specialist with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, gets blood drawn during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Parker is a native of Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

Australian Army Sgt. Sean O’Regan, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, draws blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

Australian Army PTE. Melissa Murray, right, a medical technician with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, draws blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Clinton K. Hall, left, the battalion commander of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, speaks with an Australian Army soldier during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Hall is a native of Nevada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Hamlin, a hospital corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, speaks with Australian Army soldiers during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Hamlin is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Hamlin, center, a hospital corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, speaks with Australian Army soldiers during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 17, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Hamlin is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, applies a tourniquet during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, simulates drawing blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariana Buckley, left, a hospital corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, simulates drawing blood during Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, NT, Australia, May 16, 2024. The Valkyrie program enables military units to self-supply blood through emergency donor panels by adequate training, rehearsal, and preparation, gaining the skills and knowledge to efficiently collect whole blood, and conduct blood transfusions in the event of a casualty. Buckley is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

MRF-D 24.3 U.S. Navy corpsmen showcased the Valkyrie program’s expanding influence. Sailors taught and collaborated alongside Australian Army medical technicians with 1st Health Battalion, 2nd Health Brigade, sharing crucial life-saving techniques during a three-day Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training class.

“The program was originally piloted for use in conventional warfare by 5th Marines and has been further expanded by the 1st Marine Division Navy Education and Training Office into what it is today,” said Asim. “We are here teaching the Australian Defence Force a program that we started to increase our survivability and capabilities with our Allies.”

The ADF currently does not have a field environment emergency fresh whole blood transfusion program but aims to develop one similar to Valkyrie.

“It’s important to know how you guys do things and you guys know how we do things, so we can work out what works best for us both,” said Australian Army PTE. Melissa Murray, a medical technician with 1st Health Bn., 2nd Health BDE, and student of the Valkyrie training. “I’ve learned a lot throughout the course, and I think it’s really amazing. I can’t wait for us to have our own program.”

Service members who participate in the Valkyrie course become better equipped to save lives. As the nature of military medicine evolves, the Valkyrie program continues to expand and develop.

“The future of the Valkyrie course looks like incorporating this training and these curriculums into the basic level of training for all of our first responders in the Army, Navy and the Air Force,” said Asim. “We hope to standardize this protocol across the entire Department of Defense.”

With a commitment to innovation and collaboration, the Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training program exemplifies the relentless pursuit of excellence in military medical care, ensuring that those who risk their lives on the battlefield receive the best possible support.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: U.S. Navy, ADF participate in Valkyrie emergency fresh whole blood transfusion training

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