Hawkeye River Run: Preparing Medics for Large-Scale Combat Operations

The Hawkeye River Run is a two-week-long, statewide medical training exercise designed to prepare Iowa Army National Guard medics for large-scale combat operations. During the exercise, Soldiers assigned to the 109th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 67th Troop Command, Iowa National Guard, moved across the state from east to west, tackling new and increasingly complex training scenarios as they were introduced. Throughout the exercise, Soldiers conducted triage operations, stabilized and evacuated simulated casualties, and established mobile treatment areas while operating alongside local emergency medical services, fire departments, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. These partnerships provided realistic training opportunities while strengthening relationships between the Iowa National Guard and communities across the state. By integrating military medical capabilities with civilian emergency response and healthcare partners, Hawkeye River Run enhanced readiness, improved interoperability, and reinforced the shared commitment to providing lifesaving care during emergencies and large-scale operations. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. Ruth Harrington)