Oregon Guard Tests Drones for Battlefield Medical Deliveries

Combat medics from the Oregon National Guard recently participated in an innovative training exercise at Camp Rilea, utilizing drone technology to deliver medical supplies in large-scale combat environments. This initiative seeks to address new challenges in battlefield medicine, especially when traditional medical evacuation methods may not be feasible.

The training, held from Jan. 23-31, 2025, was conducted by the 249th Regional Training Institute’s (RTI) medical detachment and introduced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the final exercise. This marks the first time drones have been integrated in the unit’s sustainment course, which ensures combat readiness for medics.

“We are moving away from the combat strategies used during the global war on terror. We will not always have a medevac just an hour away. We may need to travel or use ground transport to reach an ambulance exchange point before getting a casualty to a higher level of care,” said John Lee, Sgt. 1st Class from the 249th RTI medical detachment, Oregon National Guard.

The new method of delivering medical supplies uses drones provided by Legionair Tactical, which can travel at speeds of up to 40 mph and carry up to 10 lbs of supplies for 35 minutes. “With a range of about 25 miles, this allows us to deliver crucial medical supplies directly to where they’re needed in the field,” said Travis Petete, co-founder and managing director, Legionair Tactical.

This two-week course combines classroom lessons with practical training, including medical trauma lanes and a field exercise. Medics are required to recertify every two years to ensure they remain current on the latest skills necessary for working in combat conditions. The course progresses from basic medical procedures to more complex, high-pressure situations, prioritizing the medics' readiness and ability to adapt in austere environments.

“We start with the fundamentals and progressively build their skills. Since there is no way to know how much practical experience they have had in the past two years, we focus on refreshing and improving their abilities,” said Lee.