The Litter Olympics: Addressing Individual Critical Tasks Lists Requirements in a Forward-Deployed Setting

Individual critical tasks (ICTs) specify the skills and knowledge required for each military occupational specialty (MOS) for enlisted soldiers and areas of concentration (AOCs) for officers. This article describes a structured training method designed to enhance ICT proficiency and reinforce other critical medical skills while deployed in a Role 3 environment in Baghdad, Iraq. The Litter Olympics approach integrates interdisciplinary collaboration and physical exertion into skill reinforcement to improve medical readiness.

The Litter Olympics were conducted with mixed MOS/AOC teams, including nonmedical personnel such as administrative, signal, and engineering specialists. Teams progressed through a series of stations inside and outside the Role 3 hospital, completing ICTs under the supervision of higher-level health care practitioners. Tasks were selected based on their relevance to deployed medical care and their inclusion in ICTs, ensuring alignment with mission-essential skills. Participants completed essential ICTs, including initiating saline locks, applying occlusive dressings, performing needle decompressions, applying tourniquets, and treating pelvic injuries with stabilization devices. Additional deployment-relevant skills included patient movement inside and outside a hospital setting, maintaining spinal precautions, establishing communication via satellite radio, executing a 9-line MEDEVAC request, performing cricothyroidotomies, and conducting Eldon card testing. All teams completed the course within 2 hours and feedback suggested increased confidence and proficiency in critical skills.

The Litter Olympics provide a structured, reproducible format for sustaining medical readiness in a deployed Role 3 setting. By integrating interdisciplinary teamwork, physical engagement, and practical skill application, it offers a dynamic alternative to traditional training methods. This model can be adapted for both deployed and stateside training environments, enhancing medical preparedness while fostering esprit de corps.