First standardized walking blood bank training strengthens Osan readiness
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- U.S. Air Force medical Airmen from Osan Air Base and Kunsan Air Base, along with U.S. Army medical Soldiers from Camp Humphreys and Camp Casey, completed the Joint Trauma System Valkyrie Role 3 Course, a standardized walking blood bank training event, at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 10-14, 2026.
The training marked the first event of its kind at Osan and designated the 51st Medical Group as the pilot unit for an Office of the Air Force Surgeon General initiative to establish standardized walking blood bank training across OCONUS locations.
“My goal is to provide standardized walking blood bank training at all of our OCONUS locations,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Nicole Ferguson, Air Force Surgeon General Office blood program division chief. “We asked Osan to serve as the pilot unit because of its contingency mission and strong exercise culture.”
A walking blood bank provides an emergency method for collecting blood from donors when conventional blood supplies are unavailable, delayed or insufficient. The capability allows medical personnel to sustain lifesaving care during a contingency or mass-casualty event that disrupts normal blood distribution.
Joint Trauma System instructors led the initial two days of the Valkyrie Role 3 Course, bringing together civilian personnel from San Antonio as well as Navy, Air Force and Army medical experts from across the United States.
During a timed and scored practical exercise, participants activated the walking blood bank and completed the process from donor check-in and blood collection through delivery to the provider team. To qualify as a walking blood bank team, participants had to meet Joint Trauma System standards and complete the sequence within one hour and 20 minutes.
Participants collected actual blood rather than using simulated blood, reinforcing the importance of following each step accurately as errors in its collection, handling or storage can have fatal consequences during patient care.
“If our normal blood support cannot reach us, we can stand up our own capability, get the donor blood supply running and continue resuscitation for injured service members,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Hazel Mangabat, 51st MDG education and training flight chief.
After completing the initial course, the Airmen transitioned from students to instructors. On Thursday and Friday, they taught the same procedures to Army medical personnel while the JTS team observed and evaluated their performance.
The progression allowed JTS to assess whether the Airmen could accurately reproduce the standardized instruction and prepare additional medical personnel to perform the mission. ROK Army personnel also observed the training, gaining exposure to the processes U.S. medical teams would use to generate an emergency blood supply during contingency operations.
The training also cross-trained Airmen from multiple medical specialties in roles that may fall outside their primary duties, helping build teams capable of operating with limited personnel during contingency operations.
“The walking blood bank is important to sustaining the force and ensuring we always have ready Airmen,” Mangabat said. “Members from multiple Air Force specialties come together and learn each other’s jobs so someone can step in when another specialist is unavailable.”
Following the Osan event, the JTS team will continue training at Camp Humphreys, expanding the standardized program to additional medical personnel across the Korean Peninsula.
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