The Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center concluded its annual Joint Emergency Medicine Exercise Friday at then-Fort Cavazos, following a week of high-intensity field training that brought together U.S. military and allied medical forces from the Royal Netherlands army and the United Arab Emirates army.

The annual multinational medical training exercise pushed participants into challenging, resource-limited environments meant to mirror the real-life chaos of combat zones, disaster response efforts and mass casualty events.

“JEMX serves as a transformative experience for each participant, fostering a deep sense of collaboration and adaptability they will carry forward throughout their careers,” said Lt. Col. Chantra Frazier, certified nurse midwife at CRDAMC and officer in charge for JEMX 2025. “By working alongside peers from different military branches and allied nations, they gain exposure to diverse medical practices and innovative techniques.”

Throughout the exercise, participants honed their ability to deliver lifesaving care under austere conditions, enhancing skills that go beyond textbook learning.

“JEMX helped me with my confidence, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot within just this one week,” said Pfc. Josh Patterson, a combat medic, 36th Engineer Brigade. “The emergency evacuation lane helped me the most. We learned about it in school, but doing it with real Blackhawks and medical evacuation vehicles was super nice.”

Lt. Col. Daniel Brillhart, a physician at CRDAMC and medical director for JEMX, emphasized the importance of connecting with the newest generation of military medics during such training events.

“Training ensures these medics will perpetuate vital lessons, directly translating into superior casualty care and mission success on future battlefields,” Brillhart said.

The exercise pushed both physical and mental boundaries, according to Demetria Miller, an emergency room physician at CRDAMC.

“We do a lot of training opportunities, but this particular exercise takes things further,” Miller said. “It’s more physically exhausting, includes greater resource constraints and adds real-world complications, like security issues. It really just pushes you to boundaries I haven’t felt in other trainings.”

A defining element of JEMX was shifting care from modern, well-equipped facilities to rugged field conditions — something participants and planners alike say is vital to the future of military medicine.

“Truth in lending, practicing medicine in austere environments is where the future of military medicine will be,” Frazier noted. “We must practice our craft in the manner we will be fighting it.”

With its combination of tactical complexity and multinational collaboration, Frazier concluded JEMX continues to serve as a cornerstone of operational medical readiness for CRDAMC and its partners, ensuring military medical professionals are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.