South Africa's 44 Medical Task Group, part of

7 Medical Battalion Group 7 Medical Battalion Group is the specialist Airborne Medical Unit of the South African Military Health Service. The Battalion's main task is to render medical support to the South African Airborne and Special Forces. Other specialties of the Ba ...

, is permanently attached to

44 Parachute Brigade 44 may refer to: * 44 (number) * one of the years 44 BC, AD 44, 1944, 2044 Military *44M Tas, a Hungarian medium/heavy tank design of World War II *44M Tas Rohamlöveg, a Hungarian tank destroyer design of World War II, derived from the 44M Tas ta ...

. The Task Group consists of parachute qualified Ops Medics, specialist soldiers who perform the recovery, stabilization and evacuation of wounded soldiers from behind

enemy lines The line of battle is a tactic in naval warfare in which a fleet of ships forms a line end to end. The first example of its use as a tactic is disputed—it has been variously claimed for dates ranging from 1502 to 1652. Line-of-battle tacti ...

. 44 Medical Task Group is similar in function to the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Pararescuemen (also known as PJs), who are tasked with the recovery and medical treatment of personnel in humanitarian and combat environments.

Garrison

Based at 44 Parachute Regiment, Tempe, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. 44 Medical Task Group, consists of a platoon-sized medical contingent consisting of Operational Medical Support Operators or Ops Medics.

Training Requirements

Para Ops Medics are trained under two main criteria: * Military Medical Operations: Para Ops Medics are qualified under Basic Life Support III. They are trained to stabilize patients, stop bleeding, maintain airways, suture wounds, administrate drips and perform lifesaving medical procedures while evacuating patients out of a combat area.Whittle, Marius (2006). "OPS Medic – operational medical orderlies during the Border War". Joernaal vir Eietydse Geskiedenis 31 (3): 326–248. ISSN 0258-2422. * Para Selection /Training: All members of 44 Medical Task Group are static line parachute qualified. Selected members are also Freefall, High Altitude Low Opening (HALO)/ High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) and or Tandem parachute qualified, enabling the Medical Task Group to support the Parachute Battalions, Parachute School and Regiment in their full spectrum of requirements.

References

{{SA Army Units Army units and formations of South Africa Airborne units and formations of South Africa Military units and formations in Bloemfontein Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War Military units and formations established in 1978