Fort Hood Soldiers Train Underground for Battlefield Medical Emergencies

The U.S. Army's 1st Medical Brigade simulates mass casualty events in combat conditions to prepare for modern warfare.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:26am

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The U.S. Army's 1st Medical Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas, held a training exercise called 'Operation Silver Lightning' to simulate the challenges of providing advanced medical care in a contested, large-scale combat environment. The exercise took place in underground tunnels on the Fort Hood base, where combat medics, doctors, and other medical personnel practiced treating simulated wounded soldiers and K-9s in a dispersed, hidden field hospital setting.

Why it matters

This training exercise reflects the U.S. military's efforts to adapt its medical capabilities to the realities of modern warfare, including the threat of drone attacks observed in the war in Ukraine. By training in underground, dispersed facilities rather than traditional above-ground field hospitals, the Army is preparing its medical personnel to provide care while avoiding detection and minimizing casualties.

The details

During the 10-day exercise, about 300 soldiers and role players portraying wounded troops ran through different evacuation and medical drills. Combat medics treated simulated injuries ranging from traumatic fractures to chest wounds, while veterinarians worked on a simulated wounded K-9. The training aimed to prepare medical personnel to triage and treat a high volume of casualties with limited resources, a challenge that Col. Brad Franklin, deputy commander of the 1st Medical Brigade, has experienced in real-world operations.

  • The exercise took place between March 23 and April 1, 2026.

The players

Col. Kamil Sztalkoper

Director of public affairs for the III Armored Corps at Fort Hood.

Col. Brad Franklin

Deputy commander of the 1st Medical Brigade and chief nurse.

Lt. Col. Cynthia Fallness

Commander of the 43rd Medical Detachment providing veterinary service support.

William Rothwell

A combat medic with the 1st Medical Brigade, whose grandfather served as a combat medic in World War II.

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What they’re saying

“So the medics have understood that you cannot set up a multi-tent field hospital that occupies four or five, up to 15 acres and provides that world-class care, above ground anymore.”

— Col. Kamil Sztalkoper, Director of public affairs for the III Armored Corps

“Knowing you don't have enough people, you don't have enough surgeons, you don't have enough nurses, don't have enough medics and there's more patients than you can handle. So it's forcing them to triage, reverse triage and take care of these casualties.”

— Col. Brad Franklin, Deputy commander of the 1st Medical Brigade and chief nurse

“In this case, it is a traumatic fracture, a compound fracture of the hind limb. And the dog also has a chest wound and also, is having trouble breathing because there's a traumatic injury to the mouth.”

— Lt. Col. Cynthia Fallness, Commander of the 43rd Medical Detachment providing veterinary service support

“The stories of how much he cared and was willing to go, you know, the mile and above to make sure that he can get his brothers home … really touched me. So that's kind of how I feel in this situation.”

— William Rothwell, Combat medic with the 1st Medical Brigade

What’s next

The 1st Medical Brigade plans to continue conducting similar underground training exercises at Fort Hood to further refine its medical capabilities for large-scale combat operations.

The takeaway

This training exercise highlights the U.S. military's proactive approach to adapting its medical support for the realities of modern warfare, including the need to disperse and conceal field hospitals to avoid drone attacks and other emerging threats. By preparing its medical personnel to provide care in unconventional, underground settings, the Army is ensuring its troops have the best possible chance of survival on future battlefields.