FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska — In a significant collaboration between U.S. and Indian military forces, medical personnel engaged in a joint academic exchange focused on enhancing medical readiness during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025.
The exercises, which took place at the Fort Wainwright Medical Simulation Training Center, included members from the 11th Airborne Division and the 18th Theater Medical Command, along with their Indian counterparts.
This academic initiative, held from September 1 to 14, aimed to share best practices and improve interoperability for operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
Exercise Yudh Abhyas is an annual bilateral exercise that fosters enhanced readiness and partner nation capacity, bringing together forces for combined command post and field training activities.
During the exchange, U.S. Army representatives instructed Indian medical officers on critical topics such as patient evacuation procedures and health service support planning.
In turn, Indian medical personnel shared their expertise on challenges like high-altitude physiology, cold weather injury prevention, and infectious disease management in densely-packed formations.
Col. (Dr.) Paul Robben from the 18th Theater Medical Command praised the exchange for enhancing understanding of diverse medical practices, noting the benefit of India’s ‘hand and foot parade’ routine, a preventive measure against frostbite that emphasizes simple yet effective techniques.
Hands-on training sessions allowed soldiers to practice casualty care techniques tailored for Arctic and high-altitude operations, assisting in the development of skills necessary for large-scale combat and disaster response missions.
Lt. Col. Philip Durando highlighted the critical lessons learned during the exercise, emphasizing the collaboration needed during large-scale combat operations amidst expected challenges such as significant casualties and logistical hurdles in the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area.
The medical exchange was particularly important in synchronizing health service support planning and developing operational medical concepts while addressing the unique logistical challenges faced in the region, such as extended medical evacuation routes and dispersed operations.
For the Indian Army, this exchange offered vital opportunities to share best practices rooted in their experiences operating in mountainous terrains, focusing on specialized cold-weather treatments and preventive protocols aimed at frostbite and altitude-related illnesses.
This collaboration aligns with U.S. Army Pacific’s objective to enhance theater-level medical capabilities.
The 18th Theater Medical Command plays a key role in this mission by providing operational medical support and planning for multinational exercises and responses.
Yudh Abhyas 2025 also integrates a range of professional development activities, including brigade-level command post exercises and cultural exchange initiatives, showcasing the multifaceted relationship between the U.S. and India.
The longstanding exercise, which translates to “Preparing for War” in Hindi, has broadened since its launch in 2004, tackling various operational scenarios such as counterinsurgency and humanitarian aid missions.
With objectives centered on enhancing bilateral readiness and strengthening military cooperation, Yudh Abhyas continues to play a pivotal role in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The 2025 iteration of this exercise underscores the ongoing growth of defense ties between the U.S. and India, which include military drills, defense trade agreements, and personnel exchanges designed to improve capabilities and strategic unity in the face of shared challenges.
image source from：army
