The 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord is at at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif, participating large-scale, conventional warfare training with offensive and defensive operations.

Staff Sgt. Justin A. Naylor, a journalist with the 3-2 SBCT, is following the action at Fort Irwin. Sunday, Jan. 26, he followed Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-2 SBCT, as it rehearsed for a mass casualty event while training at the National Training Center. Here's an excerpt from his report:

The term mass casualty refers to an event where the ability of available medical resources to respond is exceeded, according the 3-2 SBCT brigade surgeon, Maj. Evan Trivette.

This is the second time that the company has rehearsed for a large-scale casualty-causing event since they arrived at NTC earlier this month. This rehearsal primarily focused on familiarizing soldiers with collections, casualty collection points and medical evacuation routes.

"It gives us the ability to move our casualties if we receive, lets say, indirect fire or anything that could produce a significant number of casualties," 1st Sgt. Anthony Lockett, HHC first sergeant, said of the training. Indirect fire refers to attacks conducted over long distances by weapons such as mortars or artillery.

Read Naylor's full report here.