The Szerencsi SzC Kossuth Lajos Technical School in Sátoraljaújhely, with the support of the National Defence Sports Association, organized the Cadet Healthcare Competition for the third time on Friday, May 24, with the central theme of which this year was again the treatment of battlefield injuries.

The aim of the event went beyond the framework of a traditional competition: the organizers wanted to create a professional platform that would bring the world of military healthcare closer to young people, while developing decision-making in stressful situations, teamwork and practical casualty care skills. The tasks of the competition included, among others, rescue from vehicles, treatment of massive bleeding, treatment of respiratory problems, recognition of amputation injuries and performance of BLS tasks, all based on the "MARCH" algorithm in accordance with NATO military healthcare requirements.

Within the framework of the official cooperation with the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (NATO MILMED COE), the role of professional support has significantly expanded this year. While previously participation took place as an observer and with equipment support, during the 2026 competition, First Lieutenant Attila Kecskés, the medical officer of the NATO MILMED COE Training Branch, already participated in the preparation and implementation of the event as an active professional contributor. In the period preceding the competition, professional consultations took place in order to ensure that the structure of the stations and the thematic of the tasks were even more aligned with modern international military health requirements and the current approach to battlefield casualty care. As part of this, elements of tactical casualty care and structured care algorithms appeared more prominently. During the implementation of the competition, First Lieutenant Attila Kecskés participated as an active evaluator in the closing station based on the complex MARCH methodology, where the cadet teams had to solve complex battlefield casualty care situations under time pressure.

The aim of the task was not only to provide theoretical knowledge, but also to examine whether the participants are capable of priority-based, structured decision-making in a critical situation. At the end of the event, Director Edina Kababik, who is also the ideological creator of this competition series, asked, 1.Lt. Attila Kecskés to conduct a professional evaluation of the competition, during which the motivation, development capacity and openness of the young people to the military medical profession were highlighted. The joint work is a good example of the important role that military and civilian educational cooperation can play in addressing future generations.

The participation of NATO MILMED COE not only provided professional support, but also contributed to the strengthening of military medical career orientation and the further deepening of military-civilian cooperation.