Iraqi Police Graduate Medical Training
Thursday, 23 April 2009 By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson
Multi-National Division - Center

FOB DELTA
— When the Wasit Provincial Director of Police asked the 41st Fires Brigade for some help training his medics, Task Force Gunner Med stepped up to the plate to provide assistance.
Based on the Army's Combat Life Saver Course, 10 Iraqi Police (IP) medics were recently trained here in triage, the three echelons of tactical field care, treating shock, abdominal wounds, chest wounds, fractures, burns, clearing airways, and breathing and circulation during the three-week course.
"It's very important to increase our information in medical training," said IP Sgt. Deyaa Hasham, IP Special Medical Unit. "We learned a lot of information that is really beneficial to save a lot of lives and we learned a lot about the care under fire and evacuating a casualty. We really learned a lot."
Not only did the course help the IP learn how to be better medics, but it also instilled a greater appreciation for being medics, according to the class leader.
"I believe that my Soldiers have more concern about the mission as they deal with the patients because they learned the important things about triage and they learned a lot of information," said IP Staff Sgt. Karrar Ali, class leader. "The course was perfect."
The instructor for the course was impressed with the IP medics.
"They're excellent; they already know a lot and so the classes have been going really well," said medic Spc. Krystal Smith, 589th Brigade Support Battalion. "The people who do know stuff are willing to share with the people that aren't quite as experienced and they always have answers to my questions."
The last part of the course tested the medics' ability to start an intravenous catheter. Each medic successfully started an IV, which was a critical skill required to graduate the course.
The medics also received all of the materials used in the course so that they can go back to their unit and train other medics as part of the Train-the-Trainer program.
U.S. Airmen Provide Iraqi Air Force with Air-to-Ground Weapons Training
Thursday, 23 April 2009 Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq Release
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE — U.S. Airmen assigned to the 521st Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron (AEAS) here have begun training Iraqi Airmen to safely and effectively employ precision air-to-ground ordnance using the Hellfire missile capable AC-208 Caravan.
The members of Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) Squadron-3 are already fully qualified to fly Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaisance (ISR) missions in the Caravan. The 521st AEAS Airmen are part of the Coalition Air Force Training Team (CAFTT), which is charged with training, advising and assisting Iraqi Airmen to support progressive transition of combat air operations to the Iraqi government.
The training for the first two IqAF Squadron-3 aircrews, each comprised of a pilot and mission sensor operator, is a move toward the Iraqi Airmen’s eventual integration into full combat operations, to include counterinsurgency missions and in defense of Iraqi Army Soldiers conducting ground operations.
“The introduction of precision air-to-ground kinetic operations will be a major milestone in the development of the Iraqi Air Force,” said Brig. Gen. Robert Kane, CAFTT commander. Kane describes the training at Kirkuk as part of a larger effort to develop IqAF capabilities in planning, command and control, and execution of joint combat operations in the defense of Iraq.
Tikrit Emergency Response Battalion Captures Insurgent Cell Members
Thursday, 23 April 2009 | |
Multi-National Corps – Iraq Release
TIKRIT — Iraq’s Tikrit Emergency Response Battalion (ERB) recently planned, led and facilitated an operation leading to the arrest of three suspected key members of a Bayji-based insurgent cell. According to Iraqi intelligence, the cell (comprised of members of the former Iraqi Army) led kidnapping raids and coordinated attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. With Tikrit Major Crimes Court-issued warrants, ERB members entered the residences and detained each of the cell members. “The capture of these individuals should disrupt insurgent operations in Salah al Din, and validates the ability of the Tikrit ERB to gather intelligence and conduct unilateral operations,” said the combat advising commander present at the time of the operation. |
MND-B Soldier combat death
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
BAGHDAD – A Multi-National Division–Baghdad Soldier died April 22 from combat related injuries while conducting a patrol in eastern Baghdad. The Soldier’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The incident is currently under investigation.