Written by Spc. Kandi Huggins, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force Public Affairs
Friday, December 17, 2010 COS WARRIOR — As reflected in the Warrior’s Ethos, “I will never leave a fallen comrade,” the basic skills associated with saving the wounded is one of the core competencies of an American Soldier. Emergency medical technician training expands upon this basic foundation of lifesaving skills to enhance an individual’s ability to treat combat injuries.
As part of the advise, train, and assist mission of Operation New Dawn, “Thunderhorse” medics from the medical platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, conducted EMT training for Iraqi medical professionals at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Nov. 29.
U.S. medics from HHC initiated the five-week training cycle to instruct their Iraqi counterparts, Iraqi Police, Emergency Services Unit and the Ministry of Health on basic medical skills with the goal of returning Iraqi medics to their respective organizations as qualified trainers.
“This is a train-the-trainer type program aimed to teach them how to be teachers,” said Sgt. Charlie Foster, medical team squad leader, HHC. “They currently don’t have an emergency medical program, and that’s why this training is so important.
“We provide them with training tools, manuals, and some equipment, but the ultimate goal we’d like to see accomplished is for them to have their own training program in this region,” he added.
The Thunderhorse medics will supervise training in the following weeks, including an introduction to basic medical skills such as clearing the airway, restoring breathing, controlling bleeding and treating shock.
“We’re training the Iraqi Police and people who are already in the medical field with the most up-to-date trends in EMT based on the most common injuries seen here,” said Pfc. Greg Timmons, a combat medic with HHC. “It’s like a pyramid — you teach them your skills and they carry it on to someone else who may save someone’s life.
“No, you didn’t physically save them,” said Timmons, “but because you were a part in teaching someone else how to apply a tourniquet or bandage an open chest wound, you indirectly played a part in saving a person’s life.”
Throughout December, U.S. Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., will train Iraqi responders airway management, how to care for shock, trauma care, medical assessment training and medical evacuation training.
“In the past, we didn’t have any special training,” said Ghazi Fattah Ismahel, an Emergency Room Medical Assistant at the Leylan Hospital. “Although it’s pretty basic, it will help us become more proficient and hopefully the percent of deaths will decrease in the future.”
The 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div., based out of Fort Riley, Kan., is currently providing advisory and assistance operations in U.S. Division-North in support of Operation New Dawn.
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