Army medics share life-saving concepts in Qatar

Photo By Dustin Senger | U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Beck, from Chesapeake, Va., shakes hands with a Qatari soldier...... read more read more

Photo By Dustin Senger | U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Beck, from Chesapeake, Va., shakes hands with a Qatari soldier after a four-day information sharing seminar in Qatar, May 29. Beck had joined four other combat medical instructors to demonstrate U.S. Army combat life-saving concepts to the Qatari military. "The Qataris were willing to learn and put forth a lot of effort," said Beck. "The participants definitely wanted to be here."  see less | View Image Page

DOHA, QATAR

05.29.2008

Story by Dustin Senger 

Area Support Group - Qatar

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By Dustin Senger
Area Support Group Qatar Public Affairs

DOHA, Qatar – U.S. Army medics completed the first combat lifesaver seminar in Qatar on May 29, as part of a U.S. military information exchange program offered to allied forces in the Middle East. Thirty participants from the Gulf state's armed forces spent four consecutive days learning U.S. Army combat life-saving concepts, which centered on tactical combat causality care at a point of injury – when seconds count toward saving a life.

Qatar is a small country with a large global impact. The emirate's fast growing economy is boosted by exporting an abundance of fossil fuels. Since 2004, over 160,000 war fighters have participated in the U.S. Central Command rest and recuperation pass program in Qatar. Executed by U.S. Army Central Area Support Group Qatar, the program provides troops various venues for relaxation, recreation, shopping, and cultural expeditions. The medical information exchange seminar was a relationship-building effort coordinated by U.S. Army Central and the U.S. Embassy in Qatar.

"All of our units should experience this," said Qatari Army Lt. Col. Adel Khamis Al Noobi, during the third day of the seminar. "If you find an injured person, it's important to know how to keep them alive until medics arrive." According to Noobi, most Qatari military servicemembers learn field medical support from basic text-book instruction. Hands-on training is usually reserved for specialized emergency response units. Of the 30 participants, 21 held non-medical military occupations, such as infantry, logistics, transportation and administration.

"Being on the field playing is much different than learning in the locker room – in the field, you learn more," said Noobi. As part of the information exchange, U.S. Army medical officials staged exercises simulating real medical emergencies. "I hope we can continue these courses but make them longer. Two weeks would have been much better than four days."

"The Qataris were willing to learn and put forth a lot of effort," said U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Beck, from Chesapeake, Va. "The participants definitely wanted to be here." The event was Beck's first international symposium as a combat medic instructor. "Coming to Qatar was a unique experience. I am not use to speaking through an interpreter but we had a great linguist. We monitored our success by asking questions and observing practical exercises." During one hands-on scenario, participants prepared and administered intravenous solutions to each other.

"Qatar turned out to be one of our best information exchange seminars in the Middle East," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gordon Mayes, from Haines City, Fla. "If the Qataris request it, this could continue to happen several times a year."

Mayes is the U.S. Army Central Command medical operations officer who led the team of five instructors. Prior to Qatar, he completed health services support seminars in Yemen, Bahrain and Oman. The team leader says he always receives immediate feedback asking for return visits.

"Aside from our medics, we are also building the knowledge base of our Arabic linguists by submerging them in the culture," said Mayes. "This interaction provides an excellent opportunity for both nations to get together and see how each operates." Information exchange seminars are offered to numerous nations throughout Southwest Asia, as a cooperative effort between U.S. Central Command and the local U.S. embassies.

The programs in the Middle East focus on many facets of global military readiness; such as aviation, artillery, air-defense artillery, communications, counter-terrorism, professional development, staff planning, military intelligence, engineering, women serving in the military, special operations, security forces and infantry tactics.

Other than troop training, the seminars create a forum for senior military officials discuss regional requirements and plan future advancements. Qatar's combat lifesaver seminar was an introduction to continued medical security cooperation efforts. U.S. Army officials plan to continue support to their armed forces – in an effort to enhance host nation support capabilities and joint military readiness.

"This event in Qatar wasn't training but a demonstration of U.S. military capabilities," said U.S. Army Warrant Officer Scot Hector, from Fayetteville, N.C. He is a Civil International Military Affairs operations officer coordinating the events for USARCENT. "We provide over 50 similar seminars a year to build relationships in the Middle East. These type of sessions plant the seeds that later grow into major training events – such as Bright Star, a combined forces exercise that has been reoccurring for 30 years." Bright Star, hosted in Egypt, is the largest USARCENT coalition training exercise overseas. It combines air, ground, naval and special operations forces from several nations.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. James Lovelace, USARCENT commanding general, encourages cooperative events similar to the combat lifesaver seminar in Qatar. "It is a tremendous opportunity for us to work with the Qatari Army which strengthens our relationship and allows us to exchange ideas," said Lovelace.