Soldiers teaching Soldiers; helping to save lives

Photo By Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka | Sgt. Shawn Roeder, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment artilleryman; Sgt. Adam Black, 2/16th Infantry Battalion military police squad leader; and Spc. Ricardo Penalosa, 2/16th Infantry Battalion military police, set up a wet bulb globe temperature device July 31, 2014, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The Soldiers learned how to set up the device during a field sanitation training course taught by Bravo Company, 407th Civil Affairs Battalion personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka)  

CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI

08.18.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Soldiers from the 407th Civil Affairs Battalion Functional Specialty Team taught Soldiers from the 2/16th Infantry Battalion crucial skills during a field sanitation course during the month of August, here.

Twenty-three NCOs and junior enlisted soldiers attended forty hours of classroom instruction, demonstrations and practical exercise.

“The role of the field sanitation team is to aid the unit commander in protecting the health of the command,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Nichaya Brown, 407th Civil Affairs FxSP preventative medicine NCO in charge. “This is an important responsibility because unit effectiveness is dependent on the health of its soldiers.”

Lessons in the course included medical threats, water supply, food service sanitation, rodent management, hot and cold weather injuries, toxic-waste disposal, noise hazards and field sanitation equipment and supplies.

One of the biggest challenges Soldiers in a deployed or secluded area may face is lack of proper supplies. The course taught the students how to adapt and overcome those challenges to continue the mission.

“The success of operations is directly related to how well disease and non-battle injuries are prevented,” said Brown. “As a tactical measure, the units with sound preventative medicine measures can maintain fighting strength when the enemy may expect weakness.”

U.S. Army Sgt. Omar Elinbabi, 2/16th IN squad leader, attended the course and said he learned valuable knowledge that will help him ensure the safety of personnel.

“The class taught us safety precautions that would allow me to monitor food, water sources and waste disposal,” Elinbabi said. “This is all to ensure my Soldiers train in the field while remaining healthy; now I can personally ensure the health and well-being of my Soldiers.”

Upon graduation, students received their certificate of training course and were put in charge of taking care of all the field sanitation issues in their area of responsibility. Unit representatives have to know how to recommend to the commander what risks and problems need addressed and what measures should be taken.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2014
• Date Posted: 08.18.2014 08:55
• Story ID: 139629
• Location: CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ