Medic Instructors honored by Secret Service

Photo By Capt. Heath Steele | Secret Service special agents and medic instructors from the Johnny J. Peralez School of Combat Medicine pose in front of the Task Force 62nd Med Headquarters Feb. 28 after a ceremony honoring the Soldiers for their knowledge and professionalism in Combat Life Saver training. The medic instructors had the rare honor of receiving a plaque on behalf of the Task Force 62nd Medical commander from the Secret Service agents, an event that has not previously taken place. Pictured from left: Sgt. Robert Gilham, a native of Billings, Mont.; Special Agent Liam Booth; Staff Sgt. Michael Schantz, a native of Las Vegas, Nev.; Sgt. Christopher Schubert, a native of Sedgewickville, Mo.; and Special Agent Michael Swangler.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.03.2008

Story by Capt. Heath Steele 

Task Force 62 Medical PAO

By Capt. Heath Steele
Task Force 62 Public Affairs

BAGHDAD—Three medic instructors at the Johnny J. Peralez School of Combat Medicine received a rare honor Feb. 28 by being the first recipients of an honorary plaque presented by the United States Secret Service for their professionalism in providing Combat Life Saver training to Secret Service agents at Camp Victory, Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Michael Schantz, a native of Las Vegas, Nev., Sgt. Christopher Schubert, a native of Sedgewickville, Mo., and Sgt. Robert Gilham, a native of Billings, Mont., received the plaque on behalf of the Task Force 62nd Med commander, Col. Patrick Sargent, for their hard work and dedication to the success of the training program. Each Soldier also received a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the director of the Secret Service and lapel pins bearing the Secret Service insignia for the Combat Life Saver training they provided to the agents.

Special Agent Liam Booth and Special Agent Michael Swangler presented the plaque and certificates to the Soldiers and spoke highly of the professionalism and expertise of the instructors at the school. Booth reflected on his years of medical training in military and government service and stated that the knowledge and experience provided at the school rivals the best training centers in the world despite austere conditions in a deployed environment.

The training and instruction offered by the medics at the training center is vital to service members as they conduct their missions in the field. Each person that receives Combat Life Saver training is trained to the same high-standard allowing every graduate to provide life-saving medical care on the battlefield – something the Secret Service agents feel is very important.

Having the same level of training and skills as the Soldiers they accompany is a very important asset when travelling into harms way and allows for a higher level of confidence, according to Swangler.

The instructors did not take the honor of receiving accolades from the Secret Service lightly.

"We were blown away when they first told us about this," said Schantz. "We came here and just wanted to teach. It was a great honor and it means a lot to us."

The instructors at the school house train 140 service members from all four services as well as civilians and contractors each month. The courses available include Combat Life Saver training, which is advanced first responder training and focuses on the stabilizing and evacuating wounded troops during the first critical hour after injury and Basic Life Saver training which is a combination of the latest CPR procedures as well as the use of the automated external defibrillator.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2008
• Date Posted: 03.03.2008 10:47
• Story ID: 16934
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ