Iraqi Army, Long Knife medics conduct joint training

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. John Schmidt, combat medic, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, supervises as an Iraqi army medic administers an IV to a dummy's arm.  

TALLIL AIR BASE, IRAQ

08.15.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By 2nd Lt. Melanie Kwan
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – A group of Iraqi army medics completed combat medical training at Camp Mittica, near Tallil, with medics of the Long Knife Brigade July 30, 2008.

Soldiers of the 10th IA Division and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Long Knife Brigade, partner to improve not only critical combat skills, but also valuable enablers, such as medical support.

"I really like to train with the U.S. Army and train on their equipment," said IA Pfc. Chassid Borhan, medic, 10th IA Div. "We like to learn their ways of medical care so we can make ours better."

Combat medics from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div., taught advanced medical skills, such as combat casualty care, aid station operations and basic pharmacology, to the Iraqi soldiers. The extensive 10-day training also involved evacuating casualties by ground and air, managing obstructed airways and techniques to control bleeding.

In order to complete the course successfully, medics were required to successfully pass written and hands-on tests.

"The Iraqi army medics seem anxious to learn medical skills," said Staff Sgt. Junior St. Hilaire, a native of Baytown, Texas.

The collaboration between the IA and Long Knife medics not only cultivates a positive and constructive relationship, but it also contributes to the IA's ability to sustain their own force and strengthen their medical capabilities.

"[Their willingness to work] helps us train them because they want to learn and retain the training," said Staff Sgt. Willie Gray of Greenville, N.C.

The 27th BSB scheduled future medical classes, which will incorporate more advanced techniques for patient care, such as chest tube training and an advanced pharmacology classes.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2008
• Date Posted: 08.15.2008 03:47
• Story ID: 22510
• Location: TALLIL AIR BASE, IQ