551st, IA team for medical training

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.17.2008

Story by Sgt. Maj. William Byrd II 

44th Medical Brigade

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - A multitude of positives resulted when members of the Iraqi army and Task Force 56 MED combined recently for training under the Iraqi Partnership Training Program.

Members of the 551st Medical Logistics Detachment at Camp Taji led the first two phases of Oxygen Generator Systems training, and then assumed the monitor role in phase three as the Iraqi army soldiers and medical personnel trained themselves how to install, use and maintain the generators.

The Iraqi army purchased approximately 30 of the systems and will field them to various locations, and the IA students who participated in the recent training at Taji – 30 total IA soldiers whose specialties range from dentist or a laboratory specialist to ambulance driver – will be charged with ensuring their counterparts across the country are trained to standard.

"Obviously the ability to process their own oxygen improves the capabilities of their clinics and the ability to treat patients," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Richardson, medical maintenance officer in charge of the Forward Distribution Team, 551st. "Additionally, from what I have been told the IA has about five or six medical maintenance soldiers. This training has prepared these soldiers to maintain this equipment.

"The 551st soldiers used this training as a test bed to establish more training opportunities with the IA soldiers," Richardson said. "As the IA establishes a medical maintenance program we hope to continue working with them on other medical equipment training."

While it serves to strengthen Iraq's ever-growing medical capabilities, the training presented a host of challenges for IA soldiers and 551st personnel. Plus, the training expanded from its original one-phase concept.

"The training was very difficult for the IA soldiers to attend as they travel from all over Iraq [including Mosul, Tallil, and Fallujah] and do not have transportation," Richardson said. "They walk until they can find a ride. For the U.S. Soldiers the training required us to learn how to train using a translator. Not difficult but different.

"Initially the training was necessary so they could field seven systems to the clinics and they needed to know how to use them," Richardson said. "However, it developed into a three-phased training [crawl, walk, run]. During the first phase we trained them on the equipment. In phase two we trained them on the equipment and how to train others. The final phase involved them training other IA soldiers how to use the systems so they could field the remaining systems [following their initial purchase of seven systems]."

The new systems will allow Iraqi medical personnel to generate medical grade oxygen for use in Iraqi medical facilities. The Pro 4 OGS systems take the oxygen out of the air (21 percent) and compress it into the tanks, up to 2000 psi at 93 percent, give or take, improving the IA medical facilities' capabilities.

Richardson said that the systems, which run about $40,000 each, should last between 8-12 years.

Richardson said working with each other benefitted both countries' armed forces medical personnel.

"For our Soldiers I think this has been a great opportunity for us to work with IA soldiers and get to know them on a personal level," he said. "It makes me appreciate the quality of life that we have here and in the states and it was a chance to help others.

"I think it is very important for the U.S. to work with the IA so they can establish effective basic operations," he added. "Once they can completely take over the mission the U.S. Army can go home."

Master Sgt. James Kerner, TF44 MED senior maintenance NCOIC, agreed with Richardson's assessment. Kerner assisted the IA lieutenant, Amjed Nagee, who was lead instructor for the Iraqi students.

"Both the TF MED and Iraqi army soldier's morale was high during the training exercise," Kerner said. This was an excellent opportunity for both armies to train together and learn from each other's customs and courtesies. The Iraqi army was very receptive to our training style and asked questions to compare their current method to ours."

• Date Taken: 12.17.2008
• Date Posted: 02.28.2009 08:50
• Story ID: 30562
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ