Iraqi Medics Graduate Emergency Medical Technician Course

Photo By Spc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile | Capt. Jon Stubblefield, the primary instructor for the Emergency Medical Technician course presents a graduate with his medical brassard at the graduation ceremony on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, June 21.  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

06.21.2010

Story by Pfc. Jessica Luhrs-Stabile 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division

KIRKUK, Iraq - “Today marks a great day for the Iraqi security forces and Medical Community of the province of Kirkuk,” said 1st Lt. Jonathan Metcalf. “Today, nine Iraqi police from the Emergency Services Unit, Emergency Response Unit and district police stations, one Iraqi army soldier from the 12th Iraqi Army Division, and nine ambulance aides from the Ministry of Health will be certified as medics, trained to the full standard of an Emergency Medical Technician.”

“Over the past five weeks, these individuals have dedicated hundreds of hours in the classroom and practicing hands-on skills that will not only enable them to save lives in their daily jobs, but enhance the organic medical capability of their various organizations,” said Metcalf.

This was said to an audience of distinguished guests and the graduates of the EMT course during the graduation ceremony at the Mountain Warrior Gym on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, June 21.

The ceremony was hosted by their ‘Battle Boar’ partners in 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga., and attended by Task Force Marne Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo; the director General of Health for Kirkuk province, Dr. Siddik Omar Rasool; Brig. Gen. Khatab Omer Aref, deputy provincial police chief of Kirkuk for the affairs of the ESU; the Task Force Marne and Division Surgeon, Col. Edward Michaud; Command Sgt. Maj. James Daniels, command sergeant major 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas along with other friends of the Battle Boar Battalion.

Before the ceremony began Maj. Gen. Cucolo took a moment to speak to the graduates to personally.

“You are the future of Iraq and it is a very noble thing to learn to be a medic,” he said to the group. “I salute you for your bravery because you are the ones who save lives.”

Soon after this, the ceremony began with Michaud speaking of the high level of training the graduates received.

This course started off as a combat life-saving course and developed into a very special Emergency Medical Technician course, with a high-level of hands-on training, he said. Now that each of the individuals has this type of training all of their leadership expects them to assist these Battle Boar instructors in teaching the people of Kirkuk, said Michaud.

After Michaud spoke, Cucolo spoke to the guests and new medics.

“Because of this training each of you are taking on a great responsibility,” he said. “When you show up where there is death and injury the population and those who are hurt will feel better with the sight of you.”

After the speeches were complete Dr. Siddik and Capt. Jon Stubblefield, the primary instructor for the course, presented the medics with their medical brassards and certificates signifying the completion of their course.

“We are excited to welcome all of these medics into our brotherhood,” said Metcalf.

• Date Taken: 06.21.2010
• Date Posted: 06.26.2010 09:33
• Story ID: 52024
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ