3rd SB medics teach Iraqis first aid

Photo By Master Sgt. Rhonda Lawson | Master Sgt. William Vernon, surgeon cell noncommissioned officer in charge with the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and an O’Fallon, Ill., native, observes as an Iraqi vehicle and personnel inspection guard dresses his teammate’s simulated wounds during a first aid class, Sept. 26 and 27 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

09.27.2010

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Rhonda Lawson 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq— The 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) surgeon team expanded their services Sept. 26 and 27, making another positive step toward Iraqi sustainment following the end of Operation New Dawn.

Over a span of two days, the team trained approximately 40 Iraqi vehicle and personnel inspection guards on basic first aid procedures. For many of the guards, this was their first exposure to such training. They found the course very useful since they are often first responders when civilians approach the Joint Base Balad gates seeking medical treatment.

“My captain brought it to my attention,” explained Senior Airman Aaron Jennings, a unit trainer with the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, and a Wylie, Texas., native. “They are often the first people who civilians see when they come to the gate, so we thought why not try to teach these guys how to treat their own people? If one of their guys got hurt, they wouldn’t be able to help each other.”

The unit then approached the 3rd Sust. Bde. and requested the training. However, most of the brigade’s medics, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sust. Bde., 103rd ESC, were already tasked out for flu shots and other medical services, so the brigade-level team decided to teach the class.

“We developed the course, and had it translated into Arabic, and made read-aheads [pamphlets] for the interpreters,” explained Master Sgt. William Vernon, the surgeon cell noncommissioned officer in charge with the 3rd Sust. Bde, and an O’Fallon, Ill., native. “The class is a hybrid of the combat lifesaver course and standard first aid training.”

Vernon explained that they decided what to put into the course based on the types of injuries guards see at the gates. Many of the civilians who seek aid suffer from burns, eye injuries, fractures and other wounds, so they tailored the class to teach the guards to render basic first aid for these injuries until qualified medical help arrives.

“We’ll still send our doctors out, but they’ll get that initial treatment,” said Jennings.

The class was a combination of hands-on training and lecture, with the help of two interpreters. Students were broken into groups of 20, and each group attended the class on a different day. During class, the groups were further broken down into teams of two to practice the hands-on portion.

“These guys are really motivated,” said Vernon. “They’re asking a lot of questions and are catching on quickly.”

He added that he appreciated their willingness to learn. The guards were there on their own time and were not being paid to be there. He wanted to make the class worth their time.

“I [dislike] doing courses that just give information,” said Vernon. “If we’re going to take their time, we’re going to give them a good product.”

“I enjoyed the class,” said Raad Mohammed, a checkpoint supervisor at the North Entry Control Point at JBB. “It was useful. We’re not here to play around. We’re here to learn something.”

Jennings added that part of that motivation to learn comes from the fact that the U.S. presence in Iraq is ending soon.

“They know we’re all leaving,” he said. “In the end, they’re going to have to take care of each other.”

Vernon added that they plan to offer the class again in the future to train more of the guards. In the meantime, Mohammed said he will ensure that those who have gone through the class teach others.

“The trainers were good— very, very good,” he said. “I would love to thank them for what they did for us.”

• Date Taken: 09.27.2010
• Date Posted: 10.11.2010 09:36
• Story ID: 57883
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ