Courtesy Photo | Combat medics of 12th Iraqi Army Division run to a simulated crash site during a mass...... read more read more
By Spc. Kandi Huggins
CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION K1, Iraq – Medics assigned to 12th Iraqi Army Division, hurried through a field, carrying stacks of litters to assist fellow wounded jinood during a mass casualty exercise at Contingency Operating Location K1, March 23.
The Iraqi combat medics partnered with combat medics of Company C, "Guardians," 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, for the exercise, where they treated artificial wounds sustained during a simulated helicopter crash.
Lt. Col Amed, Division Surgeon, 12th IA Div., said the Iraqi soldiers, or jinood, understand the basics of their responsibilities as medics, and are very organized in their approach to caring for a casualty in a hostile environment.
Ahmed said he helped develop the medics by teaching the jinood to prioritize patient care during combat, assessing patients and administering treatment as appropriate.
MASCAL exercises offer realistic scenarios to help prepare units for emergencies, said Sgt. 1st Class William Wright, medical advisor for Iraqi security forces serving at COL K1.
The response, mitigation and recovery involved in the realistic simulation of a MASCAL drill ensure IA medics understand multi-tasking and each individual’s responsibility when triaging and caring for casualties, said Wright, a combat medic assigned to Company C, 101st BSB, 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div.
“It’s critical they have a medical element that is able to support them during their real-world operations,” said Wright, who hails from Fort Riley, Kan. “They have the basic idea … but until they get hands-on training, they won’t fully understand the components involved in a mass casualty.”
Spc. Chip Allen, combat medic, Company C, said the MASCAL exercise offered a venue for IA medics to refine their skills and abilities.
“We set up training lanes in order for them to practice setting up security, treat patients accordingly and evacuate them to a safe zone,” said Allen, who calls Denton, Texas, home. “If they continuously apply dressings and tourniquets, and whatever they need to do to treat patients over and over, eventually their skills will become quicker and smoother, and they will work together more and be better at their jobs.”
IA medics conducted two iterations of the MASCAL exercise. The first scenario simulated a helicopter crash with multiple casualties. In the second simulation, notional enemy forces opened fire on an ambulance full of passengers, injuring everyone inside.
Combat medics of 12th IA Div. participated in every aspect of the exercise, from receiving moulage makeovers to portray casualties, to acting as security while the other medics trained.
Allen said the training was designed to place the trainees in difficult situations to develop their skills to the level of more experienced medics.
“Sometimes you get training but don’t get hard training; but I feel we’ve challenged them and made it more of a realistic situation for them,” he said.
As the medic training progresses, the Guardian soldiers look forward to incorporating more IA units into the MASCAL exercise, said Wright. By incorporating other units into the medical training, Iraqi security forces will increase the number of 12th IA Div. jinood prepared for an emergency.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2011 15:07 |
| Story ID: | 67815 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION K1, IQ |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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