FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - Soldiers of Company C, 426th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, conducted a five-day combat lifesaver, or CLS, course with the Afghan air force at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 5-9.
The five days consisted of intense medical training for the AAF personnel, who learned how to treat a combat casualty. Specifically, they learned how to control traumatic bleeding, assess and maintain an airway, treat chest wounds and stabilize broken bones.
The training culminated in an exercise in which the Afghan service members were placed in a variety of situations where they were forced to demonstrate the skills they had learned to treat a combat casualty.
“[They] will be able to spread what they learned in the course throughout their own ranks,” said Spc. Leonard Cochran, a medic and CLS instructor with Company C, 426th BSB.
“We are looking to support a more independent, capable Afghan military,” Cochran added. “Soldiers of the AAF will be able to care and treat their own, which is an extremely important skill.”
Capt. Fareedullah, an officer with the AAF, said he enjoyed the training and that there was a very good relationship with the medics.
“All of the training was very good,” said Fareedullah. “Especially the blood; stopping of the blood, sweeping of the blood, looking of the blood. That was a very interesting part of this training.”
“The training went extremely well,” said 1st Lt. Sarah Harris, the officer in charge of the course. “Both soldiers from Task Force Taskmaster and the AAF learned from the combat lifesaver course.”
“The AAF soldiers learned the importance and application of combat lifesaving on the battlefield,” Harris added. “This training has left both the AAF and Charlie Medical Company more knowledgeable and equipped to accomplish the mission here in Afghanistan.”