Thirty-one police officers graduated from the one-week first aid course held at the Iraqi federal police headquarters building, Aug. 2.
The first-of-its-kind course was designed to teach Iraqi police officers how to treat and sustain serious injuries, such as abdominal wounds, head injuries, chest injuries and burns. They were also taught how to control bleeding and treat fractures.
The course was mainly taught by Iraqi instructors, with the assistance of U.S. forces, who gave some instruction on tactical combat casualty care.
"It was a pleasure working alongside international medical professionals and I look forward to continued opportunities down the road," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert O'Sullivan, medical training officer and advisor for Health Affairs at Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq.
Distinguished guests included the commanding general of the Iraqi federal police, Gen. Hussein Al-Awadi, who assisted in handing out the certificates and giving his congratulatory remarks to the recent graduates. Iraqi Col. Dhaer Al-Hilfi,, commander of the medical battalion, was also in attendance.
"Today's graduation is a success for the federal police students and the U.S. forces working with the Ministry of Interior for a stronger Iraq," O'Sullivan said. "It was also the first important step in many steps to come. I found it both personally rewarding to be teaching first aid to an enthusiastic group and professionally rewarding to be at culmination ceremony for a class that took months to prepare."
Cooperative training such as this fulfills elements of the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement.