By Staff Sgt. Christopher Williams
Editor
27th Public Affairs Detachment
LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Balad, Iraq -- Today's Army is right in the middle of a full-blown transformation and what it comes down to is change.
One of those changes involves transforming the Army's combat medics and practical nurses into better served, more diversified medical professionals.
In an effort to employ a more universal medic, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) implemented a program in 2001 that was designed to transition all 91B (medics) and 91C (practical nurses) Soldiers into a 91W military occupational specialty.
To help facilitate the transition, noncommissioned officers from the Combat Medical Training Center, 44th Medical Command at Logistics Support Area Anaconda, successfully transitioned several medics during a ceremony at the LSA Anaconda Education Center auditorium May 28.
Soldiers from various units across Iraq came to LSA Anaconda to complete the 91W MOS Transition Course offered by the CMTC, 44th MEDCOM.
Eight Soldiers completed the 23-day transition course which challenged them with grueling coursework and hands-on practical applications.
The Soldiers were given 15 examinations over the course of the program which included modules in basic life support (BLS), the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) and Trauma AIMS (Advanced airway, Intravenous therapy, Medications and pharmacology and Shock management).
Under the AMEDD's new program, medics and practical nurses must complete the 91W transition by the year 2007, said Col. Dennis Driscoll, program director for CMTC, 44th MEDCOM.
Those who fail to complete the transition will be considered non-MOS-qualified and forced to reclassify at the needs of the Army, he added.
The 91W transition program is a long and comprehensive series of training blocks that gives medics and practical nurses the necessary skills to function on and off the battlefield.
"There weren't enough medics to fill combat positions and there weren't enough nurses to fill the clinical positions," said Staff Sgt. Randall L. Scales, lead instructor, CMTC, 44th MEDCOM. "AMEDD came up with a solution to create one MOS that encompasses both the battlefield and clinical settings."
The 44th MEDCOM's Combat Medical Training Center at LSA Anaconda is the first and only medical training center of its kind in theater. Frequent and longer deployments have made the CMTC a valuable asset to the Army and the Soldiers it trains.
"We are the first to offer the transition training to medics while in theater," said Driscoll. "In doing so, we've given Soldiers the opportunity to enhance their skills as well as continue to support their unit's mission while deployed."
Although a slightly different MOS, medics and practical nurses will still be able to specialize in other medical disciplines and can be recognized for doing so.
"The 91Cs will still be practical nurses," said Scales. "Except now they'll be a 91W with a M6 additional skill identifier and also have the skill-sets to perform on the battlefield."
The transition can be a lengthy process and varies from skill level to skill level. Some medical NCOs only have to complete certain portions of the 91W transition, while most have to go through the entire course.
"Back in the states, the training can take as long as six months to complete whereas here we get the Soldiers through it in about three weeks," said Scales.
As impossible as it may seem, said Scales, the Soldiers had no trouble getting through the intense training. With little or no distractions due to work or personal issues, he added, the Soldiers were able to focus on the training and the training alone.
During the graduation ceremony leaders and supporters of the eight graduates filled the auditorium seats.
Driscoll thanked the commanders and NCOs in attendance for supporting the CMTC's program and commended them for fostering the development of their own Soldiers.
"This training is something that the medics must do in order to remain MOS qualified and we appreciate the commanders for supporting this requirement," said Driscoll.
Driscoll said that there's more to this program than just fulfilling professional development requirements.
"The real reason behind this program is to put the best medics in the Army out on the battlefield," he said. "With these eight Soldiers, I think we've started to do just that."
Graduating from the 91W-Transition course were: Sgt. 1st Class Michael Priebe, 411th CA Bn.; Sgt. Marquis Arnold, 1-13 Armor; Sgt. Eric Ashmore, 50th MEDEVAC; Sgt. Karolina Loyewska, 443rd CA Bn.; Sgt. Melissa Olson, HSC, 92nd Eng. Bn.; Spc. Frank Goodnight, HHC, 29th BCT; Spc. Jasmine Ocampo, HHC, 29th BCT; Pfc. Thomas Else, 546th ASMB.
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| Date Taken: | 06.07.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2005 10:57 |
| Story ID: | 2052 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 177 |
| Downloads: | 18 |
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