Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Yusef Kareem Hashem Al Askary is presented a certificate for completing the Combat...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Whitney Houston
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
BAGHDAD - Iraqi army soldiers serving with the 39th Logistics Battalion, 9th IA Division, stationed on Camp Taji, endured two mass casualty combat scenarios, Aug. 20, 2008, as they completed a rigorous 10-day Combat Life Saver course.
The CLS course has been going on now for eight months and more than 100 IA soldiers have been successfully completed the course, which consists of learning how to provide basic first-aid treatment, sustain fallen comrades, and to build self confidence through administering aid.
"We've been doing this for the last eight months, and on average, there have been 15 per month," said Capt. Jody Brown, native of Kingston, N.H., who serves with Company C, Brigade Support Battalion "Mongoose," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
To date, he added, the MND-B Soldiers are closing in on helping train almost 150 IA Soldiers.
"This course builds self confidence," said Brown, "and when these soldiers see that their buddy is down while training on these lanes, it helps build their confidence that they can actually save lives using the proper techniques they've learned in the course."
The IA soldiers, however, are not trained medics. They learn how to provide basic care and prepare wounded soldiers for transport to a higher level of care.
"They're pretty much trained on point of injury of the soldier," Brown said, "and they basically provide initial care that a wounded soldier would need until they arrive at a higher echelon."
The basic knowledge the IA soldiers garner during the CLS course centers on and around the basic ABC's: airways, breathing and circulation. They learn how to maintain airways, provide breathing if needed, how to start an IV, perform a chest decompression, splinting and how to treat hemorrhaging, among other things, Brown explained.
The IA soldiers executed their tasks with skill and proficiency.
"This is the best class we've had yet," said Staff Sgt. Sean Kelly, native of Springfield, Ill., serving with Co. C. "They were very attentive and asked a lot of questions. They seemed to really want to do this, which I am very happy about."
One soldier in particular stood out through his execution of CLS tasks and exams was named the honor graduate and selected to go to the IA's medic course to further his medical knowledge.
"Yusef Kareem Hashem Al Askary was the top of his class and was presented as honor grad for best performance in the course. He has been recommended for the medic course, which is good news for him because he will receive higher pay."
It was an overall happy day for the logistics battalion, said 1st Lt. Latefa Muslim Ali, a health provider attached to the 39th Log. Bn.
"I'm so happy today because I know the soldiers know what they are doing in case of an emergency," Said Ali.
The guidance provided throughout the CLS exercises has been successful for the IA. The ultimate goal is for the IA will become more autonomous in training its troops.
"This training has definitely been beneficial," said Brown. "It has increased their capability to provide the medical care they need to sustain their troops, and it is our desired end state that the IA will be able to independently run the show."
Helping build the IA medic field appears to be a very rewarding project, and many seemed to share the same feelings, said Kelly.
"I feel very proud and honored to be a part of this. Working with the IA soldiers and working with their command has definitely been a different feel, but I'm glad to be a part of it."
Happy with the results of their training, IA troops held their diplomas with pride, embracing their new skills. The application of knowledge taught over the last eight months will hopefully continue as an integral part of the Iraqi army.
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2008 13:20 |
| Story ID: | 22824 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 778 |
| Downloads: | 745 |
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