CPT Monte Hibbert
116th BCT Public Affairs
FOB WARRIOR, Iraq -- Soldiers of C Company, 145th Support Battalion, provided a class of Oil Protection Force (OPF) officers an Emergency Medical Training (EMT) course here at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior, across 17 days, ending on June 30.
The instructors of C Co., 145th Support Battalion, led by Capt. Jeremy Ostermiller and Sgt. 1st Class Leo Gilbride, gave the initial class instruction with the aid of translators.
The class of eight instructor trainees and nine EMT students from the OPF underwent a rigorous course of medical instruction, which covered subjects such as anatomy, cardiac, respiratory and medical emergencies, Ob/Gyn -- child birth, bleeding and shock, scene size-up, hands-on with available equipment (improvisation), and operating with minimal equipment, something that can happen to an EMT.
A total of 39 courses were instructed. The last blocks of instruction were on CPR, Ventricular Fibrillation and how to administer an IV.
Instructor trainees, who had been prior student graduates of the EMT course, took turns with the exercises, explaining the procedures in their own language, Kurdish or Arabic and then their words were translated into the other language for the benefit of the mixed Arabic/Kurdish class.
This was only the third class rotation ever presented. Students and instructors were intent on the training being given, but were relaxed enough to pretend receiving an imaginary shock from the portable training defibrillator, which caused a round of laughter.
"When we started, nothing was translated into Arabic. We've worked on getting translations during the last two classes. It's really helped having English/Kurdish/Arabic translations.
This class has gone a lot better. The instructors are doing an outstanding job, said Capt. Ostermiller, of C Co., TF 145th SB. "Our two main goals have always been to teach EMT skills and to produce instructors so they can train their own."
"I'm taking this course in case someone is shot or gets hurt or anything. My job is in oil protection. This training is very, very good. We've learned a lot from this," said one of the students, (whose name must remain anonymous).
In a few days, these students and trainees will complete their training and receive certificates for their hard work and perseverance.
But the greatest reward they will receive is a sense of pride, knowing they are ready for any emergency and that they will be the future trainers of OPF classes.
The 116th Brigade Combat Team supports the efforts of the government of Kirkuk Province in the areas of communication, infrastructure, economics, health and security.
The 116th Brigade Combat Team is composed of units from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, Maryland and New Jersey.
The unit is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, the 2nd and 3rd Armor Battalions, the 1-148th Field Artillery Battalion, the 1-163rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, the 145th Support Battalion, the 116th Engineer Battalion and various intelligence, signal and specialized units.
The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2005 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 2314 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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