U.S., Iraqi medics team for training

Photo By Staff Sgt. Shawn Morris | Soldiers from Bravo Troop, 102nd Cavalry Squadron, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, service an M-2 .50 cal. at Forward Operating Base Grizzly, Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.31.2009

Story by Master Sgt. David Moore 

44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

BAGHDAD - Medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery provided a half-dozen Soldiers of the Baghdad Brigade lifesaving skills training in the event they suffer casualties on the battlefield or get injured in an accident.

As part of the Feb. 19 training program held at the brigade's headquarters, known as Forward Operating Base Honor, three U.S. Army medics conducted a train-the-trainer program so the Iraqi army can conduct its own training in the future.

"What's nice about this training program is that all Soldiers can perform these tasks on the battlefield," Dr. Ali Satter Jabbar, a physician with the Baghdad Brigade, said.

Jabbar, who has only been in the Army about a year, said while the former Iraqi army did have medics, most Iraqi army soldiers had no formal training at all. Basically, they had to rely on treating casualties by doing what they thought may be right, he said.

During the classroom portion of training, Jabbar assisted the FOB Prosperity-based Army medics in providing his medical expertise to the class and reinforcing the Army trainers information.

The morning of class was conducted in the Army crawl-walk-run technique of training: First, the classroom, and then a classroom practice session. Finally, a lane area was set up for the run portion of testing what the Iraqi Soldiers would do in a time of crisis.

Cpl. Cedric Orino, the non-commissioned officer in charge for the training, said the doctor offered a greater medical insight into what the future trainers could expect when training or dealing with injuries.

"Our goal here is to provide a full training foundation so the Iraqi soldiers can conduct their own training in the future," Orino said.

Orino provided a basic review from the combat lifesaver material a week earlier, and then they moved into intravenous injection training to include using his own arm as an example.

After Orino was stuck with the IV needle and saline solution began flowing, Iraqi soldiers took their turn at completing the task. All were successful.

After the Iraqi medic task completion, Orino stuck up his thumb and said, "You all get a go." Each of the Iraqi army medics was successful at the first jab of the needle.

The class then moved out for the field experience. As the Iraqi soldiers worked with their American counterparts, someone cried out, "Boom!" and the American Soldiers fell to the ground, suffering simulated severe wounds of various types.

Spc. Gary Combs and Spc. Thomas Pruitt, who were assistant instructors, changed into a different role. They served as simulated patients in the lane during the training "run" phase to let Iraqi medics practice treating patients on a battlefield where there were injuries such as stomach and gunshot wounds, and burns. Combs went down with simulated injuries, began panicking and simulated going into shock to add realism to the training.

Orino and Jabbar observed training and made corrections to insure a life would be saved on a battlefield.

"I wanted to give the Iraqis great training by making it as a realistic as possible," Combs said.

(Sgt. Anthony Franklin, HHB, 1ST Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, contributed to this story.)

• Date Taken: 03.31.2009
• Date Posted: 03.31.2009 23:11
• Story ID: 31835
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ