Photo By Staff Sgt. Hannah Clifton | Indiana National Guard medics assist Nigerien medics with IV training Sept. 26, 2022...... read more read more
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The Indiana National Guard state partnership medical team spent more than two weeks in Niamey, Niger working alongside the Niger armed forces’ first combat medic team to provide instruction in tactical combat casualty care and behavioral health.
The mission didn’t stop there.
The Indiana National Guard team also trained a small group of Nigerien medics to certify them as instructors. Many of the Nigerien students selected for the instructor role are pursuing an education in the medical field. As certified instructors, they now have the opportunity to teach other Nigerien medics in tactical combat casualty care and behavioral health.
The enthusiasm and camaraderie between the Indiana National Guard’s medical staff spilled over to the Nigerien students and instructors. The excitement, connection and passion between all of the participants reflects the growing relationship between the nations.
“Everyone broke down barriers and sought a connection and the whole class opened up,” Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Lewis, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Indiana State Partnership’s medical team. “They want the knowledge, and they want to share. The strides that have been made in this partnership and the cohesiveness between us and them is just amazing.”
The tactical combat casualty care course covered life-saving techniques including, improvised tourniquet application, IV and airway management, wound packing and more. Simultaneously, counselors, therapists and psychologists took a behavioral health course to help provide additional coping techniques that can assist them in caring for Nigerien soldiers and citizens.
This program is a part of the Indiana National Guard’s mission to create a stronger partnership between Niger and the United States. By cross training and learning together, Niger’s armed forces can save countless lives and fight more effectively against the terrorist organizations that threaten Niger’s democracy.
“Being able to watch soldiers and airmen work side by side in a culturally diverse environment is an absolute honor,” said Lt. Col. Bryan Mathieson, officer in charge of the Indiana State Partnership’s medical team. “Watching the Nigerien army, you quickly realize that they encounter resource constraints and terror threats that you and I will never be able to understand. It isn’t about if they are going to use these skills, it's a matter of when. The work we’re doing has a real, palpable affect,”
While the Indiana National Guard’s medical team isn’t the only program working to help stabilize the region, they certainly are making an immediate and direct impact. Their efforts assist in fighting terrorism and saving lives, making Niger a safer place for all people.
Their time and dedication to the mission was honored by Niger armed forces leadership including doctor and Colonel Major Garba Hakimi, director of Niger’s army health services and social action, who presented the entire Indiana National Guard team with gifts before sharing a traditional Nigerien meal.
After the medical team’s most recent success, there is hope to continue to grow Indiana’s State Partnership medical program and provide more in-depth knowledge sharing at a larger scale.
For now, Indiana and Niger service members continue to hone their skills as medical professionals in and out of uniform, creating safer communities wherever they are.
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2022 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 431702 |
| Location: | NIAMEY, NE |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Hoosier, Nigerien medics bond over life-saving skills, by SSG Hannah Clifton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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