432d Civil Affairs Battalion conducts Combat Life Saver training in preparation for Afghanistan

Photo By Staff Sgt. Amanda Smolinski | For the first time, members of this Provincial Reconstruction Team work together as a team in preperation for a deployment to Afghanistan. Spc. Kimberlee Kautzer, Lt. Col Eric Holliday, and Staff Sgt. Chris Lauder wait for the command from 2nd Lt David Miranda to lift the casaulty. Litter carries were the final practical exercise during a Combat Life Saver course held at the 432d Civil Affairs Battlaion Army Reserve Center in Green Bay, Wis.  

GREEN BAY, WI, UNITED STATES

03.03.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Amanda Smolinski 

U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Soldiers of the 432d Civil Affairs Battalion finish their last day of Combat Life Saver training by putting into practice what they have learned the past three days.

Throughout the duration of the CLS training, the soldiers have learned how to call for a MEDEVAC, the different stages of care, how to control bleeding, and the many types of litter carries.

Each soldier must be Combat Life Saver certified prior to deploying. The purpose of this additional duty is so that every soldier can provide basic first aid until the next echelon of care is available.

“The goal of this class was not only to teach our soldiers step by step procedures, but to help them understand why they would conduct the procedure,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Smolinski, a medic in the battalion. “We don’t expect every soldier to understand complex medical procedures or terms, but our way of teaching has proven to be effective based on the feedback and performance we see – they understand it,” said Smolinski.

The battalion is conducting a two-week training event at the Army Reserve center before deploying to Camp Atterbury, Ind., where they will begin their mobilization training for Afghanistan.

When the soldiers reach their mobilization site, they will receive similar training to what they are conducting at the Army Reserve center.

For some soldiers, this may not be their first deployment. Sgt. 1st Class Lance Steidl will be going on his third deployment. He believes that “The training we receive at the mobilization site is good information, but it is also generic and can be applied to a soldier deploying anywhere in the world,” said Steidl. “Here at the Army Reserve Center, we focus on mission specific training that compliments what we receive at the mobilization site,” said Steidl.

As the CLS class wraps up, Spc. Andrew Weinke from Green Bay, Wis., feels quite confident in his CLS skills. “Although this is my first time deploying, I have received this training before,” said Weinke, the Civil Military Operations Cell NCO for his Provincial Reconstruction Team. “The training reinforces what I already know; it will allow for automatic responses [during a stressful event], “ said Weinke.

The 432d Civil Affairs Battalion will have a departure ceremony on Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 1 p.m. at the Kress Events Center in Green Bay, Wis. The battalion will arrive in Afghanistan during the month of June.

They will be serving a unique role as members of a U.S. Government Interagency team within twelve different PRTs throughout the region. They will work with local Afghan villagers and government officials in order to increase the capacity of their government and improve the security.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2011
• Date Posted: 03.03.2011 21:45
• Story ID: 66443
• Location: GREEN BAY, WI, US