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Army medics training Iraqi EMT units




Medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, supervise emergency medical technician training during a classroom session with Iraqi students at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Nov. 29, 2010. The students of the class, all medical professionals, represent the Iraqi Police, the Ministry of Health and the Emergency Service Units. USA photo/Spc. Kandi Huggins.



Written by Spc. Kandi Huggins, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force Public Affairs


COS WARRIOR — As reflected in the Warrior’s Ethos, “I will never leave a fallen comrade,” the basic skills associated with saving the wounded is one of the core competencies of an American Soldier. Emergency medical technician training expands upon this basic foundation of lifesaving skills to enhance an individual’s ability to treat combat injuries.

As part of the advise, train, and assist mission of Operation New Dawn, “Thunderhorse” medics from the medical platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, conducted EMT training for Iraqi medical professionals at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Nov. 29.

U.S. medics from HHC initiated the five-week training cycle to instruct their Iraqi counterparts, Iraqi Police, Emergency Services Unit and the Ministry of Health on basic medical skills with the goal of returning Iraqi medics to their respective organizations as qualified trainers.

“This is a train-the-trainer type program aimed to teach them how to be teachers,” said Sgt. Charlie Foster, medical team squad leader, HHC. “They currently don’t have an emergency medical program, and that’s why this training is so important.

“We provide them with training tools, manuals, and some equipment, but the ultimate goal we’d like to see accomplished is for them to have their own training program in this region,” he added.

The Thunderhorse medics will supervise training in the following weeks, including an introduction to basic medical skills such as clearing the airway, restoring breathing, controlling bleeding and treating shock....

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