Airborne medics train Iraqi security force counterparts on basic combat medic skills

Photo By Master Sgt. Jared Gehmann | Sgt. 1st Class Juan Almonte, a New York City native, shows a national police medic how to properly insert a needle on a patient during a combat medic training exercise, July 22, at Joint Security Station Loyalty, located in the 9 Nissan District of eastern Baghdad. The medics have held a series of training events the past couple weeks to teach their Iraqi counterparts on how to treat injuries sustained in combat. Almonte is a senior medic assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

07.22.2009

Story by Pvt. Jared Gehmann 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

BAGHDAD — With Iraqi forces in the lead of security in Baghdad, U.S. Paratroopers trained their partners on the importance and duties of a combat medic during a day-long training event, July 22, at Joint Security Station Loyalty, Iraq.

To ensure Iraqi security force medics are able to assist injured personnel on the ground due to enemy action, combat medics of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. Multi-National Division — Baghdad, held a series of training lanes for national police medics assigned to the 4th NP Brigade, 1st NP Division.

The training exercise allowed Iraqi medics to hone their skills by exposing them to several real-life scenarios they may need to save the lives of injured comrades.

Whether it be applying a pressure dressing to a wounded leg, placing a trauma dressing over an injured abdomen or properly using a tourniquet on a severed arm, Paratroopers taught their ISF counterparts the basics of combat medical care.

"We try to go slow and focus them on understanding why we do each step of care," said Sgt. 1st Class Juan Almonte, assigned to the brigade's 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, served as the primary instructor during the event. "This was just basic trauma training, throwing on bandages and giving intravenous therapy was the focus of today."

Almonte, a New York City native, added that this is about the seventh time he has done training events like this with the NP medics. Usually the events are held in small groups of one or two personnel to ensure each Iraqi medic receives step-by-step instruction on an individual level.

Ammar Nijeb, a NP medic who participated in the training said that he learned a lot of new techniques during the event. Nijeb feels the training he received will better equip him for real combat operations in Baghdad.

"Each one of the NP medics had a chance to get hands on experience during the training," he said. "This is the first time I have given a person an IV, and I thought that was the most interesting part of today."

"It all went well and I am thankful for this training," added Nijeb.

• Date Taken: 07.22.2009
• Date Posted: 07.23.2009 03:41
• Story ID: 36693
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ