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EMEDS take part in building future of Iraq

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mindy Bloem
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq --  With millions of dollars of equipment invested into an Iraqi medical clinic, it's imperative for its personnel to know how to use it to save lives.

The members of the 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron realize this fact and are doing their part to assist in the Iraqi Expert Field Medical Batch training at the K-1 Iraqi medical clinic so that Iraqi medics better understand basic emergency procedures.
 
The EFMB is a four-week course offered to Iraqi medics in order to provide the experience they will need in real-world situations.

"They're not fully trained so it gives them the foundation they need to be able to function independently in the clinic or the field," said Capt. Adam Christopher, 506th EMEDS critical care nurse. "A lot of the tasks we're training on are just the basics. It's not just training medics, but also getting the instructors where they need to be so that, when we leave, they can function independently."

The training covers certain aspects of medical care; for instance, medics learn different scenarios dealing with severe trauma to minor cases. They learn about triage, evacuation, transportation to the hospital, patient prioritizing, air evacuation, and much more. At the end of the course medics must take a 100-question test. On graduation day, they perform a six-mile march while carrying all of their medical and military equipment.

1st Sgt. Aray Anwar, an Iraqi Army medic and instructor, has been teaching the course since coalition forces established the base in 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He said his hope is to provide his men with the expertise they need to handle real cases.

"They are practicing with real cases for the first time and they like it, which gives me a good sensation," he said of his class. "I never give up even if I have just one student because I know the result. Maybe this one will save the lives of 10 people later."

The Iraqi army sergeant said one of the goals of partnering with the U.S. forces is to take responsibility for keeping their country safe.

"If it continues in this way, I look to a bright future," he said. "I think this will be very good in the future and people will feel better. I like working with the coalition forces, especially American forces because they provide supplies for treatment and give good lectures. They have much experience. The civil people know that the Iraqi Army is for the people, and the American forces are coming to help the Iraqi people. They share their knowledge with us so they can go home. It is our country and we should take care of it."

Helping to establish stability in Iraq is one of the main reasons Iraqi army Corporal Hamad-Awad-Muhammed wanted to take the course.
"I keep asking my commanders to send me to any courses for medics because I want to learn," he said through an Iraqi interpreter. "I hope my country lives in peace like brothers. This is our country and we love it and want to see the best for it."

"We have a good relationship with the U.S. forces because they came here to teach us," he added.
"They have a lot of knowledge, and it helps us to train with them."

Army medics have been helping at the K-1 clinic since 2005, but the Air Force medics have just recently started helping with the training. Currently, two members from Kirkuk's EMEDS spend anywhere from two to six days at K-1 training the Iraqi medics.

Both Captain Christopher, and fellow team member, Staff Sgt. Andrew Salas are hoping for more of these training opportunities in the future.

"Hopefully, we'll get an opportunity to come back," Captain Christopher said. "This is only the second rotation to come out here, so it's still in the planning phase. The needs are being identified; our resources are being looked at to see what can be allocated. I am hoping it will be reoccurring training."

"I like the interaction," Sergeant Salas added. "Just to interact with them has been a great experience. I love teaching medical skills, and it's the only reason I came is to teach them. I just hope they learn from it."

If they are looking for volunteers, Sergeant Salas' hand is up.

"I'm going to try to come back out; I would live out here if I could," he joked.

Both medics say they are grateful for just being able to take part in the training.

"Coming out here, working directly with the Iraqi army, has been a massive opportunity," Captain Christopher said. "I'm hoping others will be able to take a look at that."

Ultimately, the training is another step toward Iraqi independence.

"It's important because it's enabling our Iraqi counterparts to stand on their own two feet," Captain Christopher said. "When they have patients roll through the door, they have the training and experience to take care of those patients. That will allow us to slowly back off and let them stand on their own two feet and take over the medical mission on their own."