By 2nd Lt. Ryan Wood
2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH — There is more to the fight for Iraq than just bullets and bombs, politics and pundits. There is a much smaller fight being waged which could be the most important aspect of this conflict: the fight for understanding and trust.
The medics of 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, took up the challenge and gave a day of combat medic training to12 members of the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi National Police Division.
While medical training for Iraqi forces is ongoing throughout the country, the chance to train on a forward operating base using the equipment and expertise of a clinic staff is relatively rare. For most of the Iraqi policemen in attendance, this was there first time on an American FOB.
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Hall of Centennial, Colo., a 2-16th medical platoon sergeant and Spc. David Corey of Maple Heights, Ohio, a medic with the battalion, conducted the training with assistance from interpreters and the 1-4-1st’s National Police Transition Team. Skills learned included wound care, fractures, sucking chest wounds and basic patient assessment.
According to Corey, the Iraqis seemed apprehensive and quiet when they first arrived on the FOB, but opened up as the training progressed.
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