Stryker Brigade News

“If it’s something simple, we can take care of it,” said Spc. Michael Crittenden, BSMC combat medic.

The combat medics tested for diabetes with an over-the-counter blood sugar test.

“We also hand out toys to the kids,” said medic Spc. Jesse Valerio.

The medics interviewed each patient, with the help of an interpreter, for medical history and previous treatments and noted his or her complaint on a small slip of paper.

“We write a basic note for the docs so they can begin right away,” said Sgt. Courtney Berry.

At the next station, Moore and Roberts examined the patients, reviewing the medical history if available, reviewing X-rays and prescribing and distributing medications.

“We’re not just an offensive force,” said Sgt. Brian Hawthorne, a civil affairs NCO with Company A, 401st Civil Affairs Battalion. “We’re also a sustaining force.”

One of Moore’s first patients was a young boy, paralyzed, with ulcers on his lower back. Moore treated the boy, advising the family on various aspects of care.

With the help of an interpreter, Moore also explained the situation to local tribal leaders who attended the MEDCAP. The tribal leaders have the ability to mobilize the community and get additional help for the family, explained Hawthorne.

Master Sgt. James Townsend, 101st Sustainment Brigade medical operations NCOIC, assisted Moore distributing medication and gathering equipment.

Nestled in the foothills east of the Tigris River, the Iraqi outpost is known as Forward Operating Base Crazy Horse to the small American liaison team permanently stationed there.

The Iraqi medics, also known as “Blue Shirts” because of their distinctive uniforms, attended the MEDCAP to gain more experience, according to Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Kearney, Special Forces medic.

With fellow Special Forces medic, Sgt. Justin Kirschner, Kearney trained the Blue Shirts in medical tasks such as trauma assessment and beginning an intravenous drip.

“We gave them a week of anatomy and physiology,” said Kearney. “(The training was) pretty similar to what a combat lifesaver in the Army would get.”

The two medics are from 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Blue Shirts assigned to 3rd Bn. conduct the battalion sick call, said Kearney. Some of the Iraqi medics who successfully completed the course became trainers themselves and teach the material to new classes.

The liaison team hopes to create a medical platoon for the battalion, said Kearney.

Coalition forces conducted a MEDCAP for each battalion in the brigade, according to Hawthorne.

As the day continued, the medical personnel saw patients with everything from spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal, to back fractures, eye problems and clubfoot, according to Roberts.

In America, many of the conditions would have been corrected at birth, said Roberts. Still, he and Moore did what they could for the patients they saw.

“Our purpose here is to hopefully forge good relations and to work with the Iraqi (medical) providers here,” said Roberts.

Now that Iraqi medics have begun to provide care to their fellow soldiers and train others in their skills, the next challenge is developing a re-supply process, according to Staff Sgt. Stephen Soza, BSMC combat medic.

“My soldiers are working hard, fighting the terrorists,” said Lt. Col. Dosky, 3rd Bn. executive officer. Dosky is a graduate of the prestigious Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, in Surrey, England, from which his father also graduated.

Dosky invited the American personnel for lunch, which consisted of warm flatbread, couscous with beef and vegetable soup.