U.S. Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers

By Sgt. 1st Class Christopher FinchamJune 29, 2011

US Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – German Soldiers of the 950th Psyops Battalion treat a simulated casualty during Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training June 16, as instructor Spc. Paul Evans, a combat medic from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support) looks on. (US Army photo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – German Soldiers of the 950th Psyops Battalion treat a simulated casualty during Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training June 16, as instructor Sgt. Kevin Perry, a combat medic from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support) looks on. (US Army phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Abimael Colon, a combat medic from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support) demonstrates a technique to wrap a wound to Soldiers of the German Army’s 950th Psyops Battalion during Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training June 16, in Baumhold... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – German Soldiers of the 950th Psyops Battalion treat a simulated casualty during Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training June 16, as instructor Spc. Charles Auterberry, a combat medic from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support) looks on. (US Ar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Paul Evans, a combat medic from 557th Medical Company (Area Support), assists a German Soldier of the 950th Psyops Battalion treat a simulated casualty during Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training June 16, in Baumholder, Germany. (US Arm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US Army Medics train German Psyops Soldiers
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Abimael Colon, a combat medic from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support) demonstrates how to apply a tourniquet to Soldiers of the German Army’s 950th Psyops Battalion during Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) training June 16, in Baumholder... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAUMHOLDER, Germany -- A team of combat medics from the 557th Medical Company (Area Support) partnered with Soldiers of the German Army’s 950th Psyops Battalion recently, to provide training on battlefield lifesaving techniques.

The Soldiers of the 950th Psyops Bn. were in Baumholder June 14-17 for their annual training exercise. More than 100 Soldiers trained on everything from weapons and hand grenades, to signal and radio procedures. The integration of medical training served as an opportunity to share knowledge and build the partnership between the 950th and the Soldiers of the 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion.

The training was a condensed version of Tactical Combat Casualty Care, or TC3, training and was designed to develop skills and knowledge on immediate steps that can save lives, according to Sgt. Kevin Perry, the medic team leader for the 557th ASMC during the training.

“We’re given roughly an hour with each group so we’re concentrating the absolute most important things like hemorrhage control, airway control and penetrating chest wounds the things that you can teach quickly and still be lifesaving measures,” Perry explained.

While the medical training served as a refresher for some and developed new skills for others, the opportunity to share different techniques and refine medical procedures was very beneficial to the German Soldiers according to the 950th Psyops Bn operations officer.

“Even if the basics are the same in every army, everybody has their own tricks or special equipment,” said Capt. Freddy Schaffner, the operations officer of the 950th Psyops Bn. “We are operating together every day, and we have to get to know each other a little bit better.”

After receiving a didactic training session, the German troops moved as a squad through a simulated casualty scenario, which immediately put their new knowledge to the test.

The instant hands-on scenario allowed the Soldiers to practice the lifesaving steps they had just learned and reinforced the training. The U.S. Army combat medics were on hand throughout the treatment phases and provided feedback and assistance to the German troops.

“I’ve been really happy with the training,” said Schaffner. “This is exactly what we needed here.”

When not providing training, the combat medics were embedded with the German troops and were able to engage in weapons training the unit was conducting.

“They’re here supporting us so we wanted to give them a chance to experience some of our training. They got a chance to operate our heavy machine gun and do some live-firing exercises with our G36 rifle. They are doing some of the exact same training as our German Soldiers here, and they’re doing it well,” said Schaffner.

“It’s been an excellent opportunity,” Perry said. “This isn’t something that we get to do very often and we’ve really enjoyed our time out here with the German Soldiers.”

Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Fincham, 30th MEDCOM Public Affairs NCOIC. For more information please contact him at 30thmed.pao@us.army.mil.

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