ANA Medics Graduate
The first class of medics from the Afghan National Army’s 201st Corps, 3rd Brigade, 5th Kandak (battalion) graduated from a combat medic class during a ceremony held in Nangarhar Province Dec. 8. Basic training focused on how to clear an airway, trauma assessment, and wound dressing. Additional intermediate and advanced course will follow.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Paul MacKenzie, senior advisor to the ANA 201st Corps, spoke during the graduation ceremony. “When your unit goes to a shura to meet with the local people and they come to you and they say, ‘I have a child who has an injury. Where are the Americans to help us?’ You can say, ‘I can help you. You don’t need the Americans. I have the skills,” he said.
Graduate and ANA Soldier Muhammad Quasim said, “It’s a benefit to us and our village because if some person becomes sick or injured, we can treat them. We’re very proud of that.”
Across the country in Kandahar, Afghan and coalition forces treated more than 700 Afghans during a medical outreach operation. The Afghan forces conducted a village medical outreach in Arghandab, treating hundreds of men, women and children. A large contingent of women participated for the first time, allowing medical workers to respond to their particular needs and ailments. Afghans seeking medical aid were also provided with 2 tons of humanitarian supplies, including rice, beans, flour, cooking oil, salt, chai, shoes and winter clothing.
