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WASHINGTON - A native of South Amboy, N.J. is helping save the
lives of Marines here by sharing his skills as a Navy corpsman.
25-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Pappas is one of
three Navy corpsmen stationed at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.
who administered the Combat Lifesaver Course to 30 infantry Marines
Jan. 31. The course teaches critical battlefield first-aid
techniques designed to save the lives of Marines injured in combat.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Pappas, a
hospital corpsman at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., explains to
Company A Marines how to properly apply a bandage on a wound during
a Combat Lifesaver Course at the Barracks, Jan. 31, 2013. (Official
Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Dan Hosack)
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The three-day course gives Marines the hands-on
instruction needed to provide life-saving first-aid in
combat. Throughout the course, the Marines were taught how
to identify burns, treat bone fractures and wounds and other
common battlefield injuries. The Marines were also taught
how to apply a tourniquet, open an airway and how to
evacuate fellow injured Marines off the battlefield.
“I think it's a great course because it teaches the Marines
to take care of each other if something happens to one of
them,” said Pappas.
Pappas who served in Afghanistan
from 2010 to 2011, said he believes the three-day course was
time well spent stating that the skills learned throughout
the course increase the probability of Marines returning
home if injured in combat.
Pappas was the lead
instructor for the course, but conducted the training
alongside other corpsmen allowing the Marines to separate
into small groups for one-on-one instruction.
“A
course like this one is vital because it increases the
amount of Marines we can get back alive to their families,”
said Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Barbarick, a hospital
corpsman at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., who taught the
course with Pappas. “Our role is to ensure the well-being of
mind, body and spirit of all our Marines.”
In his
regular duties Pappas is responsible for the medical care
and the overall health and wellness of the Marines he serves
with as well as the management of the units “sick call,” the
military's equivalent of an urgent care center.
Pappas plans on staying in the Navy and entering the Navy
Nurse Corps.
His awards include a Navy Good Conduct
Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, an Afghan Campaign
Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Barracks Marines and Sailors support ceremonial and security
missions in the nation's Capital. Each year, they support
more than 30 parades and hundreds of ceremonies and
functions to include funerals and sporting events across the
country and globe while maintaining proficiency in their
respective military occupations and meeting their annual
training requirements.
By USMC Pfc. Daniel Hosack
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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