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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - For Marines, the inherent dangers of
fighting in any clime and place are the reason for constant
training. Marines and sailors are taught to never leave another
behind ... and given the necessary skills ... Marines can make sure each
other live to fight another day.
Sailors with the Ground
Combat Element Integrated Task Force hosted the combat lifesaver
course for approximately 40 Marines at the task force headquarters,
Oct. 1- 3, 2014.
The course was divided into classroom
instruction and practical application. Subjects included proper
casualty carries and drags, identification of first aid supplies,
classification of burns and fractures and medical terminology.
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Marines with the Ground Combat Element
Integrated Task Force conduct simulated care under fire as part of
an evaluation during combat lifesaver course at the task force
barracks at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 3,
2014. Marines simulated carrying a casualty to a safe area and
applying first aid. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will
conduct individual and collective level skills training in
designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to
facilitate the standards based assessment of the physical
performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment
performing specific ground combat arms tasks. (U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez)
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“(The) combat lifesaver course is meant to save lives and
minimize injuries and casualties on the battlefield,” said
Petty Officer Second Class Filadelfo Cano, leading petty
officer, Task Force Aid Station. “We are teaching the course
so all Marines are prepared for combat deployments, and are
knowledgeable to control things like massive bleeding,
blocked airways, and applying different types of treatment.”
According to Cano, interaction between the students and
instructors served as a vital way to tie in real experiences
from those who have deployed and pass on the knowledge to
the more junior Marines in the course.
“We had
diversity within the instructors,” Cano said. “We
incorporated our experiences and the differences of multiple
combat environments. We want to get the minds of the Marines
going, especially the junior Marines.”
Participants
within the class were eager to receive the training.
“This was good stuff to learn,” said Lance Cpl. Sergio
Parada, tank mechanic, Company B, GCEITF. “You never know
what you are going to see out there on deployment or who
could get hurt. You need to be in a place where other
Marines can really depend on you when things get rough.”
The prerequisites for completion of the course were a
written test conducted on the morning of the final day,
followed by practical application exercises in combat gear.
Marines underwent drills ranging from extraction of
casualty and reaction to an ambush, to applying care under
fire. Depending on the actions of the Marines, the scenarios
either concluded or increased in difficulty.
“The
practical application was awesome and served as good
training,” Parada said. “This helps the task force so that
in theater or in garrison Marines can better take care of
each other.”
The skills and sustainment the course
mandated will serve to better prepare to task force for the
mission ahead as well as the future for each Marine after
the unit cases its colors.
From October 2014 to July
2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective
level skills training in designated ground combat arms
occupational specialties in order to facilitate the
standards based assessment of the physical performance of
Marines in a simulated operating environment performing
specific ground combat arms tasks.
By U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Paul S. Martinez
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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