Americans, Germans share training

***image1***Members of the German Regional Medical Command II had the opportunity to train with members of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center staff during the German-American Partnership Training Event Aug. 12 at LRMC.
“It is important that we keep a good, working relationship with our German counterparts,” said Capt. Jalaluddin A. Malik, Europe Regional Medical Command Soldier medic program manager for Europe. “This is only the beginning of a path leading to the close cooperation between the two nations.”
The training was designed to show German military forces how American medics perform battlefield medical procedures, said Capt. Malik.
According to Capt. Malik, the event is composed of three scenarios to include controlling bleeding and shock, treating a gunshot wound to the chest and performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on a casualty who has inhaled a poisonous gas – scenarios common on the battlefield.
“This is the first time training like this has ever taken place here,” said Capt. Malik. “It gives us an ability to give the Germans an introduction to the procedures we use, and we get the opportunity to have an outside opinion on our training to help us fix anything that seems wrong.”
“We are very happy to be a part of this event,” said Timothy E. Koenig, coordinator for the Medical Simulation Center here. “This gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the different medical procedures that each country uses and helps develop a common understanding between soldiers on the battlefield.”
“Communication is essential on the battlefield,” said Staff Sgt. Keith A. Gywn, instructor for the event. “It is better to learn how to communicate with our German counterparts here than to be on the battlefield and have no way to communicate with each other.”
“Medicine is a common language,” said Col. Carla Hawley-Bowland, commander of the Europe Regional Medical Command. “I am looking forward to learning from each other, growing closer to our German counterparts and becoming friends.”
“The training was set in a high-stress environment just like it would be on the battlefield by using real war sounds and low lighting,” said Gen. Brig. Gen. Volker Schwamborn, commander of the German Regional Medical II. “With this training between Germans and Americans, we can be confident that you can help us and we can help you.”
Future training events held by the German military will show American forces how they handle battlefield casualties.