Thread: ANA Mishaps

So some of you know and the rest will soon read, I am currently the only medic attached to an MP plt in Paktika afghanistan. We do the typical ground pounder work of the 11b but, most of the time we are tasked out with AUP/ALP training. ( Afghanistan Union Police) (Afghan Local Police). We teach ethics, TCP's, Searches, Raids, and general law enforcement. Well being part of this team we are often flwon to other Fob's, Cops, FB's all around the Ao training different areas. Well we were on one mission on the border of opsec, training afghani police at cop opsec. Now that you have the backgrounf of our mission, I can further explain the story...

One evening after class, I was filling sandbags, approx 9000 for the Cop's new gym roof, when a runner from my PLT came and grabbed me and said I needed to get the Aid Station immediately. I had foreseen this happening however, due to the explosions and a period of burst of small arms fire. When I got to the aid station i was brief that 4 ana were injured in a firefight. we knew the hekani network was very active in this area, it is one of their safe guards and 2 nights prior they had set off the 30M trip Flare from an Op approx 8 km away. However the Hekani was the not the cause, of the firefight. What had happened was a dismounted patrol of ANA Afghan national army, was headed to one of their OP's when they noticed people already at their OP. Not knowing who it was they yelled to no prevail and opened fire, an RPG was sent both ways, and SAF in what seemed to be 5 minutes. The end result was ANA shooting ANA!!!! The patrol wasn't informed they had friendlies occupying their OP. So while sitting in the aid station getting the brief, of 4 causalities, we went to work as medics do, I won't go into too much detail about the injuries unless you want me elaborate later. Regardless, sharpnel, GSW's and missing limbs. Some made it...
Anyways it goes to show how much more training and development this country needs. It' is sad when we come so far with one group just to get another group and see that they are at square one. We find it frustrating at times, that basic knowledge is hard to come by, holding a weapon, pulling trigger, hitting a target. All things any one of our basic soldier can do for the the most part lol. I have lots of stories thus far and don't mind sharing the life of a medic in afghanistan. Ask away.

Doc

First and foremost, I love my job and wouldn't change it for anything, except maybe 18D or a ranger medic .... But to answer your question, IV sticks are not in CLS class anymore as of Oct 2010 unfortunately the army decided it wasn't a good thing to teach as some non-medic types were giving the wrong fluids, as you prob know after sitting through so many CLS classes or army classes at that you tend to tune out most of it and only look at the pictures so people were forgetting indication for what fluids and thus causing more injuries. As far as tourniquets CAT tourniquets are in every IFAK and every soldier should be trained on the proper use and application of them.

I appreciate you taking the time to read, it really let me get some shit of my chest, even though i was vague on the detail.

Doc

I know we do our best and we try to train to standard, as we all saw what happened in iraq unfortunately. Best of luck to you headed back out their chief. I am on the downhill slide, hit my 6 month mark sometime last week I think.... Who knows really, every Monday is like every Tuesday the same thing.

USdoc

i'm also a 68W.

i remember the words of (then) MG Hagenbeck at Fort Drum before we got on the bird for Romania, OIF 1 bound.

"those people will cut your fucking throats the second they get the chance. when in doubt, pull the fucking trigger"

-something to that effect / not word for word

Hey unread your post and that is crazy, I bet you are a great soldier! I am about to enlist this week and my top 3 jobs are 68w, 31b, and 11b. I'm not sure which I will choose as my first until then but it seems you love your job and your good at it! Be safe

Hey Achwegs, I appreciate the compliments. If you have any questions about the life of a lower enlisted 68W or 31B, let me know as I have been with Mp's for about 2 years now. I am embedded with them and have a pretty good base of knowledge let alone a a few b-huts filled with my PLT.

SFC Dee, "those people will cut your fucking throats the second they get the chance. when in doubt, pull the fucking trigger" such a good quote, and its the absolute truth. while we try to keep relationships to the minimal force, we have had many of incidences where you just don't know, and its the best option at the time. All about the sworn statements . But I understand what you mean 100%.

This story I posted is just on my many with the ana and aup and their inability to make a "decent" tactical decision. I could fill this forums up with stories of them

UsDoc