Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

While some Iraqi Army mentoring and training was being provided by partneredCoalition medics, it was ad hoc and unfocused, and was a low priority since Iraqimentoring and training was a secondary duty to mentors’ primary role of Coalitionmedical care. Most Coalition medical activities with Iraqis were short-term projects,rather than focused on support of capability-building strategic programs, thus distractingfrom long-term capability development.Logistics Military Assistance TeamsMNSTC-I and MNC-I were developing Logistics Military Assistance Teams andLogistics Training Advisory Teams to strengthen partnerships with the Iraqi Army toaccelerate development of a sustainable force. The Logistics Military Assistance Teammanning concept included one combat medic that would provide basic medical care tothe team.This medic’s secondary duties included mentoring Iraqi health personnel on aide stationoperations, providing emergency medical support for Iraqis, and providing oversight onmedical supply management. A tertiary duty was to advise, assist, and coordinate withhis Iraqi Army counterpart in support of current and future operations.We believe that the medical mentoring and advising functions that are needed to developa sustainable, effective Iraqi Army health care system will not be met by just one medicalmentor, for whom mentoring and advising are secondary or tertiary duties.Mentoring the Transition of Health Clinics to Iraqi Army ControlMNSTC-I mentoring of the efforts to transition health care clinics to Iraqi Army controlhad not been effective. Those efforts had brought to the surface significant proceduraland process barriers within the Iraqi Army that prevented sustainable independentmedical operations.For example, Iraqi Army in-garrison clinics and medical units in support of operationalmaneuver units were under-staffed, and Iraqi Army personnel who were present were notbeing advised and mentored in their core duties. Medical equipment was improperlymaintained when present and supplies and pharmaceuticals were often not present whenneeded.The lack of mentors inhibited assuring that Iraqi Army medical personnel were in placeand able to effectively work in the critical functional areas of medical logistics, medicalplans and operations, combat casualty care, in-garrison care, patient administration, andfinancial management.Coalition Air Force Training TeamWe believe that a strong mentoring team can be very effective. For example, intensivementoring of Iraqi Air Force aeromedical personnel over the past two years had resultedin demonstrable capability in casualty evacuation during recent operations in Basra. TheIraqi Air Force successfully transported 105 casualties from Basra to Baghdad.139