During a mass casualty drill, an Iraqi Army medic-in-training tells another Iraqi soldier to treat other mock casualties during the culminating event of a five-week Iraqi Army Basic Medical Course May 15, 2006, at an Iraqi military camp at Al Asad, Iraq. Twenty soldiers from Iraqi Army units throughout western Al Anbar graduated the course two days later. The course – the first held in western Al Anbar Province – included five weeks of lectures, written examinations and practical application on what U.S. medical personnel deem as crucial life-saving skills for treating casualties in combat, such as applying tourniquets, triaging patients, CPR and medical evacuation. The graduation marked the first batch of fully-qualified, Iraqi Army medics who will serve in units throughout western Al Anbar Province. The plan is to have about 150 trained Iraqi medics by year’s end to serve with Iraqi Army battalions partnered with U.S. military units throughout the province. During the graduation, the top Marine commander for western Al Anbar Province told the new Iraqi medics that they “are the foundation” for the Iraqi Army. “The entire Iraqi Army will be watching to see how you perform,” said Col. W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 7. “To be a medic is a higher calling. It’s easier to just be a soldier. You must treat and protect the wounded.”Photo by: Staff Sgt. Jim Goodwin