Traumatic.

This is coolbert:

Very interesting program on the evening news today. How the 101st Airborne Division [actually airmobile], is toughening a select number of troops for service in Iraq.

Toughening the troops mentally, not physically in this case.

Combat medics are going on duty with EMT's in Memphis.

Riding around with the paramedics as they make their rounds. Getting real world, hard to obtain otherwise, medical training and EXPERIENCE in dealing with wounded and sick people. Preparing for the duty they will see in Iraq. These medics will not be shocked when they see their first victim. Will be mentally prepared for dealing with casualties. Casualties that will quite often resemble what they will see in Iraq. Accident victims from automobile crashes, gunshot and beating victims, etc. Persons that have traumatic injuries that need TREATMENT on the spot.

Officers and senior enlisted are having to undergo mandatory mental toughening too. Visit a morgue, observe an autopsy, and HANDLE human body parts taken from a person who has been autopsied. This type of "training" is also to mentally condition the senior and command troops to seeing blood and guts for real. NOT just playing at war and seeing what are called "notional" casualties. This stuff is not make believe!!

These "programs" can be said to have merit.

We in modern American society are just not accustomed to seeing blood, guts, and death, whatever the nature of the death, natural or traumatic.

We live in a clean, antiseptic, world, where death is supposed to be ONLY for the aged. This is in marked contrast to what the American soldier will see in Iraq. A lot of the combat is close-quarters-combat. You look in the other guys eyes before you shoot him or blow him up. You see his guts and blood and body parts all over the place. The sort of training now underway for SOME troops will just that much better mentally prepare them for the rigors of combat, with all that it brings.

[there is the story of the Army troop that on his first day in Iraq, saw, immediately, after disembarking from a helicopter, a dead Iraqi laying cut in two on the ground. This troop vomited, lost control of himself, and became a wreck. He had just completed a one year training course in Arabic language and was going to act as a translator. His skills were sorely needed. The troop was evacuated from the area as he could no longer function, was going to be tried for cowardice, and was then mustered out. This could have been handled differently and the troop put to good use if proper measures and steps taken. But obviously this was not the case!!]

coolbert.