Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/861022
So that „volunteering" did not happen because you were lacking some adrenaline? No, absolutely not. Oh, maybe a little. Well, just a bit. Damn, ok, it was like that. Just like that. Where does it come from? Where what comes from? hat thing that made you get back exhausted from the operation with your guys and keep your gear on and get on with the volunteering in the MEDEVAC? Adrenaline is addictive. Yeah, that addictive. What was your best action? The one that makes you smile when you remember it … There was one thing… We got a call about massive hemorrhage, Americans had troops in contact. We have landed only to encounter a smiling soldier that walked towards us. He had an enormous amount of bandages and a tourniquet on his arm but was able to get into the chopper on his own legs. According to my SOP's I have checked what was going on, took all of those bandages off and saw that he was just scratched. I told him he does not need a tourniquet and I will take it off. He lost it and started yelling that I should live it alone because his medic said that he will bleed to death. He gave up at last but completely lost all hope in the process and asked me to tell his wife that he loves her. I took that tourniquet off and assured him that he will be able to tell her that himself when he calls home. How about the worst? Sometimes we had children on board. And sometimes those children died. Those memories are the worst. Those are the ones that stay in your head. Those are the ones that make me wake up at night. Is that the reason why you have left the army after six- teen years? No, no. I just put in place the plan that I have devised. It was not a hastily made decision. I wanted to teach combat medicine. And apart from that, a simple wear and tear. I am fairly exhausted physically and mentally too. I do not carry the lightest of experiences. People not always speak about this. About the fact that they are mentally tired. But that was not a reason I have left the army. I just have a plan. Now, you teach at the open courses that everyone can come to. Do you think that everyone has some predis- positions? Do you think that everyone should? Not everyone can be a medic. But it is better to find out when you are learning than in a real situation. But defi- nitely yes, everyone should. Everyone that thinks, ev- eryone that has anything to do with weapons, that goes to the shooting range. The situation is clear. Just a few hundred kilometres of our border terrorist attacks hap- pen. When people think about battlefield they picture Iraq, Syria or Afghanistan. But it might as well happen in our shop next door in the Sunday afternoon when we encounter a mad man. Is training the National Guard a part of your plan as well? GEN Kukuła officially informed that you have de- clared taking part in the training process of the Guard members. What set of skills should they possess? Yes, it is and GEN Kukuła (the CO of National Guard, former CO of JWK) will have the best medics. My idea is – BLS for every soldier. Those people will cooperate with the locals. Statistics are clear. Nearly 95% of all the casualties are non-battle injuries, those without an immediate connection to the battlefield. Why should SOF instructors teach the National Guard? Would they even need all of those skills? Because those people are the best instructors. They have battlefield experience. They know exactly what they are doing. I am not saying that we should be teach- ing National Guard an extremely complex medicine. But we need to acknowledge one thing – current and for- mer SOF operators can perfectly utilize their skills and they would make the best instructors. instruktorzy. How would you find time for this? You have a company and teach NATO medics in Germany… One does not just say no to GEN Kukuła. interview