US Army Defends Pig Shootings
The United States Army has defended a procedure it uses to train soldiers set to be deployed to Iraq, in which pigs are shot and medical treatment given to them.
The procedure, according to the Army, provides soldiers with knowledge in how to administer emergency treatment when on the front line and when medical stations and medical workers are absent.
"It's to teach Army personnel how to manage critically injured patients within the first few hours of their injury", US Army 25th Infantry Division spokesman Major Derrick Cheng explained.
However, in the opinion of animal welfare group Peta, the procedure is archaic, does not need to be carried out, and needs to be rethought.
"There's absolutely no reason why they have to shoot live pigs", Holly Beal, representing the organisation, said.
M16 Rifles
Peta became aware of the situation when one soldier approached them and advised of proposals to use M16 rifles and other weapons to shoot the pigs with. The soldier, according to Peta, was "distraught."
In place of the pig-shooting, Peta added, other alternatives existed, such as the use of advanced simulation equipment.
Soldier Training
Pigs, though, remained the best choice, Major Cheng said.
"Those alternative methods just can't replicate what the troops are going to face when we use live-tissue training", he stated, adding: "What we're doing is unique to what the soldiers are going to actually experience."
Anaesthetic, Cheng added, was given to the animals.
"We understand (Peta's) concerns and point of view", he concluded.
"At the same, the Army is committed to providing the soldiers with the best training possible."
Peta, in an effort to bring the practice to a close, is calling on its 2m-strong support base to besiege the US Army with correspondence related to the shootings.
Source - Armed Forces International's US Correspondent
Recent related News Items:
Animals/ Military -
New Homes Search for Royal Navy Trial Goats
Other US Army -
9 US Soldiers Killed in Insurgent Attack in Afghanistan
Further Resources:
Products and Services -
Companies providing Life-Saving Equipment
Companies providing Medical
Companies providing Medical Units, Portable
