Bad guys also use automatic
weapons, even Ak47s in cities all over the US. It's bloody out there.
Not true. Most of what's reported in the media as "AK-47's" aren't.

That aside, if I'm reading the story correctly, it states that this training is for soldiers were medics aren't available....

which means it's not your average private taking the training. All infantry platoons have a medic attached, and one combat lifesaver (CLS) per squad, in many cases one CLS per fire team. The medics take part in EMT training and work in emergency rooms as part of their training.

That pretty much narrows down who the students in this course are, and also means that the person who reported to the media isn't very popular with his fellow soldiers, if he's still in the unit at all.