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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA, is protesting Fort Carson's deadly use of goats in Army medic training, calling it torture.

Last year PETA got a call from a concerned Fort Carson medic regarding the use of animals in trauma trainings.

Then in February, the organization asked Maj. Gen. Mark Graham to investigate the practice, calling it a violation of Department of Defense policy.

Thursday, PETA staged a protest just north of the post on Nevada Avenue and Cheyenne Road.

"Stop torturing animals and stop cruel training" is their message to Fort Carson.

"Goats are being shot. Pigs are being burned and stabbed in several cruel and outdated military trauma exercises," said PETA campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne.

"It makes me sick. Sometimes there are certain parts of the military who do things that are just not right and this is one of those times," said Anne Swissdorf, who is against the use of animals.

According to Fort Carson's Col. B Shannon Davis, Army medics have practiced operating on animals with wounds similar to those soldiers receive in combat for several years. However, Davis said the Post does not shoot or burn the animals.

"These animals go under anesthesia. They don't feel any pain," Davis said.

Pain or not, protesters say the post is unnecessarily killing animals.

"There are so many humane alternatives available including rotations in trauma wards and human simulators," Byrne said.

Because of those alternatives, PETA says this practice clearly violates the Department of Defense's Animal Welfare Policy that says animals can be used only if an equivalent alternative is not available.

Davis said the DOD has approved the training, and that there is no comparable training method.

"You can't get the live tissue training on any type of manikins. This is the only way we have been able to do that," Davis said.

An experience, Davis said has saved thousands of lives on the battle field.

PETA is accusing 16 other military bases and four contract companies of the same behavior.