Medics provide care to people in Dominican Republic

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ben Sakrisson
  • Air University Public Affairs
HOSTOS, Dom. Rep. (AFNS) --  Medics treated 760 patients at a primary school here April 20 on the inaugural day of the largest Maxwell Air Force Base-planned Air Force medical readiness exercise, or MEDRETE,  to date. 

A group of 45 medics, translators, security and support personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines provided dental, dermatologic, general medicine, optometric, pediatric, pharmacy and public health services as part of the U.S. Southern Command sponsored exercise, Beyond the Horizon 2009 - Caribbean. 

"This is a great opportunity to help patients while showcasing how the different branches of the U.S. military work together in a joint manner," said Lt. Col. Andrew B. Meadows, MEDRETE commander and 42nd Aeromedical-Dental Squadron commander at Maxwell AFB, Ala. 

"We are operating in close coordination with the Dominicans and the U.S. Army and Marines to ensure this mission leaves a lasting positive impression for both the patients and the medics," he said. 

As a testament to the intensive mission planning and coordination between joint U.S. Forces and local government and military officials, the day started smoothly and continued at an even keel throughout the rest of the day. 

Unlike some past MEDRETES this mission includes U.S. military personnel as translators. Typically, MEDRETE missions rely on local volunteers to translate patients' issues and doctors' orders. However, subtleties can be lost in translation depending on the fluency of the volunteer interpreters. The use of embedded interpreters alleviated the issue as well as the ambiguity surrounding the availability of interpreters on a given day. 

"The unsung heroes are our translators, we brought 10 from the Air Force and four from the Army," said Lt. Col. Meadows. "We would be absolutely crippled if we did not have our interpreters; they are the backbone of this mission." 

The two-week duration of the mission makes it imperative that local people in need of medical care know where medics will provide care, when they will be there, and what services will be provided before the team's arrival. 

"This a humanitarian mission, we do not want to keep people away, we want to let them know we are here," said Marine Staff Sgt. David J. Means, Jr., the non-commissioned officer in charge of the 4th Civil Affairs Group at Bolling AFB in Washington D.C. "We are looking to see what the civilian populace has to offer and then marry that up with what the military has to offer." 

The Marine Corps civil affairs team arrived in country before the arrival of the medics to link up with local government authorities and act as a bridge for efficient information transfer between the U.S. military and local authorities. 

"Some of the places do not have TV stations or radios so we find other avenues to get the word out ... there is not a specific way that we have to do it, we just have to find a way to do it," said Staff Sgt. Robin J. Reyes, a translator from the 4th CAG. 

The only noticeable, yet unavoidable, obstacle during the day was the intermittent electrical power availability. Shortly after moving the medical gear into the school building, the team discovered that the entire complex was without electricity and restoration was not expected until late in the afternoon. The medics quickly adapted to the inability to use electrical equipment; however, the fans unexpectedly began blowing after about an hour on site and continued sporadically during the day. 

The medical team will provide care for a total of 10 days at three separate locations during the mission and is expected to see 8,000 to 10,000 patients. 

A MEDRETE provides humanitarian assistance and free medical care to the people of the host nation, while providing an unparalleled training opportunity for U.S. and host nation forces. USSOUTHCOM sponsors approximately 70 MEDRETEs per year. 

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