MedFlag 2004 kicks off

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heather Healy
  • MedFlag Public Affairs
DITHOLO, South Africa (AFPN) --  About 250 U.S Airmen from bases in Europe and the United States joined their South African defense force partners here July 2 to begin Exercise MedFlag 2004.

The annual two-week joint-combined medical training and civil assistance exercise in Africa includes units under U.S. European Command.

It provides rare medical training for U.S. Air Force medics and their host-nation counterparts.

This year’s exercise is broken into three phases: interoperability training, humanitarian and civic assistance visits, and a mass-casualty exercise.

“We’re here to learn from our South African hosts, and they’re here to learn from us,” said Col. Russ Richardson, the exercise’s chief of staff for U.S. forces. “Along with exchanging information, we’re here to build relationships that will allow us to work better with the South African defense force for years to come.”

Those relationships begin here at the joint task force headquarters and extend to the patients who come for care at the six humanitarian assistance sites located in communities around South African Air Base Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province.

“We saw 650 patients at the Cottondale clinic on the first day,” said Staff Sgt. Lisa Krejci, 48th Medical Group medical technician from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. “Each doctor saw 60 patients if not more. It was very gratifying for us to be there to help them in any way we could.”

Sergeant Krejci is one of two U.S. medical technicians taking the pulse, blood pressure, temperature and medical history of all the patients who come through the medical tent.

The Airmen work side by side with their South African counterparts to provide a range of health-care services focusing on pediatrics, general medicine, dentistry and optometry.

While the medics treat patients, civil engineers from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, are giving the clinic facilities some attention.

“The old tiles were all popping up,” said Airman 1st Class Shawn Jemmett, from the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron. “We’re going to take them all out and replace them with new tiles so they have a nice, clean surface.”

Other projects include repairing the roof, painting, plumbing work, installing water and sewer lines, and minor construction.

“It’s nice to get out and help other people. It’s hard work, but very fulfilling,” Airman Jemmett said.

Once the interoperability training, medical assistance and civil-engineering projects are complete, both U.S. and South African forces will respond to a simulated plane crash July 16 as a final “test” of what they have learned.

“The mass casualty exercise will help all participants practice the skills and lessons learned during the weeks leading up to this (event),” said Col. William Gardner, 322nd Air Expeditionary Group commander. “We’ve got a long way to go and a lot to learn before then, but we’re enjoying working with our South African counterparts and helping out the local communities along the way.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)