The United States Army

07/22/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/22/2024 05:41

Combined American and Chadian medical exercise concludes

[Link] 1 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption -Members from the U.S Embassy N'Djamena, the Chadian Armed Force [Forces Armées Tchadiennes], the Chadian Air Force [Armée De L'air Tchadiennes], the Chadian Ministry of Defense, the Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the U.S. 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support assemble for a photo following the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) closing ceremony June 26, 2024 at the Garnison Military Hospital in N'Djamena, Chad. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (Photo Credit: Maj. Edward McBride)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 2 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption -Général de brigade aérienne Brahim Mahamat Haggar, left, host U.S. Army Reserve 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support for a traditional Chadian meal during the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in N'Djamena, Chad, June 21, 2024. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (U.S. Army Photo by Maj. Edward McBride) (Photo Credit: Maj. Edward McBride)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 3 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption -U.S. Army Maj. Marc Kaye, an orthopedic surgeon (66M), assigned to 402nd Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD), U.S. Army Reserve, repairs fractures in both forearm bones that the patient has been living with for seven years while demonstrating to a Chadian Armed Forces' [Forces Armées Tchadiennes] surgeon how to conduct the surgery during the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in N'Djamena, Chad, June 14, 2024. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Anthony Hopper)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 4 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption -U.S. Army Sgt. Laysa Noguiera, a surgical technician (68D), left, conducts cross-training instruction on the names of different surgical instruments with Spc. Malik Simpson, a practical nursing specialist (68C), during the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in N'Djamena, Chad, June 18, 2024. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Anthony Hopper) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Anthony Hopper)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 5 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption -U.S. Army Maj. Marc Kaye, an orthopedic surgeon (61M) assigned to the 345 Field Hospital, demonstrates a surgical technique to a Chadian Armed Force [Forces Armées Tchadiennes] orthopedic surgeon during the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) at the Garnison Military Hospital in N'Djamena, Chad on June 17, 2024. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (Photo Credit: Maj. Edward McBride)VIEW ORIGINAL

Back to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

N'Djamena, CHAD - Soldiers from the 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support, a U.S. Army Reserve unit headquartered in Atlanta, GA, concluded their time in N'Djamena, Chad with a closing ceremony hosted by Chadian Armed Force [Forces Armées Tchadiennes], at the Garnison Military Hospital, June 26, 2024.

The Soldiers, mostly from the 402 Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD), participated with Chadian Armed Forces medical personnel for U.S. Africa Command's Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) from June 12 -26 in N'Djamena.

During the 14-day exercise American and Chadian medical partners accumulated approximately 288 patient encounters, with three adult and one pediatric patient's injuries directly resulting from the June 18 ammunition depot explosion. The encounters consisted of sedations, initial triage, surgeries, consultations and wound care.

[Link] While visiting the Chadian Air Force [Armée De L'air Tchadiennes] Centre de Coordination des opérations des Évacuations Sanitaires Aéroportées, U.S. Army forward resuscitative surgical detachment Soldiers observed Chadian patient medical evacuation training utilizing a static display helicopter during the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in N'Djamena, Chad, June 20, 2024. Chadian Air Force [Armée De L'air Tchadiennes] Général de brigade aérienne Brahim Mahamat Haggar, center, provides insight as the centre's director on how Chadian evacuation training parallels aspects of U.S. military medical evacuation training. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Edward McBride) (Photo Credit: Maj. Edward McBride)VIEW ORIGINAL

"The Chad MEDREX mission was a truly incredible experience for our team. We not only got to train and learn alongside Chadian medical personnel, enhancing our own medical practices, but we also got to develop lasting partnerships with the Chadian personnel and learn more about their culture," said U.S. Army Capt. Jacqueline Corcoran, 402nd FRSD executive officer.

Assembled for their two weeks of required annual military training, the U.S. element consisted of sixteen U.S Army Reserve Soldiers from five units under the unified leadership of Capt. Gary Senecal, the 402 FRSD commander. In addition to parterning at the Garnison Military Hospital, the U.S. team also visited the Chadian Air Force [Armée De L'air Tchadiennes] Centre de Coordination des opérations des Évacuations Sanitaires Aéroportées and oberved a Chadian patient medical evacuation training utilizing a static display helicopter.

The participants included a general surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon, nurse anesthetists, operating room technician, pharmacist, emergency physician, nurses and combat medics each participating with their respective Chadian medical counterparts.

In his closing ceremony remarks, the U.S. Embassy N'Djamena Chargé d'affaires, Mr. Rick Swart sais, "This is evidence that strong American-Chadian cooperation will save lives."

MEDREXs are a partner lead, U.S. enabled, medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), allowing military health professionals from the U.S. and partner nations to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques focused on building and strengthening treatment capabilities, and building relationships between the medical professionals.

[Link] U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Foley, a general trauma surgeon (61J) assigned to the 402 Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD), works with a Chadian Armed Force [Forces Armées Tchadiennes] surgeon to dissect an inguinal hernia during the Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) in N'Djamena, Chad, June 17, 2024. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allow military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Edward McBride) (Photo Credit: Maj. Edward McBride)VIEW ORIGINAL

Leaders and participants alike highlighted the unique partnership opportunities afforded throughout the medical exercise and forged during the two weeks of combined work.

"I want to salute your massive presence at this closing ceremony of MEDREX 24 despite your busy schedules. This medical exercise in partnership with the USA is a unique opportunity for the health personnel of our two armies to share their experiences in various areas of human health," said Chadian Armed Force [Forces Armées Tchadiennes] Général de division Yangmargue Beh Félix, 2d deputy to the chief of defense.

[Link] While U.S. Army Sgt. Laysa Nogueira, an operating room specialist (68D), left, prepares area and equipment for a surgery, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Foley, a general trauma surgeon (61J), center, and U.S. Army Maj. Marc Kaye, an orthopedic surgeon (61M), right, discuss each of their upcoming procedures during the Medical Readiness Exercise in N'Djamena, Chad, June 25, 2024. Lt. Col. Foley and Sgt. Nogueira are assigned to the 402nd Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment (FRSD) and Maj. Kaye is assigned to the 345 Field Hospital forward with the 402nd FRSD. MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise program, planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that allows military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that build and strengthen treatment capabilities, resulting in lasting relationships between the partners. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Edward McBride) (Photo Credit: Maj. Edward McBride)VIEW ORIGINAL

MEDREXs support the U.S. strategic objective of promoting peace and security in Africa by ensuring that both U.S. and partner nation medical teams are prepared to respond effectively to health crises.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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