ANAAC Conference

Afghan Col. Abdul Rasoul, surgeon general, Afghan National Army Air Corps, briefs at an ANAAC and coalition forces meeting at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 6, 2010. During this meeting Afghan and coalition forces discussed the evolution of the medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by/ Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross/released)

ANAAC Conference

Afghan National Army Air Corps and coalition forces attend a meeting at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 6, 2010. During this meeting Afghan and coalition forces discussed the evolution of the medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by/ Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross/released)

ANAAC Conference

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joseph McCormick, Charley 23, Dust-off, gives soldiers from the Afghan National Army Air Corps a tour of a UH-60 Black Hawk at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 6, 2010. The ANAAC members were at Bagram to discuss the evolution of the medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by/ Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross/released)

ANAAC Conference

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joseph McCormick, Charley 23, Dust-off, shows Afghan Col. Abdul Rasoul, surgeon general, Afghan National Army Air Corps, how U.S. forces train for medical emergencies at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 6, 2010. The ANAAC members were at Bagram to discuss the evolution of the medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by/ Tech. Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross/released)

Medical Evacuation conference set to enhance ANAAC capabilities

Published March 15, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Richard Williams
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Members of the Afghan National Army Air Corps met with their coalition partners during a medical evacuation conference here, March 6, 2010.

The purpose of the conference was coordination between ANAAC and coalition medical evacuation units to streamline and improve processes, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Peter Gross, Advisor/Mentor to ANAAC for Air Command and Control, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group/Combined Air Power Task Force.

"The purpose of this meeting is to coordinate between the different pieces in the medevac process," said ANAAC Col. Abdul Rasoul, ANAAC Surgeon General. "This way we have better coordination between Bagram and other assets and are able to move patients in a timely manner."

Colonel Rasoul stressed the importance of the medical evacuation mission as a confidence builder for the Afghan people on the capabilities of the ANAAC. They are working to improve their ability to move patients in an efficient, effective manner and get them to medical attention as they need it along with getting them back to their home
regions.

Major Gross explained the importance of the conference is twofold: "We are building relationships. Even though we will redeploy, the Afghans that are here today will still be here accomplishing these missions long after we are gone and their children will take over these missions."

Secondly, the Major added, the relationships built and conferences like these will help the joint mission goal which is to eventually hand all Afghan medical evacuation missions off to the ANAAC.

He added that conferences like these lay the foundation for fledgling programs like medical evacuation to become successful and assist the Afghan's in building their country.