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U.S. Air Force medics train fledgling Afghan medical corps

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson
  • U.S. AFCENT Combat Camera Team
KABUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Afghanistan --  A healthy military keeps troops in the fight. Airmen assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron are teaching Afghanistan National Army Air Corps soldiers at its Command Air Corps Medical Service Clinic the skills necessary to keep their soldiers on the battlefield.

"The standards we're setting here are critical," said Master Sgt. Greg Peppers, 438th AEAS Medical Team Lead, deployed from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. "For the Afghans to take on more responsibility for their nation's security, their soldiers have to be healthy."

Averaging between 60 and 70 customers per week, Afghan medics treat ANAAC soldiers for various medical issues. The most common being dehydration, broken bones, frost bite, work-related injuries and dental problems and colds. For the four-Airman medical advisory team, ensuring these Afghan medics correctly treat patients is key to getting these Afghan soldiers back into the fight.

"For any military to be successful, they must keep their soldiers ready and quality medical care is a must," said Tech. Sgt. Misti Adams, 438th AEAS medical advisor also deployed from Pope AFB. "Our Afghan medics are working hard and improving their medical practices every day to better serve their fellow Afghan soldiers."

Since this team's arrival in May 2009, improvements in the clinic include better accountability of medical records, a pharmacy, a preventive medicine program (the equivalent of public health for U.S. forces) and sick call. The clinic's most recent milestone was achieved Feb. 15, when six Afghan medics became the country's first flight surgeons after graduating from a 9-month course here.

"Having trained flight surgeons is a huge addition for this clinic," said Sergeant Adams, a native of Chesapeake, Va., who served as one of the trainers for the course. "With the Afghans flying more operational missions, these Afghan flight surgeons will be vital to the safety and security of their soldiers."

The new Afghan flight surgeon will serve in the same capacity as their U.S. counterparts -- by giving pilots and aircrew health assessments prior to operational missions.

"We are building our future right now," said Col. Rasool Mayel, ANAAC surgeon general, who was also a graduate of the flight-surgeon course. "Our new skills are a great gift from our advisors. We are the first Afghan flight surgeons and it is a great honor."

The new flight surgeons will also be charged with developing aeromedical standards and keeping track of the medical needs of pilots in upgrade training.

"From my point of view, being able to treat our Afghan aircrews and pilots will save lives," said Col. Toryalay Sh-quraishee, ANAAC clinic commander. "We can know if a pilot has high blood pressure, had alcohol or lack of sleep. Knowing this will ensure that we always have the right people flying missions."

Airmen and Afghans have plans to build on their successes. They will begin a new course this month to train ground medics in aeromedical skills. In addition, the newly trained flight surgeons will deploy to forward-operating bases throughout Afghanistan.

"We are making huge strides with our Afghan counterparts and the future is looking brighter every day," said Sergeant Peppers, a native of Louisville, Ken. "We have lots of work to do, but as long as we have high-caliber Airmen advising and eager Afghans willing to do what is necessary to improve, we can do anything."