Air Force takes on Task Force Med Published Jan. 29, 2007 By Capt. Travis Tougaw 455 AEW/PA BAGRAM AIRBASE, Afghanistan -- - The 455th Expeditionary Medical Group activated and the Air Force took responsibility for CJTF-76's Task Force Medical during a transfer of authority ceremony here Jan. 23.During the ceremony, Col. Bart Iddins assumed command of the 455th EMDG, and then succeeded Army Col. Jeffrey Haun as the task force commander. "This simple ceremony demonstrates the continuation of United States, Republic of Korea, and Egyptian commitment to the improvement of the lives of the Afghan people," said Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, the commander of Combined Joint Task Force 76. "None of the core competencies demonstrated by this task force can be duplicated by the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan." In assuming command, Colonel Iddins noted, "It is always an honor and a privilege to command, but it is especially a privilege to command in combat." The colonel added that the new members of Task Force Med will build upon the work of their predecessors. He also recognized how the work of coalition partners has helped make the unit successful. "We are united by many common goals, many common priorities, and a commitment to first, last, and always accomplish the mission," he said.In taking the flag of Task Force Med, the Air Force also assumes the leadership role at the Craig Theater Hospital here, although joint and coalition partners remain an important part of the hospital's mission. "While the 455th EMDG is an extraordinarily capable medical organization containing all the specialties one would expect for an expeditionary theater combat hospital, it does not represent the complete capability of Task Force Med or Craig Theater Hospital," Colonel Iddins stated. The task force is comprised of Air Force, Army, Egyptian, Korean, and Jordanian medical personnel, covering a wide array of medical specialties, including surgeries, dental services, nursing care, ophthalmic and optometric services, physical therapy, medical logistics, preventive medicine, and veterinary medicine. The task force is dispersed across the area of responsibility, working at several hospitals and forward surgical teams. The Craig Theater Hospital is staffed by the 455th EMDG, elements of the 396th Combat Support Hospital, and the 550th Area Medical Support Company. Additionally, Craig Theater Hospital plays a role in en route care, a process of moving patients from the place where they are injured to increasingly higher levels of care as needed. Colonel Iddins credits the process of en route care with saving lives in the combat zone. "This concept has been refined to the point that casualties receive highly sophisticated medical care throughout the evacuation process," he said. "Fatality rates are now at the lowest rate in the history of warfare." Brig. Gen. Chris Miller, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, noted that the members of the new Task Force Med were making organizational history in Afghanistan. "I'm confident the men and women of TF Med -- whatever uniform they wear -- will work superbly together as a world-class team. That's what it's about -- saving lives." Colonel Iddins comes to Task Force Med from the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he was the vice commander. The majority of the 455th EMDG is deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., with the remainder coming from various active-duty, Air National Guard, and Reserve units. The outgoing members of Task Force Med are from the 14th Combat Support Hospital and will return to Fort Benning, Ga.