Lt. Col. Amy Hill, Kansas National Guard State Partnership Program director, along with Col. Linda Goodson and Capt. Charles Ross, 184th Medical Group, met in Yerevan, Armenia, March 21-25 with the U.S. European Command surgeon general, U.S. Air Force surgeon general evaluators, U.S. Embassy personnel and Armenian Armed Forces to carry out a Role 2 Medical Treatment Facility Pre-deployment Assessment.
The assessment was conducted in anticipation of future peacekeeping operations and U.N. missions. The teams also performed a baseline capability assessment on post-conflict Armenian Rehabilitation Medicine to formulate a multiyear plan for capacity building. Over the course of several days, the assessment team identified equipment and training needs and gaps.
“The experience of collaborating with Armenian leadership was a very positive one,” said Goodson, 184th MDG flight surgeon. “They are very open to recommendations for training, changes and upgrades in order to bolster their medical response in emergency situations.
“The Armenian troops suffered the loss of many trained personnel, and the Armenian leadership is asking for assistance in getting more personnel trained as soon as possible.”
“Meeting with Armenian leadership was an incredible opportunity to strengthen our partnership and with a consensus of working together on future training plans,” said Ross, 184th MDG medical administrative officer. “The leadership was warm and inviting and are eager to start training with Kansas.”
“The future for future training events has endless possibilities,” said Goodson. “There could be a combination of training events here in Kansas as well as a detailed EMEDS (Expeditionary Medical Support) exercise in Armenia.” Goodson said such exercises could include military and civilian medical personnel.