U.S. Air Force & Congolese military complete MEDLITE 11

Published May 6, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Todd Wivell
17th Air Force Public Affairs

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo -- After months of careful planning and after two weeks of execution, MEDLITE 11, a joint medical exercise focused on aeromedical evacuation, to improve the readiness of U.S. Air Force and Democratic Republic of the Congo personnel, has drawn to a close here at the Centre Superior Militaire Academy.

"This started with a dream, a vision that evolved into our crowning feat of this two week exercise," said Lt. Col. June Oldman, director for MEDLITE 11. "This was a turning point between past and future, between possibility and reality."

According to Colonel Oldman, the purpose of this joint exercise was to focus on five key points. Reinforcing the training of the Armed Forces of the DRC Medical Immediate Response Unit, enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. and Armed Forces of the DRC to respond to medical emergencies, sharing our training and experiences with the Medical Rapid Intervention Unit, building a partnership and relationship with the Congolese military and cultivating a professional Armed Forces of the DRC as part of the U.S. government's efforts to support peace and stability in the DRC.

The only way this became a reality was through the cooperation of more than 60 U.S. Air Force active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel. Those personnel represented a broad spectrum of members, each proficient in their respective career fields, from states such as Wyoming, Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.

"I would like to thank our personnel representing the U.S. Air Force, AFRICOM, U.S. Air Forces Africa and all of their subordinate and participating commands who helped us plan and execute this outstanding training event," said Colonel Oldman. "Your Airmen, officers and civilians are the epitome of professionalism and they acted as excellent ambassadors of the U.S. here in the DRC."

"Exercises like this one are so important," said Col. Steve Ice, surgeon general for 17th Air Force. "It is about networking, developing partnerships that you want in place before a disaster occurs.

"The time to work together and learn about each other's strengths and weaknesses is now, not when it is in a time of need or crisis, those partnerships need to be made before that ever happens."

Colonel Oldman could not agree more and stated that this exercise not only advanced capabilities by conducting training in the vital skills involved in aeromedical evacuation but that it also forged partnerships that would pay strategic dividends for both the U.S. and Congo well into the future.

"The interaction between the members of our military's bridged cultural divides, while providing training opportunities for U.S. and Congolese service members' alike." said Colonel Oldman.

"Thank you all very much for the completion of MEDLITE 11," said Col. (Dr.) Kabanda, a Congolese military doctor who was Colonel Oldman's direct counterpart. "Your participation in this two week aeromedical evacuation training will remain throughout our history.

"The U.S. Air Force was given the task of instructing us on the basics of aeromedical evacuation training and their hard work showed in our successful technical execution and management of the final day's mass casualty exercise. They have helped the Democratic Republic of the Congo set the groundwork for the soon to be first ever aeromedical evacuation team of the Congolese military."