Story and Photo by
Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Jackson
18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) Public Affairs
MALANG, Indonesia — A new process was added to the regular events of the six-day multinational Medical Readiness Training Exercise, known as Tendon Valiant 2012, here, June 18-23.
Teams went door to door providing medical aid and conducting assessments for families living in the same areas of the clinics, here.
The new process was the idea of Col. Frank Newton, deputy surgeon, U.S. Army-Pacific.
The 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) and USARPAC’s Surgeon’s Office led the exercise. The Indonesian National Armed Forces-Tentara National Indonesia, or TNI, hosted the exercise.
“The teams were excited about going door to door,” said Brig. Gen. Keith Gallagher, commander, Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center, and USARPAC surgeon.
Dentists, nurses, physicians and other health providers from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vietnam teamed up to aid families.
Gallagher said an active case of tuberculosis was found, and an elderly woman with a large goiter on her neck received aid. Those cases, Gallagher went on to say, would never have been found if the program hadn’t been added.
It had been a long, long time since her last exam, said Mrs. Sriutami, a villager in Malang. She said she really liked being seen by the doctor, having an exam and getting medicine. She said she would like to see health promotion classes for villagers.
Regular events of the exercise included a behavioral health seminar, a health volunteer seminar and a Medical First Responder, or MFR course, which helped Indonesian National Armed Forces medical personnel and community health volunteers provide better aid to surrounding communities and assist in training other personnel to do the same.
Dr. (Capt.) Nursito, marine, Indonesian armed forces, said the MFR course was “great” and “awesome” — exactly what their armed forces needed.
Nursito said that each service in the TNI has different medical protocol. With the MFR course, all three branches came together to go through the same course, allowing the services to communicate better.
When asked what the course could offer next time, Nursito said, “more time.”
“Maybe two weeks would be better, and adding a water environment for the navy and marine personnel,” Nursito explained.
During the closing ceremony for the MFR course, Rear Adm. Raquel Bono, command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command, told the participants, “This is a wonderful example of the collaboration and cooperation that we have with our countries. I think that the success that you’ve demonstrated … is a good sign that if you continue your work that you will also be equally successful in your teaching.
“We know … how important it is for everyone to have health in many domains. That includes not only the physical condition, but mental, inner spiritual and the social well-being,” Bono continued. “I’m very grateful, and I’m also impressed and encouraged by the work and participation that all of you are showing here.”
“Thank you very much for letting us participate with you and to train with you,” said Col. Judith Bock, commander, 18th MEDCOM (DS). “Remember that we make our mistakes while we’re training so that we get it right when it counts. Thank you for welcoming us into your country and making new friendships.”