Photo by CaPt. John Kimbrough, u.S. army afriCa
AboVe: lt. stephane oliveira, right, a physician with the Gabonese Military health services chats with 1st lt. Naomie W. Gathua, a nurse with the 94th combat support hospital, u.s. Army reserve from seagoville, texas during a break in lectures at Medical Accord central 12. MedAccord is a u.s. Army Africa sponsored event that brings together utah and Mississippi National Guard members, Army reserve units from texas and Arkansas, members of the defense Medical readiness training institute at Joint base san Antonio, Gabon and regional African partners in order to promote security cooperation while conducting an exercise to enhance medical capacity. opposite leFt: A contingent of u.s. military personnel comprised of National Guard and u.s. Army reserve soldiers from Mississippi, texas, Arkansas and utah, along with members of the defense Medical readiness training institute (dMrti) from Joint base san Antonio, worked side-by-side with their Gabonese counterparts in an effort to promote regional relationships and further interoperability between the participating militaries during Medical Accord 12 in libreville, Gabon. beloW: Gabonese Medical health services capt. Fidele Miyabe examines a patient during the practical exercise portion of Medical Accord central 12. Photo by CaPt. Colleen benton, 94th Combat SuPPort hoSPital
This annual joint medical exercise, hosted by U.S. Army Africa, presents both U.S. and African militaries with a unique opportunity to work and train together, fostering security cooperation while enhancing medical capacity. “The Gabonese military tries to find operations like this one to teach and train our soldiers different methods and measures that need to be taken, so this maneuver is a big opportunity,Ó said Gabon Army Exercise Force Protection Officer Lt. Col. Joel Ibouanga. Ò We looked forward to this operation, and it will help us learn to deal with different situations in field operations.” The mission has been a priority, and U.S. military personnel are just as eager to learn from their Gabonese partners. Ò Personally, I was honored to have the opportunity to work with the U.S. Army Africa, our fellow units and our Gabonese partners in the planning and preparation process,” said 66th Troop Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Goldsmith of New Orleans. Ò It is a rewarding experience to see the execution of events go so well,Ó he said. With both militaries working toward the same goal of sharing medical expertise, the friendships forged across continents were an added bonus. Ò We are building relationships, making friends and sharing information Ñ itÕs a great experience and will hopefully continue,” said Maj. Samuel Bayles, a psychiatrist with the 94th Combat Support Hospital of Little Rock, Ark., and a native of Tuscan, Ariz.
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