Jul 03, 2007
By Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rosa Larson
Commander, Naval Forces Europe public affairs
LIBREVILLE, Gabon - More than 65 U.S. military medical and support personnel deployed here July 3 for eight days of bilateral medical training.
MEDFLAG 2007 is a medical exercise emphasizing joint training with African nations that provides realistic training environments where participating forces familiarize themselves with the each other's capabilities.
As part of this year's exercise, medical units from Gabon along with U.S. Navy personnel will provide free medical treatment, exams and inoculations to local residents.
"The end result is to help develop West African militaries' disaster response capabilities," said Navy Cmdr. Paul Pruden, medical planner for the exercise. "It also aids U.S. personnel by deploying them to work in an austere environment and see patients with ailments we might not normally see," he said.
U.S. European Command created the annual MEDFLAG training exercises in 1987 to include a wide range of medical training with African medical services as well as improving maritime security and enhancing regional relationships.