Cambodia: Idaho Army Guard Soldiers, Royal Cambodian Army provide medical care to thousands of Cambodians

By Army National Guard Staff Sgt. April Davis

Idaho National Guard

KAMPOT PROVINCE, Cambodia (3/26/12) – Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers from Charlie Company, 145th Brigade Support Battalion, assisted with medically treating more than 5,000 Cambodian citizens in a joint Medical Civic Action Program during the Angkor Sentinel 2012 exercise here, March 13 to 23.

Angkor Sentinel is an annual bilateral military exercise sponsored by United States Army Pacific Command and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

The MEDCAP included 16 U.S. Army medical personnel, 15 delegates from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, 17 interpreters, and a medical team from the Children’s Surgical Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Through the combined effort of the RCAF, U.S. Army, and the Children’s Surgical Center thousands of Cambodians were provided medical care that is otherwise difficult for people of rural provinces to receive.

"The experience we’ve had here in Cambodia is incredible and I cherish this opportunity to work side-by-side with our RCAF partners to help people,” said Army 1st Lt. Casey Seckel, of Charlie Company, 145th BSB.

The MEDCAP provided care to Cambodian locals in two different locations; the Kampong Kes Primary School and the Hun Sen Ro Lous School. Men, women, and children of all ages received medical care, dental care, and ophthalmic treatments and surgeries, as well as health care education.

The general medicine team saw the largest majority of patients with common ailments ranging from minor wounds, muscular-skeletal issues, gastrointestinal issues, and high-blood pressure to diseases not often seen in the U.S. including typhoid and tuberculosis.

Army Maj. Heidi Munro, commander of Charlie Company, 145th BSB, said this experience is unlike any training that could be replicated at home for her Soldiers.

“Our training is usually focused on treating combat injuries, this is much more complex because the soldiers have to diagnose actual patients with different illnesses and diseases,” she said.

The Chidren’s Surgical Center performed ophthalmic surgeries, including cataract removal, and prescribed many pairs of eyeglasses.

Army Capt. Andrew Schug, of the Idaho Army National Guard Medical Detachment, was enthusiastic about the mission; “It is definitely a rewarding experience. You hear stories about what it’s going to be like, but it's not until you get a patient standing in front of you, blind in one eye with lymphoma, that you can really understand what we are doing here. That isn’t something anyone can prepare you for.”

Patients also sought dental care - mainly extractions. Dental technicians with the Idaho Army National Guard received hands-on experience in extracting teeth, a skill reserved only for dentists back at home.

“The ability to help the Cambodians who cannot afford dental care, to give them some pain relief is very rewarding,” said Army Spc. Sara McDonald, a dental technician with the Idaho Army National Guard.

The RCAF medical team said the MEDCAP program benefited both nations involved, as well as the ancillary organizations that supported it, as they worked together to help improve the health of the Cambodian population.

Um. Oeun, an RCAF medical officer, expressed his thoughts on working with the U.S. military.

“We all get more experience when we are able to train together and the American military is very helpful in assisting with this mission in Cambodia,” he said. “We are so happy we have the best cooperation with the American military.”

The RCAF has conducted several MEDCAP humanitarian missions with U.S. forces in the past.

“I have done missions often with the Air Force, Navy, and Army,” said Cmdr. Ky Yadeth, of the Royal Cambodian Navy. “I like doing them because I like to see the cooperation between the Cambodian military and the American military."

Interpreters working with the medical team said patients were grateful to receive free health care because many families in rural Cambodia can’t afford medical treatment.

“I think what the soldiers will take away from this experience is an appreciation for everything we have at home, especially health care,” Munro said.

CARAT Cambodia Enables Return to Homeland for Three Sailors

Discover these Vietnam Veteran books written by Vietnam veterans who served in Cambodia.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Clowney, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (NNS) -- When U.S. and royal Cambodian navies began their 2nd annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Cambodia exercise Oct. 20, three Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) were looking forward to the week ahead more than others. For them, it would be their first visit to their ancestral homeland.

Gas Turbine Systems Technician 3rd Class Channy Sath, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Suorth Suom, and Storekeeper 2nd Class Sokchamroeun Yous were born in, or grew up in, the U.S. after their parents fled the genocide of Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia from 1975-1979, and the nearly two decades of civil war that followed. Sath grew up in Lowell, Mass; Suom in Philadelphia, and Yous in Texas. All three eventually joined the Navy and, in a twist of good fortune, were able to visit their homeland when Kidd was selected to participate in CARAT Cambodia.

"This is my first time to visit Cambodia," Suom said, explaining how his family slipped across the border with Thailand in 1979 to escape the war. "My family, they miss the country and their way of life before the war."

For Sath, whose family left Cambodia for America in 1990, the visit was an opportunity to meet several relatives, for the first time.

"My dad used to tell me about Cambodia, and how I was fortunate to come to America, because the war was unforgettable," Sath said. "I was really happy knowing that we were coming to Cambodia, and I was looking forward to meeting my family members I've never seen."

While in Cambodia, Sath was given special liberty to travel to Phnom Penh, the nation's capital, and to Siem Reap to stay with family. "I couldn't help it - when we saw each other we all started crying. My family members were so happy that I had come to visit them."

For Yous, the exercise presented an opportunity to embark a royal Cambodian navy patrol craft for the first dedicated at-sea naval exercise between Cambodia and the U.S. Navy in nearly 40 years.

Though he didn't get to visit relatives on this trip, Suom said the experience was unforgettable. "I was excited to come here, even though I just stayed in the Sihanoukville area," he said. "I was excited and humbled to come here."

Approximately 400 U.S. Sailors are participating in CARAT Cambodia 2011. Two U.S. ships, Kidd and the dive and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50), are participating.

CARAT is a series of annual, bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy and the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Essex ARG Arrives Off Cambodian Coast for MAREX

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Eva-Marie Ramsaran

GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 26, 2011) (NNS) -- The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived off the coast of Shinoukville, Cambodia, Feb. 26 to participate in the Cambodia Maritime Exercise 2011 (MAREX 11).

MAREX 11 is a theater security cooperation visit designed to enhance interoperability and improve capabilities of the U.S. Armed Forces and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).

"The U. S. Navy is always honored to have the opportunity to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia," said Capt. Bradley Lee, commodore, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11. "Visits such as this help to further strengthen the relationship between our two governments."

The port visit is intended to provide crew members of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) with a chance to serve as goodwill ambassadors for the U.S., promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the visit, the ARG will embark 60 RCAF personnel to introduce them to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief procedures and Essex shipboard operations.

"Essex will conduct shipboard operations, such as damage control, navigation and engineering operations with the Royal Cambodian Navy," said Lt. Justin Jomoto, PHIBRON 11 plans and policy officer. "By teaching and showing their navy what we do, we give them a perspective of how another navy operates."

Beach Master Unit 1 and Assault Craft Unit 1 will conduct a beach survey to ensure the beach is suitable for landing craft to storm the beach.

ARG Sailors will conduct two community service projects, one at the Goodwill School and the other at Villiage d'enfant de Shinoukville, a local orphanage, where Sailors will be able to interact with and read to the kids.

Both countries look to enhance their combined military efforts across a wide variety of humanitarian roles.

"Cambodia has also demonstrated a willingness to cooperate closely on counterterrorism, peacekeeping, disaster response, and medical and health related activities," said Lee.

The 31st MEU medical team will work with Cambodian medical personnel to provide primary care services, dental care, optometry and ophthalmology at the Al-Mujarharine Islamic Center in Kampong Som. They will treat numerous medical conditions, such as hypertension, skin infections, dental problems, vision problems and asthma.

Marines will also conduct jungle warfare training, aviation demonstrations and visit, board, search and seizure training while in Cambodia.

Toward the end of the exercise, Sailors and Marines will participate in a sports day with local Cambodian citizens, where they will compete in a variety of sports, including soccer and volleyball.

The Essex ARG reports to Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, who is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.

For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.

U.S., Cambodian Navies Participate in Final CARAT 2010 Exercise

By Lt. Cmdr. Mike Morley, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (NNS) -- Approximately 600 U.S. Navy Sailors are joining hundreds of Royal Cambodian navy sailors for six days of maritime safety and security exercises for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Cambodia 2010.

The exercise kicked off Oct. 25th during a ceremony aboard USS Crommelin (FFG 37). Other Navy units participating in CARAT 2010 include the diving and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50), and units conducting training ashore, including Patrol Squadron Nine using the P-3C aircraft (in Phnom Penh), including Expeditionary Maritime Security Squadron Seven, and more.

Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet, was the senior U.S. Navy representative at the ceremony.

"We have an ambitious schedule planned," said Landolt.

Listing out several training events planned throughout the week, Landolt said that while this was the Royal Cambodian navy's first year with CARAT, "we're already seeing advancements in our interoperability and in the friendships we're building."

CARAT Cambodia 2010 marks the last CARAT exercise of the year, and it is occurring in two phases; the first finished in June, and saw U.S. and Cambodian Marines conducting jungle training near Sihanoukville, along with Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams training near Phnom Penh.

The highlight of this year's exercise will be a series of underway events, during which U.S. and Cambodian navy ships will get underway for the first-ever at-sea maneuvers between the two countries for this exercise.

The training will focus on communications drills and surface gunnery events, marking the first time the two navies have operated at sea as part of a dedicated exercise in more than 40 years.

Other CARAT training will focus on a wide variety of maritime security areas, including diving and salvage operations; port security; small boat handling and maintenance; maritime interdiction; visit, board, search, and seizure operations; maritime aircraft operations; and engineering and medical civic action programs.

Sailors will participate in a series of community service projects, while the U.S. 7th Fleet band "Orient Express" will perform at several schools and community service projects in the Sihanoukville area.

Cambodia became the seventh Southeast Asian country to join CARAT, and the first new country to join the exercise series since it started in 1994.

Other participants include Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Indonesia participates in the series, but refers to the exercise as "Naval Engagement Activity." Bangladesh also joined the series in late 2010.