medics provide care in Guatemala

by Airman 1st Class David Bernal Del Agua
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

4/21/2014 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.  -- Airmen from the 22nd Medical Group deployed to Guatemala Saturday to participate in medical readiness training exercises and provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.

"The MEDRETE program is one of the premier U.S. engagement efforts in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, giving U.S. military health care personnel the opportunity to have a positive impact on thousands of people who may not have had any medical care in years," said Lt. Col. Victor Ortiz, 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander.

Six medical providers from McConnell will be part of a team from across the country to provide primary care at the remote location of Zacapa, Guatemala.

"Most dentists dream about going on these humanitarian missions, but they don't happen very often," said Capt. John Mallya, 22nd AMDS dentist. "This is a great opportunity that I might not have again. I'm excited and honored that my commander recommended me for it."

MEDRETEs are U.S. Southern Command-sponsored readiness training exercises designed to provide humanitarian assistance and free medical care to the people of the host nation, while helping improve the skills of U.S. military medical forces and those of military medical professionals of the host nation.

"MEDRETEs are also one of the military's more unique and successful training programs," said Ortiz. "They provide invaluable real-world preparation for troops while reaching out to and working alongside partner nations."

The exercises include, but are not limited to, preventive medicine education, pediatrics, primary medical care, immunizations and dental activities including fluoridation, dental extractions, and oral hygiene education.

"This is a good opportunity to train and go through the deployment process, and it's going to be a great experience, said Mallya. "I'm expecting to extract more teeth in two weeks than what I've done in my 5-year career in the Air Force."