TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A specialized medical team from the 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California, participated in an annual medical readiness exercise in late February in the eastern Caribbean island country of Saint Lucia.
The team consisted of approximately 30 Air Force Reserve health professionals. These professionals worked closely with their host nation counterparts, engaging in a variety of medical procedures and real-world training sessions designed to enhance treatment capabilities and build lasting professional relationships.
“Our team members are comprised of AF Reserve members from different medical departments such as: vascular surgery, flight medicine, general surgery and dental just to name a few,” said Col. Robert Noll, 349th Medical Squadron commander.
The deployment aims to enhance medical readiness and build robust partnerships between the U.S. and Saint Lucia medical communities. The individuals from Travis comprised the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team. The LAMAT mission seeks to strengthen U.S.
partnerships within Latin America and the Caribbean region by providing relief to overwhelmed medical facilities through collaboration with host nation medical practitioners and respective Ministry of Health officials.
“This is a great opportunity to collaborate with a foreign country, especially our host nation medical counterparts," said Noll. “These types of engagements provide vital opportunities for our Reserve Citizen Airmen to sharpen their skills and expertise while working alongside their allies and partners in a resource-constrained environment.”
“I’m so excited to come here and offer our medical expertise to the country of Saint Lucia. I felt a real sense of purpose by helping organize and inventory vital medical supplies,” said Capt. Ann Villaruz, 349th Medical Squadron member.
(Rodney Crum, 349th Air Mobility Wing public affairs.)