By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
Air Force Print News

CALI, Colombia -- An Air Force medical team made up of members from the 55th Medical Group at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas, arrived here Sept. 10 to participate in a two-week medical readiness exercise.

As part of this medical readiness training exercise, or MEDRETE, the team will provide free medical care to the Colombian people, while honing its skills by allowing its members to practice their medical specialties in austere conditions.

"We're here to provide whatever medical aid we can to the people," said Lt. Col. Erika Struble, a staff intern on the team from the 59th MDW. "We are equipped to handle anything from dental exams to vaccinations to internal medical issues."

The team is only limited by the amount of supplies it has and the number of hours it can work each day, she said.

The MEDRETE will not only provide help to people in need, but it will also provide mutually beneficial opportunities for U.S. and Colombian forces to share medical expertise and experiences.

"These types of exercises go a long ways toward promoting human rights and international relations between the U.S. and Colombian forces," said Master Sgt. Vernon Sandt, a medical plans operator with Headquarters Air Forces Southern at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. "The combined training gives both countries outstanding skills-building experience for their healthcare personnel, while bringing much-needed aid to the Colombian people."

U.S. Southern Command sponsors approximately 70 MEDRETEs per year and 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern, the air and space component to USSOUTHCOM, plan and execute about 30 of these in locations throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean.