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MASERU, Lesotho — Set among the picturesque, sun-baked plateaus and endless plains, 7th Civil Support Command Soldiers from the 209th and 2500th Digital Liaison Detachment provided logistics and planning support as the mission control cell for the U.S. Army Africa joint Medical Readiness and Training Exercise 14-1 in partnership with the Kingdom of Lesotho Defence Forces here Feb. 3 to 14.
The three troops provided a variety of support to four U.S. Army medical doctors and two U.S. Army public health nurses, who traveled to MEDRETE 14-1 with expertise in numerous medical specialties, including infectious diseases, preventative medicine and pediatrics with emphasis on HIV diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
“My job, together with the staff sergeant and sergeant major as well, is to provide and care for our doctors (and Army public health nurses) and make sure that they have everything they need to do their job,” said Capt. John Thruelsen, OIC, intelligence cell, 209th DLD. “From their arrival here in country, to their lodging, to their food, (we provide) everything they need in order to execute their mission.”
Each morning, the U.S. medical team, alongside local doctors and nursing staff, conducted clinic rounds. The team checked on numerous patients in the Makoanyane Military Hospital, the Thomas Wellness Clinic and two other off-site medical facilities before they would then break into small teams for clinical pairing.
In the afternoon, the U.S. Army medical team participated in academic classes and lectures at the MMH with local medical personnel, where subjects included HIV diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
“Captain Thruelsen has coordinated the logistics of the mission and has also coordinated the didactic exchange that we have,” said Col. Steven Spencer, a pediatric and infectious disease specialist with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “It’s been a great exchange of ideas and information and knowledge from both sides. Captain Thruelsen and his team have really set us up for success with the hard work that they’ve done. Not only coordinating the administrative side of it but the academic portion of it and our interactions with the (Lesotho) Ministry of Health colleagues and Lesotho Defence Force colleagues.”
The 7th CSC Soldiers provided mission control for U.S. Army Medical Command and U.S. Army Reserve MEDCOM. Thruelsen sent daily story boards and situation reports to USARAF headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The mission control cell was also the liaison to the U.S. Embassy consulate in Lesotho and to the LDF, and they conducted force protection activities.
“(Thruelsen) has been very helpful to us, because he was able to coordinate all the activities. He has coordinated the activities to us very well and very efficiently,” said Lesotho Defence Force Maj. Mapalesa Kebane, deputy director, MMH.
The LDF was responsible for security during the exercise, but the 7th CSC Soldiers also helped coordinate movement plans and force protection when the medical team traveled to offsite clinics to see patients.
“My job for the MEDRETE 14-1 exercise is to pay agent duties and force protection and also RSOI (reception, staging, onward movement and integration),” said Staff Sgt. Jason Varchulik, battle systems manager, 209th DLD, 7th CSC.
Upon their arrival, the medical practitioners received a security briefing from the U.S. Embassy in Lesotho set up by the 7th CSC Soldiers.
“I love being a part of the 7th CSC,” Varchulik said. “I get more training and more opportunities for exercises like this as a Reserve Soldier compared to active-duty Soldiers.”
“They’ve done a tremendous job,” Spencer said about 7th CSC Soldiers. “I think this mission has been just a wonderful success for both parties.”
