International Medical Reservists Work Seamlessly

By Major Michelle Faucher, CIOR Public Affairs

Bagram, Afghanistan ---

As Spring finally arrives in Afghanistan, the cherry blossoms bloom with only hours of beauty before the hot sun cuts their lives short. Members of the multi-national hospitals at Bagram Air Field bustle about their daily schedule, staying ever vigilant for emergencies that may threaten to cut short the young lives of the NATO-led coalition of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Afghan locals.

Lieutenant (Navy) Ian Beck, a Canadian Forces doctor, administers medical care to an Afghan child during a Village Medical Outreach visit.

At any moment, a life-threatening event can cast a shadow across their lives. Active and reserve forces interact on a daily basis as they work together to mend fellow military members and even local children. There is no distinguishing between regular active and reserves called to active duty here.  Together, the seamlessly dedicated military professionals take care of casualties in need. 

“I am constantly impressed with the professionalism I have witnessed while stationed in Afghanistan. We can go from a slow tempo to a sudden fever pitch and you wouldn’t be able to distinguish an active duty corpsman (Navy enlisted medic) from another,” stated US Navy Lt. Clint Fondo, who personally inspected the quality of contractor-delivered products and services in-theatre.  

Multi-national medical members of the NATO-led force work diligently side-by-side to give the patient the best hospital care possible.  US Army Reserve Maj. Ed Shepherd was at the hospital’s intensive care unit visiting a friend who was being treated after being shot in the shoulder while on duty at Bagram Air Field in early May.  He said "you can see a real sense of unity at Bagram as everyone works together - all NATO nations, all active duty, all Reserves, all Services.  We Reservists work side-by-side with them on nearly everything...from caring for the wounded to delivering contracted logistics."

In a word:  impressive.  Now take it one step further and understand that serving in these professional ranks are professionals simultaneously full-time in another arena. They have their own practices back home, and they call many countries “home.” 

Bringing together officers with different cultures, mindsets and practices translates into opportunities for sharing knowledge and perspectives.  These shared perspectives include stories or lessons learned, both personally and culturally (or institutionally) learned.  Hidden within this unique opportunity, the savviest officers take full advantage of another - to network internationally and to share information between fellow professionals face-to-face.   Of course, this is not a new thing within the NATO medical community of Reservists.

The Conféderation Interalliée des Officiers Médicaux de Reserve (CIOMR), also known as the Interallied Coalition of Reserve Medical Officers is one such melting pot.  Its members come together on a recurring basis via the internet and through regularly scheduled conferences.  The group is comprised of international NATO reserve officers among the 26 NATO nations.  Other nations are welcomed to the table to discuss medical matters of mutual concern.

"CIOMR is an opportunity for our medical reserve officers to exchange information on how our respective countries manage their medical mission.  Our objective is to promote collaboration and improve understanding that will lead to better patient outcomes in multinational operations,” said CIOMR US Vice President, Maj. Gen. Donna Barbisch, US Army Reserve (Retired).

Many of its members look forward to talking to their international colleagues every year during the Mid-Winter Conference held at NATO HQ in Brussels, Belgium or the Summer Congress (rotated yearly and to be hosted by Riga, Latvia this August).

General Barbisch added. “Whether active or reserve, our medical community is one force, focused on improving medical operations and medical support to all countries within NATO.”

The blossoms in the mountains of Afghanistan may have their lives cut short this spring under the hot Afghanistan sun, but rest assured, your medical professionals move mountains daily to safeguard the lives of the wounded placed into their care.