Physicians, nurses, field medics, dentists, and dental technicians from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu, and the United States gathered at Port Vila, Vanuatu, to take part in TENDON VALIANT II, a Medical Readiness Training Exercise co-hosted by Vanuatu and the U.S. Army, Pacific.

“You are from many tribes.”

Through the assistance of a Tannese interpreter, Col. (Dr.) Imwattana Pramote, a physician from Thailand, explains exercises a patient can do to help relieve muscle strain. This injury was a result of heavy lifting associated with rural life on Tanna Island.

Those were the words one villager used to describe members of a multinational team participating in a recent medical training exercise in Vanuatu. “And with that greeting, he summed up the nature of our mission,” said U.S. Army Maj. Delaina Sawyers from the Surgeon’s Office of HQ U.S. Army, Pacific. “We were from many agencies and countries, but we were there working together as one.”

Twenty-three physicians, nurses, field medics, dentists, and dental technicians from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vanuatu, and the United States gathered at Port Vila, Vanuatu, to take part in TENDON VALIANT II, a Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) co-hosted by Vanuatu and U.S. Army, Pacific.

“The purpose of the MEDRETE was to build on commonality and medical interactions within multinational teams,” said Maj. Sawyers. Designed to increase medical interoperability, MEDRETE provided participants with the opportunity to discuss pressing health-care issues vital to maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. It was also an opportunity for active and reserve soldiers to work hand in hand with health care providers from different backgrounds and experiences. Participants also coordinated and worked with public health agencies. “This was invaluable training because it allowed us the opportunity to work with civilians and not just military to military,” noted Maj.

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Ms. Sharon Mulligan is a member of the Public Affairs Office, HQ U.S. Army, Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.