MEDFLAG 11 Exercise Strengthens US-Ghana Relations

Strategic Insights -

The MEDFLAG 11 exercise, sponsored by U.S. Army Africa, brought together soldiers from the 965th Dental Company, U.S. Army Reserve, and the Ghana Armed Forces to share medical expertise and conduct joint humanitarian civic assistance in local communities. The exercise, which took place in Accra, Ghana, from July 18 to 28, aimed to strengthen the relationship between the two nations through collaborative training and capacity-building.

Key Takeaways:

  • The exercise involved group instruction and hands-on application of dental skills to ensure both teams leave with a better understanding of their own capabilities and new ways to do their jobs more efficiently.
  • The 965th Dental Company and the Ghana Armed Forces participated in a tour of the 37th Military Hospital in Accra to learn about each other's dental equipment and techniques.
  • The exercise included three humanitarian civic assistance sites, which provided basic dental care to locals who normally cannot travel to a dentist office.
  • The main role of the dental team was to extract teeth that cannot be fixed by other means, with the goal of helping those who really are in need.
  • The exercise has strengthened the relationship between the US and Ghana through collaborative training and sharing of medical expertise.
  • MEDFLAG 11 is a key program in the US efforts to partner with the government of Ghana and aims to establish and develop military interoperability, regional relationships, and capacity-building.

Statistics:

  • Three humanitarian civic assistance sites were held to provide basic dental care to locals.
  • Two of the HCA sites have been completed, one each in Ablekuma-Mataheko and Dawhenya.
  • The final HCA site will be held in Doryumu.
  • The exercise took place from July 18 to 28.
  • The 965th Dental Company and the Ghana Armed Forces participated in group instruction and hands-on application of dental skills.
  • The exercise included a tour of the 37th Military Hospital in Accra.

Sources:

  • The U.S. Army-Africa: By Spc. Jess Raasch, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
  • U.S. Army Africa's official website
  • U.S. Africa Command's official website