30th Medical Command Cases its Colors

October 12, 2012

By Cpt. Daniëlle Hamer

SEMBACH, Germany -- The 30th Medical Command cased its Colors here, today, in preparation for its deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 30th MEDCOM will control all medical assets in Afghanistan.

"Troops, you look ready," Col. Jeffrey Clark, the European Regional Medical Command Commander, told the formation in his address.

Clark highlighted that this would be the unit's fourth deployment in a decade, and that the 30th would be the Theater Medical Command in Afghanistan, commanding all medical forces in the area.

"There is no greater patriot than the families of US Soldiers," Clark also said to the audience, which included many spouses of deploying Soldiers.

Following the ceremony, guests followed Clark's lead and filed through the formation to shake hands with each of the deploying Soldiers to wish them well on their mission.

This will be the second time that the 30th will be the Theater Medical Command in Afghanistan; they were the first unit to centralize the process during their previous deployment in 2009.

The 160th Forward Surgical Team, part of the 30th MEDCOM's direct reporting 212th Combat Support Hospital, also cased its guidon in preparation of their deployment to Afghanistan.