Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE)
In fiscal year 2001, USSOUTHCOM sponsored over seventy medical readiness training exercises (Medretes) in thirteen countries. In addition, military units built thirteen schools, seven medical clinics, and drill over a dozen water wells. Combined, the Medretes provided medical care to over 200,000 individuals in many cases the only professional medical care they will receive. Typically comprised of a 15-30 person medical element with attached communications, force protection, and limited logistics support, the average medrete deployed from CONUS for a 14-17 day period to accomplish their mission. Their efforts support the theater engagement plan strategic goal of "a stable, prosperous, democratic region cooperating to achieve mutual interests". In addition six strategic theater tasks from the universal joint task list are accomplished based upon the type of deployment.
From an engagement perspective, the value of the HCA program cannot be overstated. It is not unheard of for a nation's president to individually request HCA projects from the U.S. ambassador or the commander-in-chief (CINC). In so doing, the national governments are recognizing the great value of the program to their economic and social sectors (a project requirement by DoD directive). At the same time, it provides an opportunity for the country team and USSOUTHCOM to constructively engage the military and civilian sectors of the nation in a bilateral exercise in the right place at the right time.
Because of the tremendous amount of visibility HCA missions receive in the host country, maximizing on the impact through coordinated information plans and public affairs efforts is a force multiplier that enhances the operational and strategic-theater objectives of the mission. As an example, a recent Medrete conducted in Paraguay by an Army reserve medical unit treated over 8,000 patients during a ten-day period. The medical treatment was a local event that impacted the host nation at the community level by providing competent care to a rural, underserved population. The community impact, albeit a low-level engagement, is critically important as it fosters understanding between the participating militaries and displays US efforts in a positive light.
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