Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Vermont Air National Guard members among U.S. service members providing humanitarian aid in Senegal By Lance Cpl. Jessica DeRose, U.S. Marine Corps
                Marine Forces Reserve
 THIES, Senegal - Hundreds of local villagers lined up to receive medical care from U.S. forces and medics from the armed forces of Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Gambia outside the hospital here, July 11. From July 10 - July 17, U.S. forces will be working alongside partner African nations to provide humanitarian civil assistance in the area. On the first day - a half day - the clinic treated more than 175 patients. "It's a great opportunity," said Air Force Capt. Jason Galipeau, the project officer with the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard. "It feels great. It is something that will stick with [the service members] through their whole career." The medical care that the Senegalese are receiving is part of Exercise Western Accord, a multi-lateral exercise with Senegalese and several other West Africa nations. Thirty-two medical personnel came from all over the U.S. prepared to treat 3,000 patients in Senegal. Along with providing medical care, they hope to provide and share their knowledge, as well as help the Senegalese improve their own medical process. "It's a pleasure to be here," said Air Force Capt. Tracie Pilbin, a nurse with the 158th Fighter Wing. "The Senegalese are a very friendly people, and I think it's great we're able to be here and support their military and their civilians." The physicians find that the Senegalese are mainly being treated for things such as diabetes, digestive issues and malaria. The U.S. is offering care in a triage-and-treat method, which involves an initial consultation with a doctor followed up by a trip to the dentist or a doctor to address specific needs. Each U.S. physician is partnered with a medic from another nation with the understanding that they are only there to help when necessary. "The medicine is good," said Gambian Sgt. Dembo Saidy, a pharmacist with the Gambian National Army. "We have teamwork; we love and respect one another." It is a goal of the U.S. to help augment the care that the locals are already used to receiving, officials said. "The purpose is to build the capabilities they have now and to work side-by-side to enhance the procedures they already have so when we leave they can continue the procedures," said Galipeau. Medical sustainment after the U.S. departs is a major goal in the process, and upon their departure, the U.S. will be leaving all their medicines and knowledge behind. Along with the gift of medicine, the U.S. is trying to teach the Senegalese the benefits of preventative medicine. The average life expectancy of a villager here is in their mid-50s and their infant mortality rate is much higher than that of the U.S., Galipeau said. The medics are stressing the use of preventative medicine, especially in children, to try and overcome these numbers. The Americans are not the only ones learning valuable information during the exercise though. Senegalese medics are much more knowledgeable on diseases such as malaria than the medics from the U.S., and they deal with tooth extractions on a daily basis, Galipeau said. "We learn as much from them as they learn from us," he said. The hospital expects to treat about 200 patients daily. Once they shut down for the day, patients who haven't been seen are sent home with a ticket guaranteeing them a spot at the front of the line the next day. Once U.S. forces go home, the patients will continue on with their normal medical care and they will be given a prescription for follow-up care. "They may not have the supplies and equipment that we do [back home]," said Galipeau, "but they're doing the best they can do with what they have. They save lives every day." Western Accord 2012 focuses on various types of military training to include: live-fire training, peacekeeping operations, intelligence capacity building, command post, and disaster response training. The exercise is coordinated by Marine Forces Africa and runs from June 26 - July 24. The Vermont National Guard is a partner state with the Republic of Senegal through the national Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 8 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 15 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 15 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil