Maxwell medics plan joint exercise in Dominican Republic

John Henry the mission planner of the largest Maxwell Air Force Base-planned U.S. Air Force Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) to date, from the 42nd Medical Group, consults Tech. Sgt. Marcus Jackson, Security Forces day shift flight chief, 42nd Security Forces Squadron, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. at the start of the day outside of the gate at a primary school in Hostos, Dom. Rep., as patients line up in the background April 20. A group of 45 medics, translators, security and support personnel derived from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines provided dental, dermatologic, general medicine, optometric, pediatric, pharmacy and public health services. The medics treated 760 patients on the first day as part of the 10-day U.S. SOUTHCOM sponsored Beyond the Horizon 2009 - Caribbean. A MEDRETE is a U. S. Southern command-sponsored exercise designed to provide humanitarian assistance and free medical care to the people of the host nation, while providing an unparalleled training opportunity for U.S. and host nation forces. SOUTHCOM sponsors approximately 70 MEDRETEs per year. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Ben Sakrisson)