TSgt. Kevin Allen reports that American Air Force and Army doctors at Kirkuk AB, Iraq, met with their local Iraqi counterparts recently, discussing not only patient transfer but also trauma treatment concepts and rebuilding the internal trauma care network in the local area. The original objective for the gathering was to initiate transfer of postoperative Iraqi civilians treated for critical injuries in the coalition military medical system. “In our small part of the world, it was nation building at its best,” said Col. Tama Van Decar, the 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron commander.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3