Security Assistance; and Logistics - Federation of American Scientists

A team of seven U.S. mentors training Iraqi Air Force flight surgeons and flight medicaltechnicians had rapidly identified and corrected previously unaddressed manpower andtraining process problems that had prevented effective operations.As the Iraqi Air Force expands to more locations and its aeromedical section grows froma staff of 36 to the anticipated end state of 120, the medical mentoring and transitionCoalition Air Force Training Team will need to grow to maintain objective aeromedicalproficiency at multiple Iraqi Air Force locations. A strong foundation had been laid thatcould ensure ongoing success as the Iraqi Air Force takes on more responsibility andmoves towards independent operations.Medical Mentoring ProcessEffective mentoring depends on having qualified personnel embedded at tactical,operational, and strategic levels so advice, support, and troubleshooting can besimultaneously passed up and down both the Iraqi and U.S. command chains.This process should be clearly established for the key operational proficiency areas ofcommand and control, clinical care, and medical logistics.For example, a U.S. medical mentor at the tactical unit level would help his Iraqicounterpart identify a medical supply shortfall and help prepare a supply requisitionaccording to Iraqi Army procedures. The U.S. mentor at the tactical unit level wouldnotify the U.S. mentor at the next level up that the requisition is working its way throughthe system once that particular requisition is put into the Iraqi Army medical supplysystem.This next-level mentor would then work with his Iraqi counterpart to find the requisition,approve it, and forward it to an Iraqi Location Command to be filled. This mentor wouldalso notify the U.S. mentor at the Location Command that the requisition had beenapproved and needed to be filled. The Location Command mentor would work with theIraqi Location Command staff to fill the requisition and ship the items appropriately, orto forward the requisition to the Taji National Depot according to Iraqi Army procedures.This process works from the top down as well as from the bottom up, to pass downorders, new policies, and procedures; and it applies in many administrative and clinicalareas as well. Lack of mentors at any level prevents the entire system from functioningeffectively.Measuring Effectiveness of Medical MentoringEffective medical mentoring and advising requires in-depth engagement with Iraqi Armymedical personnel at field units, Location Command clinics, recruiting and training sites,and medical logistics depots. Tools must be developed that support timely and accuratedata collection so problems are identified, elevated, and corrected by senior leaders.Typical problem areas include inadequate numbers of properly trained medical staff,equipment and supply shortfalls, and weak management and operational readiness140