Medical training exercise Tendon Valiant 2012 begins in Indonesia

By Sgt. 1st Class Rodney JacksonJune 20, 2012

Opening ceremony
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Delegates and distinguished visitors participate in the opening ceremony for the Southeast Asia Pacific Medical Readiness Training Exercise Tendon Valiant 2012, at the Soepraoen Army Hospital in Malang, Indonesia, June 18, 2012. The multi-national me... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
18th Medical Command Speaks during opening ceremony
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Malang, Indonesia " Col. Dwight Shen, Physician, Tripler Army Medical Center, Pacific Region Medical Command speaks during the opening ceremony for the Southeast Asia Pacific Medical Readiness Training Exercise Tendon Valiant 2012 held at the Soepra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
USARPAC deputy surgeon speaks during conference
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Frank Newton, deputy surgeon, U.S. Army Pacific, speaks during the opening ceremony for the Southeast Asia Pacific Medical Readiness Training Exercise Tendon Valiant 2012 held at the Soepraoen Army Hospital in Malang, Indonesia, June 18, 2012. T... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Opening ceremony group photo
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Malang, Indonesia " Delegates, Distinguished visitors, and VIP guests pose for a group photo after the opening ceremony for the Southeast Asia Pacific Medical Readiness Training Exercise Tendon Valiant 2012, at the Soepraoen Army Hospital in Malang,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MALANG, Indonesia (June. 18, 2012) -- Multi-national Medical Readiness Training Exercise Tendon Valiant, which is being lead by 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support), and the U.S. Army Pacific Surgeon's office, began June 18, 2012, at the Soepraoen Army Hospital in Malang, Indonesia.

The exercise is being hosted by the Indonesian National Armed Forces - Tentara National Indonesia.

The U.S. and Indonesia were joined by Australia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vietnam, to start the six-day Medical Readiness Training Exercise.

"Since its inception ten years ago, Tendon Valiant has quickly become one of the Pacific's most focused medical cooperation exercises," said Kristen Bauer, U.S. consul general of Surabaya, Indonesia.

She went on to say that the exercise comes at the same time as two other key activities. Pacific Resilience, which is a U.S. Indonesian military humanitarian assistance disaster relief event, and Garuda Shield, an Army exercise focused on peacekeeping and disaster response.

"This flow of activity fits squarely with the decision to help inspire President Obama and President Yudhoyono for a comprehensive partnership which will build strong ties between our two people in many areas including defense," said Bauer.

The theme for this year's multi-national medical readiness training exercise is to improve military professionalism and cooperation between Asia Pacific Nations.

"We have a very exciting event this year," said Col. Dwight Shen, a physician at Tripler Army Medical Center, Pacific Region Medical Command. "It is a new concept, introduced to us by Colonel [Frank] Newton [deputy surgeon, U.S. Army Pacific]. This concept is based on developments in medical engagements by international military forces. It will improve the health care of the local population by emphasizing education and delivering treatment to the patient's home instead of having them come to see us at the clinic."

The exercise features clinical house calls, a dental program in eight locations throughout Malang, training as medical first responders with train-the-trainer emphasis for 30 Indonesian National Armed Forces soldiers and officers, and a one day behavioral health seminar for 375 soldiers and officers.

With the advent of these events, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 Indonesian family members will receive medical services, 1,060 individuals will be trained at three different venues, 640 health volunteers from the local community will receive training in medical assessment, 9,600 families will be visited with health assessments completed, and a total of over 38,400 individuals affected overall.

The exercise will end June 23.

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