FORT CARSON, Colo. – For the first time, the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (MILMEDCOE) conducted its Medical Evaluation (MEDEVAL) Course on U.S. soil, hosted by the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) at Fort Carson from Sept. 16-27, 2024. This marks a significant global health and military medicine milestone, highlighting the U.S. commitment to international medical collaboration and interoperability.
The MEDEVAL Course, developed by NATO MILMEDCOE, certifies personnel to evaluate operational medical units under NATO standards. Participants across the alliance are trained and certified to become NATO evaluators, ensuring consistency and credibility in medical operations across NATO’s multinational forces.
“This course establishes a common standard for military and civilian medical units,” said Maj. Travis Kaufman, deputy brigade surgeon for 4th SFAB and OIC for the course. “It ensures seamless collaboration during multinational operations, disaster responses, and combat scenarios, guaranteeing that all medical units can work together effectively, even in high-stress environments.”
Having the first U.S.-based MEDEVAL Course can be credited to Master Sgt. Jordan Dorn, who spearheaded the planning and execution. Dorn began coordinating this event after attending the course in February 2023 in Landstuhl, Germany. Now serving as the Division Surgeon Sergeant Major for the 4th Infantry Division, Dorn reflected on the intricate planning process.
“Hosting the NATO MEDEVAL Course at Fort Carson was the culmination of 18 months of meticulous planning and coordination,” Dorn said. “I worked diligently to ensure every detail was in place, from securing the facilities to arranging the foreign visit requests for the international students and instructors. The course fostered a strong sense of interoperability, allowing participants to build internal bonds and enhance collaboration across U.S. branches and the multinational force participation.”
The NATO MEDEVAL Course provides participants hands-on training using NATO’s Medical Evaluation Manual tool. It emphasizes a capability-based, modular approach to evaluating multinational medical support operations. During the two-week course, students learn the intricacies of leading and participating in evaluation teams and the processes involved in validating and certifying medical units under NATO’s rigorous standards.
“This course not only certifies personnel to conduct evaluations but also prepares them to brief NATO commanders with the confidence and knowledge required to support critical decision-making,” Kaufman added.
Hosting the course at Fort Carson highlights the United States’ leadership in international medical collaboration. The U.S. military’s extensive experience in combat medicine, global health missions, and disaster response efforts provided a rich backdrop for the course.
The 4th SFAB hosted this inaugural U.S.-based MEDEVAL Course in close coordination with Evans Army Community Hospital, which provided the platform for the course’s culminating simulation exercise. This collaboration was crucial in ensuring the course’s success and fostering the essential integration of military and civilian medical best practices during the culminating simulation exercise at the facility.
After almost two years of meticulous planning and coordination, this course's success represents a rewarding step forward in fostering NATO-wide collaboration on medical readiness.
The NATO MEDEVAL Course graduates are now certified evaluators, prepared to assess NATO medical units worldwide. The course reinforced the importance of cohesion and collaboration among NATO allies, providing critical skills to enhance the alliance’s ability to respond to future challenges.
“The connections we’ve forged here lay the groundwork for future international cooperation,” Kaufman said. “Whether conducting medical evaluations, planning joint exercises, or collaborating in large-scale combat operations, the bonds built during this course will ensure that NATO medical units are ready to execute missions seamlessly when called upon.”
As the 4th SFAB continues to strengthen its role as a key player in supporting and enhancing NATO operations, this successful event highlights the brigade’s ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships with NATO Allies and Partners, while enhancing the effectiveness of multinational medical units.
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