By USSOUTHCOM Public Affairs

A group of Army Reserve medical specialists wrapped up a two-week humanitarian medical exercise in the Dominican Republic, treating more than 6,300 people and 1,900 livestock.

During the Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE), the 29 troops provided free medical exams and treatments to needy people while working alongside local health care and government officials.  The exercise began on Mar. 10.

The majority of the team is from the 369th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), located in Puerto Rico.  The MEDRETE was a unique opportunity for them to go through an entire deployment process and treat real patients in the field, a departure from the usually simulated training exercises conducted near home base.

The deployment was just one of more than 60 MEDRETEs U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) is sponsoring in 14 Central, South American and Caribbean nations this fiscal year.

Managed by USSOUTHCOM since 1989, the MEDRETE program is one of the premier U.S. engagement efforts in the region.  It gives American military health care personnel the opportunity to have a positive impact on thousands of people who may not have had any medical care in years.  They are also one of the military’s more unique and successful training programs, providing invaluable real-world preparation for troops while reaching out to and working alongside partner nations.

Annually, the MEDRETEs cost about $4.7 million and include the participation of approximately 1,900 U.S. personnel who treat more than 200,000 patients and provide veterinary services to more than 60,000 livestock.