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USAFE-AFAFRICA hosts the European-African Military Nursing Exchange Conference

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  • USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  United States Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa held the European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference, May 9-11, at Ramstein Air Base.

The conference hosted delegates from military sister services and military delegations from Botswana, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, and Tanzania.

The EAMNE conference featured talks centered on its theme “Strength through Resilience,” examining quality of life and resiliency tools for the military health care providers, as well as hands-on training scenarios with military experts in a variety of techniques and equipment. Attendees listened to firsthand accounts of strength while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and practice techniques like pelvic binder application, intubation, and chest pressure relief.

"When we work together, we grow together,” said Col. Steven Lehr, USAFE-AFAFRICA command surgeon. “These conferences give us the opportunity to come together to share ideas and best practices not just amongst our sister services, but also with our Allies and Partners."
Image of Airmen training with partners.

USAFE-AFAFRICA hosts the European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Merrell, 10th Air Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, teaches intubation techniques to delegates from Nigeria, North Macedonia and Slovenia during U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa’s European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 10, 2022. The EAMNE targets the formation of partnerships and fosters a sharing culture among partners and Allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. William J. Gómez)
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U.S. Army Cpl. Jeremy Burnham, Public Health Activity Rheinland-Pfalz animal care specialist, explains training aid functions for K9 emergency care simulations during U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa’s European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 10, 2022.

USAFE-AFAFRICA hosts the European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference

U.S. Army Cpl. Jeremy Burnham, Public Health Activity Rheinland-Pfalz animal care specialist, explains training aid functions for K9 emergency care simulations during U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa’s European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 10, 2022. The EAMNE targets the formation of partnerships and fosters a sharing culture among partners and Allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. William J. Gómez)
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U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Juhaz, 10th Air Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight critical care nurse, explains the functions and capabilities of the Critical Care Air Transport Team’s portable ultrasound to delegates from the Czech Republic during U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa’s European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 10, 2022.

USAFE-AFAFRICA hosts the European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference

U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Juhaz, 10th Air Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight critical care nurse, explains the functions and capabilities of the Critical Care Air Transport Team’s portable ultrasound to delegates from the Czech Republic during U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa’s European-African Military Nursing Exchange conference at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 10, 2022. The EAMNE targets the formation of partnerships and fosters a sharing culture among partners and Allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt William J. Gomez)
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Since the first iteration in 2014, EAMNE has produced tangible outcomes underscoring the importance of partnerships and how militaries from various nations collaborate. Notably, Poland purchased a USAFE-AFAFRICA-developed Isolation Negatively Pressured Conex-Light. The “Conex” is a mobile unit that aids in the air transport of patients who require isolation.

Brig Gen. Zuziwe Maso, South African Military Health Service’s director of nursing, indicated that the biggest benefit, for her, is the collaboration and ideas shared throughout the conference and interactions with partner nations.

“There is so much value in the exchange of knowledge, information and experiences,” Maso said. “Our practical environment is such that we need to share whatever is new in the development of nursing. For instance, one of the talks suggested providing social guarantees for nurses ensuring their families are taken care of in the event the mission compromises their lives.”

The EAMNE targets the formation of partnerships and fosters a sharing culture among partners and Allies. It remains at the forefront of USAFE-AFAFRICA’s priorities of readiness, posture, people, and partnerships.