TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A specialized medical team from the 349th Air Mobility Wing participated in an annual medical readiness exercise in late February 2025 in the eastern Caribbean island country of Saint Lucia.
The team consisted of approximately 30 Air Force Reserve health professionals from Travis Air Force Base, California. These professionals worked closely with their host nation counterparts, engaging in a variety of medical procedures and real-world training sessions designed to enhance treatment capabilities and build lasting professional relationships.
“Our team members are comprised of AF Reserve members from different medical departments such as: Vascular Surgery, Flight Medicine, General Surgery and Dental just to name a few,” said Col. Robert Noll, 349th Medical Squadron commander.
The deployment aims to enhance medical readiness and build robust partnerships between U.S. and Saint Lucia medical community. The individuals from Travis Air Force Base comprised the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT). The LAMAT mission seeks to strengthen U.S. partnerships within Latin America and the Caribbean region by providing relief to overwhelmed medical facilities through collaboration with host nation medical practitioners and respective Ministry of Health officials.
“This is a great opportunity to collaborate with a foreign country, especially our host nation medical counterparts," said Noll. These types of engagements provide vital opportunities for our Reserve Citizen Airmen to sharpen their skills and expertise while working alongside their allies and partners in a resource-constrained environment.
“I’m so excited to come here and offer our medical expertise to the country of Saint Lucia. I felt a real sense of purpose by helping organize and inventory vital medical supplies,” said Capt. Ann Villaruz, 349th Medical Squadron member.
As the deployment progresses, the focus remained on honing medical skills, exchanging knowledge and strengthening the bonds between U.S. and Saint Lucia military forces. Based upon previous exchanges throughout the Caribbean, participants left a lasting impact on the local population, improving the quality of medical care and readiness for both nations.
“The team collaborates with the partner hospitals to integrate within their health system and build long-lasting relationships with our medical brethren at the particular site,” Noll said.
The professional men and women of the 349th Medical Squadron were very proud of their accomplishments during the deployment and look forward to possibly returning to Saint Lucia in the near future.