On 4 February 2010, the Afghan National Army (ANA) Armed Forces Academy of Medical Sciences (AFAMS) graduated its first Medical Logistician course. The twelve graduates had completed a 3 week course of instruction on the ground of the ANA’s National Military Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. Their training included fundamentals in receipt, classification, and storage of all medical supply items. In addition, the students received training on CoreIMS, the electronic inventory management system that will allow these future medical logisticians to manage warehouses effectively using First In/First Out principles. Most importantly for the medical system will be their ability to distribute medical supplies and equipment based on real-time customer needs. From here, the graduates will return to their home units around Afghanistan where they will manage all aspects of the ANA medical logistics system from acquisition of pharmaceutical to biomedical equipment repair.
The ceremony was officiated by Major General Ahmad Zia Yaftali, the ANA Surgeon General. Also in attendance were the Afghan National Police Surgeon General Brigadier General Qandahar Shinwari, AFAMS commanding general Lieutenant General Ahmadi, and several other ANA Medical Command general officers. MG Yaftali noted that this course represents a new phase in ANA training, the first time that the ANA will have officers specifically trained in this field, allowing doctors to dedicate their time to taking care of patients. He reminded the graduates that their work will be absolutely critical to current growth of the Afghan National Security Forces that will secure Afghanistan for the Afghan people.
Mike Brown, Medical Logistics course director and retired US Army Sergeant Major of the US Army Medical Command Center and School, started his comments as he says he used to start similar graduations in the US: “It is a great day to be a soldier.” Mr. Brown congratulated the graduates on their achievement by telling them they would be key in ensuring that the ANSF medical system has everything it needs to take care of Afghan patients.
AFAMS is the ANA’s center of medical education. Its four schools include the Military Medical Institute, the Allied Health Professions Institute, the Nursing School, and the Medical School. It trains over 2000 students per year with over 500 students enrolled in courses at any given time. These courses range from front line Combat Medic and Preventive Medicine technician to radiology and lab technician to clinical nursing to physician residency programs. We now welcome the Medical Logistics course to this list of successful programs. The NATO Training Mission and Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan Medical Training Advisory Group is proud to support the Afghan National Security Forces in developing enduring medical training capacity for the people of Afghanistan.
