DUSHANBE, Tajikistan –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a medical exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 6-10, 2021, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.
The medical exchange team, which was composed of Soldiers assigned to the Charlottesville-based Charlie Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Airmen from the Hampton-based 192nd Medical Group, 192nd Wing, conducted a Combat Life Saver Course at a military hospital in Dushanbe.
As part of the exchange, the team shared ideas, best practices and lessons learned with their Tajikistan partners. First Sgt. Dakota Withers, the noncommissioned officer of the exchange, said he was thrilled that his Soldiers got such a unique experience to train alongside foreign partners.
In addition, Tech Sgt. Jacqueline Montoya was instrumental to exchange as she shared her medical experiences from both the military and civilian medical roles that she has held in her career. She said she looks forward to having more Airmen participate in foreign exchanges in the near future.