DUSHANBE, Tajikistan –
Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to Detachment 1, 192nd Medical Group, 192nd Wing conducted a combat medical exchange with members of the Tajikistan armed forces Feb. 2 - 6, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange was conducted in support of the State Partnership Program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been formal partners since 2003.
The five-day exchange brought together four Detachment 1 Airmen and 20 members from the Tajikistan Ministry of Defense, Border Guard, National Guard and the Committee of Emergency Situations. Held at a military hospital near Dushanbe, the training focused on crucial skills in battlefield trauma management and evacuation planning.
The comprehensive training program covered a wide range of critical medical procedures. The first day, led by Capt. Antoaneta Fitzpatrick and Tech. Sgt. Shaun Brennan, introduced participants to Tactical Combat Casualty Care and the MARCH protocol for rapid casualty assessment.
TCCC and MARCH, which stands for massive hemorrhage, airway, respiration, circulation and hypothermia or head injury, form the standards for battlefield casualty treatment, focused on treating a prioritized list of life-threatening injuries.
Subsequent days included hands-on training in massive hemorrhage control, airway management, and the use of various medical equipment, led by Tech Sgt. Daniel Viejo and Staff Sgt. Nastassjia Baylor.
“Throughout the week, the curriculum progressed to more advanced topics, including circulatory assessment, hypothermia prevention, head trauma, burns, fractures and manual blood collection and administration,” said medical plans officer Capt. Christopher Hungerford. “The final day culminated in a simulated battlefield scenario, allowing the Tajikistan’s participants to apply their newly acquired skills in a practical setting.”
The exchange concluded with a certificate ceremony, where the donated medical supplies were highlighted as a key resource for continued training.
“This medical exchange not only provided critical knowledge but also strengthened professional relationships and cultural understanding between the two nations, reinforcing shared goals of improving readiness and the performance of deployed medical personnel,” Hungerford said. “The enthusiasm for future advanced joint training initiatives was a clear indicator of the mission's success.”
This event reinforces the growing military-to-military relationship between the Virginia Army National Guard and Tajikistan, promoting regional stability and long-term cooperation.
In July 2023, the VNG and Tajikistan celebrated the 20th anniversary of their formal partnership in the State Partnership Program, which itself just celebrated its 30-year anniversary. The relationship has benefitted all parties, from sharing subject matter expertise throughout 200 military-to-military engagements that help counter terrorism, deter violent extremism, expand emergency response capabilities, develop professionalism among leaders and staffs and promote shared values in national sovereignty and security.
Read more about the VNG’s partnership with Tajikistan at https://vngpao.info/4k3xhwfv.