16.05.2016.

Medical exercise "Spring 2016"

Today, the Medical Training Centre of the Military Medical Academy marked the beginning of the participation of the Balkan Medical Task Force at the medical exercise "Spring 2016" called "Proof of Concept". Thus, the exercise, which began on 12 May and under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Kovacevic, included representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Slovenia and Montenegro.

According to the Acting Commander of the Training Centre of MMA Medical Service Colonel Dr.Zoran Dimovic, the purpose of the exercise for the members of the Balkan Medical Task Force is "optimization of interoperability between the command structures, evaluation of the effectiveness of the flow of patients and operationalisation of the disaster scenario, as well as joint management of the sick and injured".

The exercise involved students of the 9th Class for the medical service reserve officers, cadets of the 2nd class of the MMA Faculty of Medicine, members of the Balkan Medical Task Force Pre-Standing Organization, two members of the Balkan Medical Task Force from each of the participating countries and teachers at the clinics and institutes of the MMA.

The Balkan Medical Task Forceis designed as a modular multinational force intended for a wide range of rapid crisis response operations,

especially when it comes to natural and other disasters in the Western Balkans. After the formation, the Balkan Medical Task Force should be trained to rapidly respond in providing medical support Role 2 (deployable medical facility) until the moment of consolidating the existing civilian medical structures. The regional countries participating in the project of Balkan Medical Task Force are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia. Sponsoring states of the project, which began in 2010, are the Kingdom of Norway and the United States of America.

Exercise "Spring 2016" will last until 19 May, and will be conducted at ten working points in the area of MMA and "Banjica" barracks.