Page 115 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2015

An Ongoing Series

MEDCAN–GRO: Medical Capacity for
African Nations–Growing Regional Operability

A Case Study in Special Operations Forces Capacity Building

Melissa L. Givens, MD, MPH; April Verlo, MSPH, REHS/RS

A teacher who establishes rapport with the taught, becomes one with them,
learns more from them than he teaches them.
Mahatma Gandhi

There is no knowledge without unity.
Irish proverb

ABSTRACT

Medical Capacity for African Nations­Growing Regional promote US national security interests through direct
Operability (MEDCAN–GRO) is a framework for ad­ and indirect action requires long­term campaign plans
dressing healthcare engagements that are intended to pro­ executed by Theater Special Operations Commands
vide sustainable capacity building with partner nations. (TSOCs). Healthcare sector engagements conducted by
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MEDCAN–GRO provides SOF units with a model that SOF need to evolve to support longer­term strategic goals
can be scaled to partner nation needs and aligned with aligned with those of the TSOC. 5
the goals of the TSOC in an effort to enhance partner
nation security.
Background
Keywords: MEDCAN–GRO, Africa, partner nations MEDCAPs are currently funded through the Humani­
tarian Civic Assistance program and are intended to en­
hance readiness skills of US military medics working in
novel and austere environments and to promote security
Introduction
within the host nation and, by extension, in the United
Health engagements, defined as “the routine contact and States. Literature exploring the limitations of MEDCAPs
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interaction between individuals or elements of the joint highlights the lack of measures of effectiveness and lack
health forces of the United States and those of another of long­term benefit to the host nation. Critics high­
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nation’s armed forces, or foreign civilian authorities or light an imbalance of execution, with too much focus
agencies to build trust and confidence, share informa­ on training and readiness goals and not enough on se­
tion, coordinate mutual activities, and maintain influ­ curity, economic, and social goals. Subsequently, basic
ence” are a mainstay of Special Operations Forces (SOF) principles have been proposed to facilitate a shift toward
functions to support SOF core activities. Medical civil longer­term, capacity­building, public health engage­
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action projects (MEDCAPS) and other healthcare sector ments, which include (1) developing ongoing projects,
activities have been used by SOF throughout the world not one­time events; (2) training for Security, Stabiliza­
as part of cooperative engagements in support of both tion, Transition, and Reconstruction Operations; (3)
kinetic and non­kinetic missions, and most commonly coordinating with host­nation health officials to provide
in support of a Joint Combined Exercise for Training. legitimacy; (4) establishing built­in measures of effective­
2,3
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The growing reliance on SOF to protect, maintain, and ness, and (5) synergizing with other interested parties.

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