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File: aaacf_111.txttions was developed by an USSOUTHAF augmentee. There was a rush by headquarters personnel and augmentees to access airlift to get to Riyadh, the location selected by our commander, Lieutenant General Chuck Homer, for the USCENTAF headquarters. Through all of this, there, too, was a rush to get as much medical capability in theater. Even though we medics identify our requirements based on personnel at risk (PAR) and other factors such as the tactical situation, provider requirements, blood and aeromedical requirements, to name a few, we should never think that our requirements hold the same weight as those of the war fighters', nor should they. Fighters and bombers must be able to arrive in theater with sufficient combat load to fight, as was necessary during Operation Desert Shield defensive operations. However, our hospitals did start marshalling immediately on 7 August 1990 with initial deployment in the next couple of days. In short, we medics compete with other requirements for lift. What was significant was the senior medical leadership being able to get our requirements translated into real capability through prioritization on airlift to move. This was no easy task, but then Brigadier General (and now- Major General) Robert Buethe, the TAC Surgeon accomplished it. Besides leadership there is another keyword to describe building a bare base theater medical system. Just as we saw the very best in leadership we also saw, sadly to say, the poorest. Particularly, those who could not adapt and be flexible to challenging circumstances as leaders had a difficult time in the 5
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