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start the build on 18 October. Due to a theater personnel ceiling, we used forty ATH 
personnel to breakout equipment and supplies. Most requirements were completed by 18 
November. The 1702 Contingency Hospital facility was basically ready, requiring fine tuning 
when the personnel would arrive in January (2nd, 7th, 11th, and l9th), prior to execution 
of the Air Campaign. t7, 8] 
 
	This tactical field 250-bed contingency hospital build, another first for the Air 
Force, had an impact on our relationship with the Host Nation in which it was located. 
Colonel Carlton established rapport with Oman's medical community and he quickly developed 
the potential for some 2000-plus beds in the Seeb - Muscat area. This proved important 
later when an U.S. Army Evacuation Hospital (the 365th) was sourced to serve there, and 
potentially has long range impact for future SWA contingencies. The USCENTCOM Surgeon on 19 
January 1991 designated the operation the U.S. Military Medical Complex Oman after some 
1100 military beds were reported (U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army). This joint operation had 
"15 operating tables" and "50 physicians, 126 nurses, 261 medical technicians, and 340 
other medical and support personnel." [8] 
 
	Our contingency hospital represents another example of exceptional leadership and 
teamwork. The CENTAF - TAC - MAC - ARC team met innumerable challenges never before 
experienced by the Air Force Medical Service, in short, executing and operating an 
untested, large field asset, with a mix of personnel from different MAJCOMS and two 
services, some 7000 miles from home. 
 
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