OBSERVATIONS AND THOUGHTS OF DESERT SHIELD

File: aacbe_02.txt
Page: 02
Total Pages: 6

       ZARAGOZA
                              [(b)(2)]                         Clinic CC. Only a MAC
      crew tidbit: Virtually 100% of crews on short deployments to the
      AOR are getting gastrointestinal symptoms. Two phases-2 to 3
      days in country, and again around the 10-14 day point. Except
      for the numbers of folks involved, little commonality (many
      different fields visited). Per the early stuff,  is our water and
      food sanitation on the flights going in up to par ?
      [Excerpted to MAC/SO.]

      CAIRO WEST
                                             [(b)(2)]               1708 PAREFS Clinic
      (SME). Primary threat- terrorist attack. No ambulance. Working
      to support the line with an old station wagon. No defibrillator.
      No oxygen Except green bottles off aircraft. No chest tubes,
      Foleys, central lines. Given terrorist threat,  a legitimate
      concern. CENTAF and SAC working all the above. Some sand-bag-
      ging,  sand-filled drums about medical site,  but too low and not
      thick enough. No dispersal of tent  in living area; all line of
      sight, line of shot.
         Strategic concern:
         How well are we really training our officers and men for the
      untraditional roles of site protection and perimeter guard duty ?
      While some medical assets visited were markedly better protected
      than others,  they were in general inadequately disposed. At the
      very least,  are our forward commanders getting their plans cri-
      tiqued by CE and SP folks on site?
         Medical Intell:
      NAMRU has confirmed that at least 75%  enterotoxic E. Coli in
      local area is resistant to standard antibiotics. Experience of
      Maj Johnson and others is that it is a mistake to treat symptomati-
      cally,  or even with traditional 1st line antibiotics. He and his
      staff are using Noroxin/a quinolone derivative,  with dramatic
      clinical responses in 4-6 hrs. Passed this on to CENTAF,  where
      similar experience has been forthcoming from some other sites.
      [(b)(l)sec3.4 (b)(1)].
         Tactical concern:
         With buildup of SAC assets in January,  we're planning to
      augment with another SME. Have discussed with TAC and CENTAF the
      plus/minus of ATH  there [instead]. In my mind, issue partially
      hinges on aeromedical evacuation flow plan as well as augmented
      number of people at Cairo West. If needed,  capability for SAC to
      man and TAC to outfit an ATH does exist.
      
      JIDDAH NEW
            [(b)(2)]