From left, CNMI Wellness Mission Project Manager Maj. Samantha Madsen, Special Assistant to the Governor for Military Affairs Danny Aquino and CNMI Wellness Mission Commander Col. Hugh West pose for a photo during a press conference at the administration building on Thursday.
OPERATION Wellness CNMI will begin on July 12, 2023 on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
It is an Innovative Readiness Training or IRT project funded by the Department of Defense and will be implemented by various military components composed of approximately 130 servicemembers with the U.S. Army Reserve in collaboration with the CNMI Bureau of Military Affairs.
CNMI Wellness Mission Commander Col. Hugh West, who is also the commander of the 811th Hospital Center, told reporters on Thursday that the military’s highly trained medical personnel will be here to fine-tune their skills by providing healthcare services that include dentistry, optometry, general health and wellness, behavioral health, and veterinary services on each island at no cost to CNMI residents.
“It’s kind of a double-win for the community,” West said, adding that they will also partner with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air National Guard, as well as the U.S. Navy for the fabrication of eyeglasses.
Servicemembers who are credentialed healthcare providers will provide vision screenings, health exams, dental and public health education as well as veterinary services.
The clinics will run from July 12 to July 20 on Saipan, and from July 12 to July 19 on Tinian and Rota.
CNMI Wellness Mission Project Manager Maj. Samantha Madsen of the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) reiterated that the medical services will be provided at no cost to the community.
She said the IRT, which is under the office of the Department of Defense secretary, aims to match community needs with an opportunity for military personnel to fine tune and hone their skills.
The Office of the Governor will soon have a webpage to answer questions regarding the IRT, including service dates, times, locations and services that will and will not be provided.
For more information, visit irt.defense.gov/.
