On June 26, high-ranking officials from U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and the Ohio National Guard participated in the Distinguished Visitor day at Exercise Platinum Wolf 25 in Bujanovac, Serbia.
Hosted annually, Platinum Wolf focuses on multinational peacekeeping operations. Its goal is to strengthen the capacities of nations to carry out joint operations. This year marked the first involvement of USAFE-AFAFRICA and the Balkan Medical Task Force (BMTF) in the exercise, showcasing the increasing scope of allied cooperation and medical integration in the Balkan region.
U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Stamp, the USAFE-AFAFRICA command surgeon, emphasized the importance of relationships in strengthening alliances. “The strength of our alliances is built on relationships, and this exercise is a powerful example of how medical readiness and partnership go hand-in-hand,” he stated.
Stamp underlined that effective collaboration saves lives and enhances collective security, particularly in crisis response and future operational readiness. During the Distinguished Visitor day, Col. Stamp engaged with military medical leaders and representatives from partner nations, including the Ohio National Guard and Serbia’s Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program (SPP).
Their presence illustrated unified support for regional security and readiness. Central to these efforts is the BMTF, a modular medical unit that includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Serbia. Headquartered in Skopje, North Macedonia, the BMTF coordinates medical responses in support of civil authorities facing natural disasters and crises in the region and beyond.
Achieving full operational capability in 2019 and NATO medical evaluation certification in 2023, the BMTF represents years of collaborative effort among Balkan nations. The task force has secured robust support from the United States, Norway, and the European Union.
With EU recognition as an international organization and expanding logistical capacity, the BMTF is positioned to extend its deployment potential beyond the Balkans. This ensures medical readiness, enhances partner interoperability, and bolsters humanitarian disaster response.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Shelly Brackman, medical liaison for the Ohio National Guard within the SPP, remarked, “This exercise highlights not just our individual capabilities, but the power of integrated medical teams from across the Balkans and beyond. It’s about building trust and being ready—together—for whatever mission lies ahead.”
USAFE-AFAFRICA’s active involvement in Platinum Wolf 25 underscores its ongoing commitments to people, partners, posture, and readiness. The command is prepared to deliver global reach, rapid response, and medical readiness in both European and African theaters.
Col. Stamp’s engagements also included visits to the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade and the American Corner in Bujanovac on June 25 and June 26, respectively. The Military Medical Academy serves as a leading Serbian military hospital and research center that can mobilize top medical experts swiftly for critical responses.
The American Corner visit focused on building connections with local children, medical students, and doctors, illustrating the U.S. commitment to medical diplomacy and education.
Exercise Platinum Wolf 25 reaffirms USAFE-AFAFRICA’s dedication to strengthening partnerships, enhancing regional interoperability, and improving medical readiness in the Balkans.
image source from：army
