Fostering cooperation: my experience on the Kentucky National Guard Agriculture Development Team, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan: August 2009-June 2010 (Proceedings)

The Kentucky Agriculture Development Team was tasked to implement an agricultural strategy for provinces (including) Bamyan, Kapisa, Panjshir and Parwan. We provided direction and focus of agriculture resources. Our effort was to increase agricultural sector jobs and productivity.

Dr. Jackson's achievements while in country

     • From scratch, developed veterinary medicine, animal disease and food safety training programs to advance veterinarians, local veterinary students and butchers continuing education in 12 provinces.

     • Met with the Nangarhar and Kabul veterinary faculty and students to establish and teach necropsy, physical exam, animal disease and pathology continuing education classes.

     • Met with American Embassy to discuss purchase of local fruits and vegatables for use by the US government.

     • Developed strong relationships and participated with US military and US civilian medical units and veterinarians which were responsible for veterinary care and food inspections for the entire Afghan theater.

     • Returned home safely, thank the Lord.

The objectives of this presentation is to

     • Visually demonstrate Kentucky Guard Agricultural Development team activities while deployed as the veterinarian/large animal specialist/pathologist in Afghanistan.

About the presenter

     • Lt Col (Retired 19 Sep 10), Air National Guard, 123 Medical Group, Louisville. KY

Jun 2009- Jun 2010

     • Deployed as the large animal specialist/veterinary pathologist with the KY National Guard Agriculture Development Team to Bagram Air Field, Bagram, Afghanistan. Traveled to 12 provinces with over 100 base to base/combat outpost transitions/combat patrols mentoring veterinary students, local national veterinarians, agriculture extension agents teaching safe veterinary practices on slaughter and inspection of slaughter houses, ante mortem physical exam, systemic gross pathology, public health vectors, proper health and hygiene of slaughter facilities, necropsy techniques, food safety, animal ectoparasites, parasitology, fecal examination, hands-on practicum on salt preservation of meat, avian diseases in Afghanistan, rabies, veterinary business, animal physical exams, auscultation, auscultation, injection sites, nutrition, fecal examination and animal handling techniques.

Oct 2001- Present

     • Tenured Associate Professor, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Pathologists, University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky. Provide accurate diagnostic pathology service, communicating with clientele through written reports and oral communication, and generating thorough, helpful and timely final diagnostic reports. Apply and adopt contemporary technologies to diagnosis. Contribute to animal health research through systematic inquiry using diagnostic service case material.

Jun 1997- 19 Sep 2010

     • Public Health Officer. Officer In Charge, Air National Guard, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, OH and 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville, KY. Scientific and technical advisor for programs concerning food safety, occupational health, immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases, communicable disease prevention, medical intelligence briefings and fetal protection.

Dec 1983-Sep 1995

     • Army Veterinary Corps officer with food inspection and veterinary medicine duty at Grand Forks and Minot Air Force Bases and Naval Support Activity (NAS Naples), Naples, Italy. Pathologist at United States Army Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Fort Detrick Frederick, MD, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX and Clinical Investigations, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.

Jun 1975-Dec 1983

     • Mixed and small animal veterinary practice in WV.