CPT Scott McIlwain
NATO military operations in the Balkans have been ongoing for a number of years; since 1995 in Bosnia and since 1998 in Kosovo. Large numbers of personnel deployed to these locations for periods of between 60 and 20 days, but most commonly on six-month rotations. To date, there has been no comprehensive occupational health program, to include hearing conservation, in either location. Recently, at the request of Task Force Eagle and Task Force Falcon commanders, USACHPPMEUR provided site assistance visits to Bosnia and Kosovo to recommend the establishment of comprehensive occupational health programs. Recommendations for both Areas of Operations were similar and included the basic tenets of hearing conservation. Noise surveys were conducted and USACHPPMEUR provided assistance in establishing a DOEHRS-HC System for hearing conservation at Eagle Base, Tuzla and Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. Working with the Task Force commanders, we have functional hearing conservation programs at both locations. This paper details the process, lessons learned, and success stories about forward deployed audiology.