Innovative physical therapy extender program expands access to medical care for Coalition forces.
Maj. Troy Reid, the physical therapist for Task Force Grizzly, assists Spc. Gavin LeFever, a combat medic for Task Force Grizzly, as he applies pressure to the scapula region of a patient during the hands-on pre-assessment portion of the physical therapy medical extender class, May 5, 2022, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The medical extender program is a Combined Joint Task Force- Operation Inherent Resolve Initiative designed to reduce service member wait times for physical therapy care and to empower combat medics throughout the theater to provide physical therapy treatment and rehabilitation to patients in the physical therapist’s stead. Task Force Grizzly is a subordinate unit of CJTF-OIR’s Task Force Med. (Courtesy Photo by Master Sgt. John Waderker)
