For the fourth time since 9/11, only 17 months after its last return, the 62nd Medical Brigade headquarters cased its colors last week for movement to a combat theater of operations.

The ceremony took place March 26 in Soldiers Field House on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Lewis Main.

As one of the busiest, most complex organizations at JBLM, subordinate elements of the brigade have served in theater almost continuously since the conflict began.

The headquarters departs during the coming weeks to take command and control of all medical units above the brigade-level operating in Afghanistan in support of United Nations International Security and Assistance Force.

Brigade commander, Col. John P. Collins, and senior NCO, Command Sgt. Maj. Eugene Jeffers, cased the brigade colors for movement to Bagram Air Field, where they will set up the headquarters.

Collins will not only command the brigade, but also serve as U.S. Forces-Afghanistan surgeon.

The mission will be to command, control and coordinate with an array of U.S. and coalition forces. It will be, said reviewing officer Brig. Gen. Heidi V. Brown, deputy commanding general for sustainment of I Corps and JBLM, "undoubtedly ... their most challenging mission to-date."

The 62nd Med. Bde. will oversee medical personnel and facilities from all U.S. branches of service and coordinate with those run by many allied partners, including Canada, Norway, Germany, Jordan, Egypt, Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Though all allies have their own mandates and parameters for medical care, the headquarters shares information and coordinates with each.

Eighty-six brigade personnel and 10 augmentees deploy to oversee medical care throughout Afghanistan. Though most will perform duties at Bagram, teams will liaison at facilities in each of the military regions in the country. And though the mission doesn't qualify as a joint one, a Navy and an Air Force hospital fall under the medical task force as well as an Army hospital. An array of subordinate units will provide a range of health care for coalition forces, including routine and emergency medical services, surgery, dental care, optometry, preventive medicine, laboratory support, combat stress treatment, blood services and veterinary services.

"They find strength in their mission, the coordination and provision of front-line health care and what it means to Soldiers, to your sons and daughters, husbands and wives," Brown said of the headquarters Soldiers.

Collins took command in October 2009, in time to preside over the conclusion of a homeland security mission, take the headquarters to Camp Atterbury, Ind., for a field-training exercise, travel to Afghanistan for a predeployment site survey to coordinate with 30th Medical Command, and return in time for the brigade's mission readiness exercise at Fort Stewart, Ga. The 62nd Med. Bde. validated its readiness and began final preparations for deployment by the end of January. Collins pledged the highest level of medical care for U.S. Soldiers and their coalition partners.

"Rest assured America's medics will continue to make our nation proud by ensuring our Soldiers get the very best care they need whenever and wherever they need it," he said.