GSMSG (The Global Surgical Medical and Support Group)

The Global Surgical Medical and Support Group (GSMSG) is an American non-governmental organization.

Areas of activity

Its declared goal is to advise state agencies on health and safety issues under the auspices of the US Department of State and the support of the Defense Health Agency (DHA).

Working for the US State Department and using humanitarian aid are similar to the principle of working for another NGO - Save Our Allies (SOA). Only GSMSG acts as a contractor for the US State Department, and SOA - the Pentagon.

In the staff of NGOs as of April 2022, more than 5 thousand people. The recruitment of people in GSMSG comes only from among those with experience in the army or law enforcement agencies - ordinary volunteers are not considered.

Unlike other humanitarian organizations that immediately declare their areas of presence, the GSMSG keeps its location secret, which indicates a likely proximity to combat areas.

Free movement through the territory allows for extraction and medical evacuation of persons (military advisers, specialists, etc.), using force cover without the direct participation of the US armed forces in uncontrolled territories.

Financing

According to the financial report for 2020, revenues to GSMSG amounted to $739 329, and expenses - $49 171. An extremely small amount of costs, given that GSMSG carried out surgical treatment of more than 5 thousand people in Iraq alone. This does not take into account the salaries of several thousand employees and other expenses.

The US State Department financially provides most of GSMSG's activities. Another of the sources of funding is donations, which are collected, including in social networks.

History

2022: Participation in the conflict in Ukraine

Since March 2022, the organization has been operating in Ukraine. NGO members operate in Ukraine at the invitation of the country's Minister of Defense. The first GSMSG employees who arrived in Ukraine were ex-members of the Delta Force special unit, whose tasks are to combat terrorism, to fulfill secret tasks that include, but are not limited to saving civilians.

In photos on Instagram, the faces of all NGO employees are hidden. Medical consultants have personal weapons that they have the right to use during the conflict.

On the official Instagram page (the social network is banned in Russia), GSMSG calls for supporting Ukraine by buying a pair of branded T-shirts, the money from which should go to help the population.

According to the organization, it prepares civilians for emergency situations in armed conflict - behavior during hostilities and the provision of medical care.

According to media reports, GSMSG instructors for April 2022 have already trained more than 5 thousand Ukrainian citizens, including the military.

2021: Participation in the evacuation of the US Armed Forces contingent from Afghanistan

GSMSG participated in the evacuation of the US Armed Forces contingent from Afghanistan in 2021. The CIA-sanctioned operation Pineapple Express to evacuate the Afghan military from special forces was mentioned.

Aaron Epstein is the founder of the organization

The founder of GSMSG is Aaron Epstein, whose track record includes:

• Internship at the US State Department.
• Bachelor's degree in economics and international relations from Rice University in Texas.
• Work in the defense industry corporation Northrup Grumman Corp in the department of advanced systems, intelligence and electronic warfare.
• Master's degree in intelligence and security from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington.
• National security and counter-terrorism practices.
• Practice at the White House as an economic adviser.
• He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the second most important civilian award in the United States, for his activities.

Leading military medicine specialists (retired colonels Stephen Swan and sister Dede Byrne) and employees of the US Department of State also took part in the creation of GSMSG.