The Traveling Colonels is affiliated with the Ukrainian Relief Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization of individuals who are actively involved in humanitarian efforts, particularly in supporting Ukraine during the ongoing conflict. They are known for their dedication in the delivery of essential supplies and medical aid to those in need. The Traveling Colonels provide high quality individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) and medical supplies to Ukraine. This HealthySimulation.com article will highlight the work of the Traveling Colonels and how you can help support humanitarian efforts for Ukraine by donating today!
History of Traveling Colonels
The support provided by the Traveling Colonels (TC) in Ukraine has developed organically over time as needs and requests from those that require support have developed and changed. As the TC built on their expertise in the construction of IFAKs for soldiers, they realized that unit medics required replenishment and replacement of their medic bags and thus the TC started to build and provide the IFAKs. As the circle of contacts expanded, they began to encounter doctors and nurses who were treating both civilian and military personnel.
These healthcare professionals had specific needs for hard -to-source surgical instruments and devices as well as specialized wound and surgical procedure drapes, dressings and gowns. As the war has progressed, so have the type and complexity of injuries encountered that has translated into the need for a range of treatment methods and the medical materials necessary to provide healthcare. Luckily, all of the members, volunteers, and donors of the TC have over time established relationships with medical charities in their home countries and they began to send those items – donated and provided at no cost – to Ukraine.
The fact that these efforts were increasingly successful resulted in an increased flow of supplies to the TC. Luckily, an unused room in our workspace was available and cleaned out, organized with shelves, and established as the โmedical roomโ where these items could be received, opened, sorted, and then quickly turned around and sent (and in some cases hand-delivered) to those that requested the support.
Interview with the Traveling Colonels
An interview was conducted via WhatsApp with the Traveling Colonels while in Kyiv, Ukraine in May 2025 by HealthySimulation.com Content Manager Dr. Teresa Gore:
Why did you start Traveling Colonels? We started the Traveling Colonels in November 2022; since that time Colonel Monte has made 18 trips to Ukraine (including several as a volunteer for World Central Kitchen), Colonel Chuck has made 14; most of these have overlapped. We were both outraged by the invasion by Russia of a sovereign democratic nation interested in pursuing closer ties to Europe. Given our backgrounds as Marine officers, we both felt we had a contribution to make towards helping Ukraine resist this unwarranted attack.
What is the most significant impact you have observed? We know that we have helped save lives through our efforts – the units, medics, and hospitals/doctors we support tell us so. We processed nearly $2.5 million (donation value) of medical aid last year (2024) and have built over 10,000 Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) and dozens of medical bags for unit medics. Our view is that all of the effort is worth it if just one Ukrainian life is saved.
What would you like the healthcare simulation to know about your work and needs? We operate strictly on donations (and thanks for HealthySimulation.comโs). All personal travel expenses are borne by us. Donations go solely towards aid. Our primary need is financial – as we know what is needed and can get the best prices as retired military veterans. However, we do provide specialized material assistance to medical training organizations and civilian first responders, so training devices such as mannequins and especially moulage kits for wound simulation (these can be expensive) would be especially helpful. There is an ongoing need for realistic training aids to improve both readiness and emergency response.
What else would you like the readers to know? Nothing goes to waste. None of what has been described is possible without the help of everyone involved in the work of the Traveling Colonels. The TC cannot emphasize enough how much the dedication of everyone who supports us is appreciated. We may serve as the face of the Traveling Colonels, but hundreds of people provide us with the purpose and the means to support Ukraine. There are both Ukrainian and foreign volunteers whose lives are immeasurably better because of people like you. But know your efforts have made this possible, and they are making a real difference.
Accomplishments of the Traveling Colonels
Some highly specialized items meant for neurological, vascular, cardiac, laparoscopic, orthopedic, and other specialties required some research as to their use so they could be offered to the appropriate doctors, but this has contributed to our own knowledge and allowed the TC to provide better and more rapid support. In many cases, as materials arrive, they are never placed on the shelves; they are simply transferred from an incoming box to an outgoing box being filled in response to a request. If there were a time-lapse photography of a day in the โmed roomโ, one would see boxes arrive and disappear; shelves fill up, be emptied, and fill up again; and constant movement in and out of the room. A few items might stay on the shelves temporarily, but usually, after a note is sent out asking if such an item is needed by anyone, a home is quickly found for the item.
In some cases, the TC have been able to provide a highly specialized surgical item almost immediately. The need for that item may not have been understood at the time the item was found on the shelf of a distant medical charity and shipped, but the range of medical needs in Ukraine is so broad that every item can be used somewhere and is simply a matter to find a match.
View the new HealthySimulation.com Community Pre Hospital Simulation Group or the Military Medical Simulation Group to discuss this topic with your Global Healthcare Simulation peers!
How Can You Help?
None of what has been described is possible without the help of everyone involved in the work of the Traveling Colonels. We cannot emphasize enough how much the dedication of everyone who supports us is appreciated. We may serve as the face of the Traveling Colonels, but there are hundreds of people providing us both the purpose and the means to support Ukraine. There are both Ukrainian and foreign volunteers whose lives are immeasurably better because of people like you. But know your efforts have made this possible, and they are making a real difference.
- Please donate to keep the help flowing. Your donations and support make our work helping Ukraine possible. Semper Fidelis. We stand with Ukraine. Donations can be made to the Traveling Colonels here.
- Dnipro 2 tourniquets are made in Dnipro, Ukraine. These are our primary tourniquets used in Ukraine. When a program evaluates products to purchase, consider buying these Ukrainian-made, high-quality tourniquets to help save lives and support the local Ukrainian economy.
- Simulation equipment and supplies can also be donated to help train first responders and healthcare providers. This provides these professionals with the opportunity to refine or practice a new skill for better patient outcomes. Training devices such as mannequins and especially moulage kits for wound simulation (these can be expensive) would be especially helpful.
The Traveling ColonelsโHelping Ukraine May 2025 Update
In the latest update from the Traveling Colonels in May 2025, from Kyiv, Ukraine, the Colonels have continued to deliver aid. The ultimate goal of the work is to get the aid into the hands of the surgeons in the operating room to provide the best care to a wounded soldier. This is a war zone. Everyone in the healthcare environment does what they can to improve the outcomes of their patients. The surgeons and doctors unload the supplies themselves and take the supplies to a store room. One of the doctors was able to unbox a $2500 brand new Bair Hugger body temperature retention system and the warming blankets that go with the device. The nurses and medical staff stock the medical supply shelves.
The Traveling Colonels pack, mail, or deliver all the medical supplies obtained to the hospitals that provide healthcare to the victims of the war. More supplies are always needed, which include feminine hygiene products, first aid kit supplies, hemorrhage control supplies, and sterile operating supplies. Consider how you can help and impact care in war-torn Ukraine.
