Navy surgeon general visits frontline

Photo By Monique LaRouche | Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, the 37th surgeon general of the Navy and chief of the Navy's...... read more read more

Photo By Monique LaRouche | Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, the 37th surgeon general of the Navy and chief of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, congratulates Petty Officer 1st Class Brandie Mendoza, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 17. Mendoza was recognized by her unit for her excellence and professionalism. “I was very pleasantly surprised to be recognized by my chief and by the surgeon general,” said Mendoza, a native of Carrollton, Ky. “It was a unique experience that I am extremely grateful for.”  see less | View Image Page

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

04.17.2012

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Monique LaRouche 

Regional Command Southwest

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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, the 37th Surgeon General of the Navy and chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, visited Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 17, as part of a tour with other surgeon generals from the joint services to include the Army, Air Force and United Kingdom.

The trip was to meet with deployed medical facilities, listen and learn from those executing the mission, address the military mission and how military medicine can contribute to success on the battlefield.

They meet those who execute the mission, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who are getting the job done, said Cmdr. Patrick Paul, medical planner for Regional Command (Southwest).

The surgeon generals were able to get an honest representation of the area of operations and how the joint services work together. They were able to establish the specifics to their service, as well as the working relationships all the services have here.

“They came away seeing how everybody works together,” said Paul. “We can’t function without the U.K., the Army or the Air Force.”

The surgeons general’s tour was supposed to start in Kabul, the nation’s capital, but because of inclement weather, they were rerouted to Bagram and then Kandahar after visiting Camp Leatherneck. This event made their trip more realistic to what those deployed are going through.

“That is just the nature of being out here,” said Paul. “It is the nature of this place, things are going to happen and fortunately we have a system that can take care of them.”

Part of the tour was to visit the medical facilities including the Combined Aid Station, Extended Care Ward and the Concussion Restoration Care Center where they were able to meet with the medical staff members. At the roundtable, vital topics such as traumatic brain injury, concussion care, and research and treatment were discussed.

The surgeon generals left knowing that the system works.There is world-class medical care in austere and dangerous conditions, said Paul. The deployment readiness and training has prepared the members for the worst.

Vice Adm. Nathan’s visit came at a time of need. The service members were given a sense of validation all the way from the surgeons to the medics, knowing that their care is important. The care is full circle, from the battlefield to back home.

Accompanying Vice Adm. Nathan was Force Master Chief Sherman Boss. After lunch, the surgeon generals broke apart to visit with their individual service members. Vice Adm. Nathan and Boss headed to the main chapel for an afternoon of discourse.

As the seats filled with corpsmen, enlisted to officer, the excitement of the vice admiral’s presence was in the air.

“Attention on deck,” was called out. The crowd snapped to attention. “As you were,” called the admiral.

His speech began with thanking the service members for their selfless service and sacrifice to their country. His words of dedication to the members was heartfelt, letting them know they are a small percentage of the population who is serving.

Vice Adm. Nathan, commander at Walter Reed and Bethesda in Maryland for more than three years has seen the wounded warriors who were once on the battlefields in Afghanistan make it back home. He praised the corpsmen letting them know their care does not go unnoticed. They work elegantly, professionally and fiercely and they would not be able to do it without them, said Vice Adm. Nathan.

“You are not here for contingency,” said Vice Adm. Nathan. “You are here every day, taking care of the sickest, most injured people on the planet and you are doing it in a way no one else can.”

He let them know they do so much more than take care of the casualties. The care also consists of mental health, behavioral, routine care and ailments.

Vice Adm. Nathan reminded them of their professionalism. He made the crowd laugh with his sense of humor as he shared his experiences he had as a young doctor working with the Marines.

He extended information of what is happening back in the States. He filled them in on big Navy issues, Department of Defense and funding. He addressed the concerns many members have about the decision the military has made to draw down the troops, not only in Afghanistan, but also in the fleet. He informed them of the challenges of the transition and getting the host nation up to speed to take on their own country’s needs.

His straightforward and direct approach left the sailors with an understanding of the present and future situation of the military. He talked about the lessons learned and the tactics if there is another war. He raised these issues and talked about the power and the role of the Navy. He stressed the importance of the work with joint services.

“I think it’s great,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Casey, a corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 4. “If anyone that high in my chain of command flies thousands of miles with topics or updates he wants to speak on to put out to every sailor here in theater, who am I to miss it. You can’t Google the knowledge he wants to share.”

“Their visit should let everyone know to take a step back from their sections and duties, and remember the big picture,” continued Casey, a native of Sacramento, Calif., “It’s easy to get tunnel vision with our workload, but their visit should serve as a reminder of why we are here. We are not only affecting the local people and their nation, but also our fellow Americans back home.”

“I believe the visit by the surgeon general and the force master chief was very well-received. Their visit exhibits their pride and concern for what we are accomplishing here in Afghanistan,” said Chief Petty Officer April Merriman, the medical leading chief petty officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters Group (Forward). “We have around a 98 percent survivability rate on the battlefield. That is an extraordinary accomplishment and just goes to show the level of knowledge and expertise by each member in their specific field of study. Whether it’s the corpsman providing lifesaving skills at the point of injury or the surgeon who does the operating, each member is vital to the overall success of the mission.”

Boss addressed the crowd with a story of “Aunt Lucy” a promise that he made to an elderly woman he had met at a restaurant. Boss was carrying a Navy key chain and the woman was curious about why Boss had it. She sat down and talked to him for some time. She told him her late husband, who passed away, was in the Marine Corps, and her great grandson is too. Her grandson was actually treated at Bastion Hospital and is alive today because of the treatment he received there. She asked Boss if he could extend her gratitude to the service members here. He kept his promise and told her story.

Vice Adm. Nathan, then opened up the floor to questions and answers. At the end of the speech, some sailors were recognized by Vice Adm. Nathan and their units for outstanding service. Among those were Casey and Petty Officer 1st Class Brandie Mendoza, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward).

“I was very pleasantly surprised to be recognized by my chief and by the surgeon general,” said Mendoza, a native of Carrollton, Ky. “It was a unique experience that I am extremely grateful for.”

“It was refreshing to hear how highly he speaks of Navy medicine and the job corpsmen do in combat,” Mendoza added. “I liked most that he motivated everyone in the room.”

“Their visit has also strengthened the resolve for each Navy medical professional by reminding each person of the importance and the contributions they make on a daily basis,” said Merriman. “We may not see or hear of the long-lasting impact we may have made, but I think that the force master chief’s story about Aunt Lucy helped paint the picture for some.”

The chapel visit ended with photograph opportunities with Vice Adm. Nathan and Boss, many gathered around to take advantage of this rare opportunity they might never get again.