thedrifter
01-10-09, 04:19 AM
Give a shot, move, communicate
1/9/2009 By Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty , 2nd Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2009) —Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group are finding themselves becoming more restless these days from long waiting periods to get their pre-deployment inoculations and other medical care in preparation for deploying to Iraq later this year.
But what many of them don’t know is that corpsmen are working long hours to provide them the required shots in addition to completing their own necessary pre-deployment training.
Petty Officer 1st Class Shawntell D. Williams, the leading petty officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 27’s Regimental Aide Station and mother of a 4-year-old boy is one of the many people affected by this higher operational tempo. Due to lengthened working hours reaching up to 12 hours a day, she is forced to spend limited time with her son.
The Jacksonville, N.C. native said she gets off work at about 7:30 most nights. By the time she gets home, it’s already time for her to say good night to her son. Her busy days continue regardless.
Corpsmen across the logistics group see anywhere from 50 to more than 100 Marines and sailors each day as deployment nears, said Boyd
Various inoculations are required for the deploying Marines and sailors. The CLR-27 RAS began providing them as early as September 2008. Some of the inoculations have recently become available, though, making them in higher demand.
“We just started giving the smallpox vaccination at the beginning of December,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Carey E. Varas, a corpsman from CLR-27’s RAS. “We are now seeing a larger number of Marines and sailors as they are returning from holiday leave and rushing to finish their medical preparation.”
Chief Petty Officer Monique Boyd, independent duty corpsman for the RAS, said each of the corpsmen is able to pull their own weight and use teamwork to make the pre-deployment process run more efficiently despite the extra pressure.
Lance Cpl. Suzy M. Galvez, a personnel clerk from Headquarters and Service company, CLR-27, 2nd MLG, said although the wait was long, corpsmen were very helpful during her recent visit to the aide station because of the communication between corpsmen.
“We have received assistance from corpsmen from 2nd Medical Battalion and the Health Service Support Element, which has been a tremendous help,” Boyd said. “The Marines and sailors have been complying and have made our job a lot easier.”
As deployment nears, Williams and her fellow corpsmen hope for shorter days and more time to spend with their families, but they plan to remain vigilant to ensure each Marine and sailor is ready for the fight.
Ellie
1/9/2009 By Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty , 2nd Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2009) —Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group are finding themselves becoming more restless these days from long waiting periods to get their pre-deployment inoculations and other medical care in preparation for deploying to Iraq later this year.
But what many of them don’t know is that corpsmen are working long hours to provide them the required shots in addition to completing their own necessary pre-deployment training.
Petty Officer 1st Class Shawntell D. Williams, the leading petty officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 27’s Regimental Aide Station and mother of a 4-year-old boy is one of the many people affected by this higher operational tempo. Due to lengthened working hours reaching up to 12 hours a day, she is forced to spend limited time with her son.
The Jacksonville, N.C. native said she gets off work at about 7:30 most nights. By the time she gets home, it’s already time for her to say good night to her son. Her busy days continue regardless.
Corpsmen across the logistics group see anywhere from 50 to more than 100 Marines and sailors each day as deployment nears, said Boyd
Various inoculations are required for the deploying Marines and sailors. The CLR-27 RAS began providing them as early as September 2008. Some of the inoculations have recently become available, though, making them in higher demand.
“We just started giving the smallpox vaccination at the beginning of December,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Carey E. Varas, a corpsman from CLR-27’s RAS. “We are now seeing a larger number of Marines and sailors as they are returning from holiday leave and rushing to finish their medical preparation.”
Chief Petty Officer Monique Boyd, independent duty corpsman for the RAS, said each of the corpsmen is able to pull their own weight and use teamwork to make the pre-deployment process run more efficiently despite the extra pressure.
Lance Cpl. Suzy M. Galvez, a personnel clerk from Headquarters and Service company, CLR-27, 2nd MLG, said although the wait was long, corpsmen were very helpful during her recent visit to the aide station because of the communication between corpsmen.
“We have received assistance from corpsmen from 2nd Medical Battalion and the Health Service Support Element, which has been a tremendous help,” Boyd said. “The Marines and sailors have been complying and have made our job a lot easier.”
As deployment nears, Williams and her fellow corpsmen hope for shorter days and more time to spend with their families, but they plan to remain vigilant to ensure each Marine and sailor is ready for the fight.
Ellie