Doctors assess lessons learned in Iraqi action

[thedrifter]

Doctors assess lessons learned in Iraqi action
October 03,2003
ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Navy doctors learned some important lessons during the war with Iraq, and many of the changes have already started.

As the Navy approaches its 228th birthday this month, it's a good time to re-evaluate operations, said Capt. Richard C. Welton, commander of Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital. The new mission for Navy corpsmen in the field will involve smaller and more mobile forces.

"The Iraqi war taught us that we need to be more modular, flexible and mobile," said Welton, 56, who has 30 years of military experience. "The Navy is rearranging how we package units."

Large groups of pre-packaged tentlike shelters were often linked together to put the entire capability and staff of a fleet hospital into the wilderness. That will soon change.

"In the past, we planned for a 250- or 500-bed hospital, but we need a smaller medical capability to keep up with the Marine mission," Welton said. "We're seeing a modification of the platforms we have now, and the forward recessive surgical system has become more mobile. Trauma teams are the most capable of supporting Marines on the move."

Welton said the Navy is planning for roving emergency rooms that move behind combat units. The ERs will be staffed with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and corpsmen who can treat the wounded fresh off the battlefield and stabilize their injuries so they can survive the move to larger hospitals for more specialized care.

"Instead of a 500-bed hospital, one, five or 100 might meet the mission," Welton said. "Iraq reconfirmed the importance of Navy medicine's support to the Marine Corps."

Navy doctors are learning from civilian trauma units across the country. Welton said teams are being trained rather than individuals.

Welton used a hockey phrase to explain the challenge to military commanders trying to save their troops on the battlefield.

"It's a very scaled-down version of the mobile fleet hospital system, and we use the medical logistics company in 2nd Force Service Support Group to resupply them," Welton said. "It's like trying to anticipate where the puck is going to be at any given moment."

Welton said the Navy's birthday, celebrated on Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, is a good time to reassess what works and what doesn't.

"Birthdays are a time to think about where you are and where you are going," Welton said. "We have a rich tradition and heritage in the Navy, and from the beginning it has been a special relationship with the Marine Corps. No Marine has taken a hill out of earshot of a Navy corpsman."


Contact Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 236.



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Sempers,

Roger

[thedrifter]

Navy celebrating 228 years
October 03,2003
ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF

For more years than the United States has been republic, the Navy has been protecting American interests afloat.

It's a mark to be proud of, say Camp Lejeune-based sailors who plan on celebrating the Navy's 228th birthday this month. It's particularly sweet at Camp Lejeune, because there are only a couple thousand sailors amid a sea of roughly 40,000 Marines.

"There are approximately 3,019 sailors with 46 different units at Camp Lejeune, Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson and New River Air Station," said Cmdr. Scott Jonson, a 44-year-old doctor from International Falls, Minn. "We gather for camaraderie and pride in our service."

It is a tradition that sailors actually mark twice in the month of October.

The Navy League sponsored the first national observance of Navy Day in 1922 on Oct. 27, which was the birthday of then-President Theodore Roosevelt, to honor of the contributions of the nation's service members in blue. In 1972, however, the late Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, chief of Naval Operations at the time, authorized Oct. 13 as the Navy's birthday as an internal activity for members of the active and reserve forces, retirees and family members.

The move had historic precedent. On Oct. 13, 1775, Congress authorized the establishment of a Continental Navy, which provided for the procurement and outfitting of two armed vessels to cruise waters in search of British Army ships sending munitions to America.

From those humble beginnings, the Navy has grown over two centuries to the force it is today of about 374,000 men and women, 4,108 aircraft and 318 ships.

To honor this heritage, they are holding an enlisted ball at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and an officers' ball at 6 p.m. Oct. 25, both at the Paradise Point Officers' Club.

"This is to honor those who came before us," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Ron Cozzolino, 39, a corpsman from Gloversville, N.Y., in charge of Naval Hospital manpower.

"It teaches the young troops that the active duty family is our support and our backbone," said Chief Petty Officer Jeff Richardson, 37, a corpsman from Williamstown, N.M., who runs the Hadnot Point Branch Clinic.

"Some of these young corpsmen are right out of high school, and we are introducing them to the Navy," Richardson said.

For more information on the Navy enlisted ball, contact Cozzolino at 450-4082 or Richardson at 451-1053.

For information on the Navy officers' ball, contact Jonson at 450-4751.


Contact Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 236.


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Sempers,

Roger