Page 150 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2014

from the

SEMA

“The Ground Truth”

Special Operations Medical and and CSM Chris Faris changed responsibil-
Scientific Assembly (SOMSA) ity on 15 October 2014. Both of these in-
spirational SOF leaders have had incredible
Most of you will receive this just prior to impacts on SOF over their careers and as
or at the Special Operations Medical and the SOCOM Commander and CSM team.
Scientific Assembly (SOMSA) in December MSG Harold R. Montgomery They both undertook huge strides in the
at the Tampa Convention Center. I want ev- two most prominent SOF initiatives that
eryone to know that it has been a year-long USSOCOM will carry us for years to come.
process to gain the ability for USSOCOM Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor
to co-sponsor the event. I certainly will not go into the details of The Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) initiative
the approval process, but I hope everyone understands we are that both ADM McRaven and CSM Faris pushed at every level
working in a fiscally challenged environment and one in which will be key to maintaining our readiness and taking care of our
conference-like events undergo incredible levels of scrutiny. people. With many different facets of human performance pro-
Thus, we are executing SOMSA with a lot of constraints and re- grams, family counseling, behavioral health, casualty assistance,
strictions. There is no way around it! As it is, we have expanded and spiritual health; the POTFF initiative will see our force
by nearly double the attendance numbers authorized last year. through the next years of uniquely SOF battlegrounds.
Another point about the SOMSA approval process is the ben- The Expand Global SOF Network (GSN) initiative under-
efits we slowly gain by following the letter of the law. Since we taken by this command team will have ramifications that the
gained the co-sponsorship approval in late August, SOMSA force will build on for many, many years to come. The most
has already been used as an example of how to do things bottom line GSN component is codifying the SOF network of
right. There have been several meetings at the SOCOM level partners to defeat our enemies. This network is built on our
in which comments related to SOF Medical setting the stan- relationships with international partners, interagency teams,
dard on how to legally and ethically plan and execute a large and industry to better synchronize us all for the road ahead.
assembly like SOMSA. The grander part of the GSN initiative is the revised engage-
ment strategies as the Theater Special Operations Commands
We fully expect the SOF Medical Community to indeed set the (TSOCs) now are commanded and resourced by SOCOM to
standard with the SOMSA event. Please adhere to the policies be the force of choice for the global combatant commanders.
and restrictions that have been mandated so that we continue to The other grand part is the planning toward a more synchro-
have this great event. I am fully confident that if we continue to nized and purposeful approach to a sustained engagement
do it right, we will be allowed to grow the event to what many abroad with our partners and developing partners.
of us remember from years past. As the SOMA and USSOCOM
officially relationship continues over the next few years, I expect Both ADM McRaven and CSM Faris have been incredibly sup-
the SOMSA event and other activities to get better and better. portive of SOF Medical endeavors. From SOMSA co-sponsorship
to freeze-dried plasma use expansion to our part of the POTFF
Expansion of the Global initiatives, they have both given and expected a lot of SOF Medi-
SOF Medical Network Through SOMSA cine. Our thanks and farewell to both of these gentlemen.
The 2013 SOMSA event was a great success for the Global SOF With farewells also come welcomes. We welcome GEN Joseph
Medical Network. There were huge opportunities for discussions Votel and CSM Bill Thetford as the new SOCOM commander
and relationship building with many components of the network. and SEA. Both of these leaders are coming out of the Joint Spe-
We hope for the same at the 2014 SOMSA event. This is a tre- cial Operations Command and have extensive backgrounds
mendous opportunity for US SOF, interagency and international and a long history of assignments and positions in Special Op-
partners, and our civilian counterparts to learn from each other erations. There is no doubt both of these leaders will expect
and interact with the healthcare industry and academia. Each in- the same great work out of SOF Medicine as we have all ex-
dividual attendee should take it upon himself or herself to recon- emplified for many years. In daring to date my own history;
nect with old connections and attempt to gain new connections. then-SGT Montgomery in-processed then-CPT Votel into 1st
The more we work together, the better we can support all of our Ranger Battalion a very long time ago.
Operators regardless of the role in the overall mission.
As always, I want to take a moment to recognize the SOF
Medical Operators. As I write this and as you read this, some-
Farewell and Welcome
where there is a SOF Medical Operator doing his job. Some-
We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and one is on target saving a life right now! Keep them in mind and
farewell to both Admiral McRaven and CSM Faris. Admiral your prayers in everything we do!
William McRaven relinquished command on 28 August 2014 —Monty

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