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wasteful spending. This document was followed by Ex- discussions are pointing toward a change of venue in
ecutive Order 13589, “Promoting Efficient Spending,” 2015 to a more South Central U.S. location such as
in November 2011 and OMB Memorandum 12-12, Charlotte or Raleigh, NC. The intent is to have a more
“Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency Op- cost effective Travel/TDY/TAD means to allow more
erations,” in May 2012. All of these documents and di- SOF participation.
rectives changed the atmospherics of how conferences
were conducted and/or attended by government person- The key to this or any such event to be successful is SOF
nel. It was easy to identify that there were many obvi- Medic/Corpsman/PJ participation. That participation is
ous and blatant disregards to existing policies across the absolutely critical in both attendance and presentation.
spectrum. As taxpayers, we should have all been a little These programs, lectures, sessions, and events MUST
angry with some of the wastes and abuses. The bottom be centered on the SOF Medic. For that to happen, the
line is the scrutiny was justified. SOF Medic must be at the center of the event, both figu-
ratively and physically. The medics need to be opening
There is a laundry list of governing regulations and or participating in the discussions with their vignettes,
policies, but the primary references are the Joint Ethics experiences, requirements, shortcomings, new ideas,
Regulation (DoD 5500.7R), USSOCOM Policy 12-21 problems, solutions, dilemmas, etc. . . . You should be
(Special Operations Conferences, Symposia, Seminars forcing SOMSA, SOMA, SOCOM, the components, re-
and Similar Meetings), and the newly published DoD search, development, training and education elements,
Conference Guidance (6 November 2013). The docu- industry, and everybody else involved to assist you with
ments spell out the methodologies and new approval re- your challenges. All of those people can only do that ap-
quirements to host, co-host, or attend a conference for propriately if an SOF Medic is presenting the problem
DoD purposes and personnel. Regardless, the bottom set. If you are complaining but not being proactive in
line is there is a new set of rules and guidelines that must trying to solve the problem, then you are not contribut-
be followed in order for us have a co-sponsored event. ing. The challenge to all is to represent and be repre-
This can be a GO/NO-GO based on “that guy” who sented toward bringing problems to the forefront and
does not think the rules apply to him. Simply put, “that getting to a resolution.
guy” has the potential of shutting the entire concept
down and having lasting ramifications on SOF medicine As always, I want to take a moment to recognize the SOF
as a whole. Don’t be “that guy.” Medical Operators. As I write this and as you read this,
somewhere there is an SOF Medical Operator doing his
The process is already under way for planning and ap- job. Someone is on target saving a life right now! Keep
provals for SOMSA events in 2014 and 2015. As it them in mind and your prayers in everything we do!
stands, 2014 will remain in Tampa. SOCOM and SOMA
—Monty

108 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 14, Edition 1/Spring 2014