Page 117 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2014

from the
NATO Surgeon

s NATO SOF medicine closes out SOS and store it for future use by
A another year as a collabo ra tive NATO elements. This is the first step
com munity and begins a new year of toward a collaborative sharing of
challenges, there is much to be proud medical information across SOF at the
of and much to be done as we move Dan Irizarry, MD NATO level.
into spring. LTC, MC, USA(A)
NATO Special Operations The future is bright for SOF medi-
In October 2013, the NSHQ dedicated Headquarters cine, but there is plenty of work to
the SOF Allied Centre for Medical Medical Advisor be done this year and starting this
Education at SHAPE, Belgium. The spring. In the next few months, the
SOF ACME is a focal point for the collaborative SOF SOF Medicine Expert Panel, composed of SOF medi-
medicine network, bringing together expertise, SOF- cal representatives from the nations, must complete and
specific medical curriculum, and state-of-the-art tech- ratify a new Allied medical publication on SOF medi-
nology to foster and sustain the art of providing medical cal support. This strategic doctrinal document will be
support to SOF. Since its opening, the SOF ACME has critical to codifying the special requirements SOF medi-
hosted more than 30 SOF Medics conducting realistic cal personnel need in authorities, training, personnel,
combat medical training and developing SOF medicine and equipment to effectively support troops in the SOF
skills in its four simulation labs. The December Combat environment.
Medical Simulation Course run at the request of Czech
SOF was a great success, and other nations are already This year, there are multiple opportunities for you to
lining up for next year’s courses. get engaged in the business of SOF medicine, whether
you are in direct support of SOF or just interested in
Germany filled the NSHQ’s first Special Operations SOF medicine. The NSHQ will be hosting its bi-annual
Surgical Team Course, designed to foster the interop- research workshop on 25–27 March 2013 at the SOF
erability and capability of specialized surgical services ACME, this time focused on maritime SOF medical sup-
that support SOF and general purpose missions. The port. The weeks before the RWS and after, NSHQ is
course, taught by NSHQ and experienced U.S., Austral- offering the Special Operations Medical Leaders Course
ian, and Swedish surgical team instructors, focused on (SOMLC) and the Advanced Special Operations Medi-
personnel, equipment, planning, and employment of cal Leaders Course (ASOMLC). Both courses are open
right-sized surgical capabilities for SOF missions using to SOF and non-SOF medical personnel to develop their
the simulation labs to create multiple environments and skills in medically supporting SOF at the tactical/ opera-
®
SimMan 3G (Laerdal Medical) with a Special Opera- tional (SOMLC) and strategic (ASOMLC) levels.
tions Cut Suit to provide surgical training capability.
Participating in an SOF ACME course is the best way
Another fall/winter highlight was the research work- to create and sustain the collaborative network because
shop conducted on the subject of sharing pertinent op- it allows us to make lasting friendships through shared
erational medical information between SOF medical experiences that will be leveraged again when we find
elements in a more timely fashion. The workshop deter- ourselves on the same battlefields. To learn more about
mined a format for future collection of information by the courses offered by NSHQ and the SOF ACME, go
NATO SOF Medics that can be submitted to an unclassi- to www.nshq.nato.int/somb and register. As always, the
fied database being developed by NSHQ as a long-term NSHQ medical staff and the SOF ACME are standing
solution. As a short-term solution, the Allied Command by to assist you with advocacy, information, and train-
Operations MEDAD office will start procuring timely ing opportunities. All you have to do is ask.
information from industry resources like International

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