Page 119 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2014

The NSMDI courses will continue to build a common care skills and improving military assistance acumen is
educational foundation and international network a critical focus shift that will enable operations in less
among rising SOF medical leaders, growing interoper- supported environments like Africa. Building critical
ability at the grass roots level. NSHQ’s deployable Role partnerships between commanders and medical leaders
I will keep the JMED rooted in tactical requirements at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of na-
as it works toward strategic effects. Finally, the ACME tions and NATO will continue to be essential to expand-
will grow in capability, creating a home for NATO SOF ing the training, authorities and resources required to
medicine that links conventional and SOF military ele- provide medical care in the SOF environment. For this
ments with industry and academia to foster cooperation reason, the October 2014 research workshop is being
that improves military medicine. These endeavors suc- designed for SOF medics and their commanders to at-
cess is completely due to my NSHQ JMED teammates’ tend together to address joint medical/command issues
incredible professionalism, supported by the command that face NATO and Partner SOF. If the NATO SOF
and the community. medical communities recent past is indicative of its fu-
ture, there is much work and much success ahead.
NSHQ JMED accomplished all this while supporting
NSHQ’s other sections, caring for NSHQ members and As I close, I would like to thank the community for
families, deploying to support national training events, the many friendships I have developed within the na-
and advocating for NATO SOF requirements in mul- tions. In my next job as medical director, Joint Medical
tiple venues. Each achievement of this extraordinary Simulation Office, Program Executive Office for Simu-
team will have lasting effects on NATO SOF medicine. I lation, Training and Instrumentation (PEOSTRI), I will
could not have asked for a better group of SOF medical continue to strive to support Alliance SOF medics and
professionals to work with. warriors from this new foxhole, ever cognizant of the
fact that it is the SOF warrior who must be first and
As for future NATO SOF medicine development, the foremost in receiving our support. I will continue to be
future is bright. Meeting SOF requirements in this accessible through my NSHQ email, daniel.irizarry@
ever changing threat environment will require optimal nshq.nato.int, if I can be of any future assistance. I am
medical support. NATO SOF medicine’s path toward confident of NATO SOF medicine’s future because of
developing rapidly deployable, flexible and interoper- the extremely high caliber of those who I sadly leave in
able surgical teams will provide strategic capabilities place at NSHQ and in the nations and I look forward to
that save SOF warrior lives. Reengaging prolonged field when our paths will cross again.

From the NATO Surgeon 109