Page 147 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2016

the medical men and women within the Alliance make surgeon, is retiring again for the last time on 1 May
the seemingly impossible a reality. 2016. Kjell’s career is impressive and varied. He entered
military service in 1968 as a Para-Ranger in the Swedish
The Spring Research Workshop will be held at the Uni- Army. He later became an Infantry officer in 1974. He
versity of College Cork (UCC) from 7–9 June 2016. The left the Army to attend the Lund University College of
topic is centered around the Special Operations Teams Medicine and graduated in 1986. He was later posted as
and Special Operations Critical Care Enroute Teams’ the Commander of the Swedish Military Medical School
role in the SOF medical continuum of care. We are from 1995 to 1999. Following his time in command, he
looking for participation from members of established attended and graduated from the Advanced Command
national teams, now totaling eight within the AJ SOF Course for Staff Officers before returning to the Swed-
community, and nations looking to establish a team or ish Special Operations Forces medical support unit and
teams in the future. The discussions and cadaver labora- later becoming the SOF Command Surgeon. During his
tory will be a great opportunity to share these concepts tenure as the Command Surgeon, he worked to estab-
and practices. The members of NSHQ Special Opera- lish their Special Operations Surgical Team capability,
tions Medical Branch, the Special Operations Surgical and established the two premier SOF medical exercises,
Team Development Course instructors, and UCC are Remedy and Oden. His work with Peter A. Christian-
working to develop a SOST textbook and will discuss sen convinced four Nordic SOF Commanders, CHODS,
this at the workshop and be looking for volunteers who Surgeons General, and Nordic Defense Cooperation of
wish to contribute their expertise and writing skills to the need for a course, based on the agreed upon 164
the effort. The Special Operations Tactical Medicine tasks, to train Nordic NATO Special Operations Med-
Panel will be discussing and finalizing the list of 164 ics. They not only received the green light to continue
tasks required for a NATO SOCM, as well as discussing but obtained funding, developed the POI, and conducted
the UCC initiative to confer academic credentials and the first course in 2 years’ time. His steadfast dedication
degrees upon attendees of the NATO SOCM course, the and selfless service to SOF medicine and, most impor-
courses at the ACME, and some online work. This great tantly, the medics will be missed but not forgotten. I also
initiative of OB and Adrian’s will provide the medics a thank him for being patient enough to educate multiple
pathway to obtain college credit, and possibly a degree, US SOF medical personnel on the intricacies of NATO
to use as a stepping stone when they retire. More to and the Chiefs of Military Medical Services. We would
follow. not have gotten this far in NSHQ without his efforts and
mentorship. Kjell, thank you for all that you have done
At this time, I would like to ask for your indulgence as to make this a stronger and more cohesive Allied Joint
we thank a colleague, mentor, friend, and SOF medical SOF medical community. As you retire and sail whenever
legend for his nearly 50 years of service in the Swedish the whim hits you, the SOF medical community wishes
Army. LTC Kjell Boman, an SOF operator and command you fair winds and following seas, my friend.

From the NATO SOF Surgeon 131