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Disclosure 6. American College of Emergency Physicians. Policy statement:
emergency ultrasound guidelines. p. 18. http://www.acep.org
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose. /workarea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=32878. Accessed 22 Feb-
ruary 2106.
References
1. Keenan S, Morgan AR, Blankenship R, et al. Ultrasound in
Special Operations medicine: a proposal for application and MAJ Vasios is the Physician Assistant for Special Opera-
training. J Spec Oper Med. 2008;8:47–54. tions Command Africa in Stuttgart, Germany. He applies the
2. Landers A. From the Special Forces Surgeon. J Spec Oper Med. various acquired specialties from 31 years of service to finding
2010;10:53. solutions for complex problems in Prolonged Field Care situa-
3. Morgan AR, Vasios WN, Hubler SA, et al. Special Opera- tions. His current interests include ultrasound, African snakes,
tor level clinical ultrasound: an experience in application and
training. J Spec Oper Med. 2010;10:16–21. and Telemedicine. E-mail: william.n.vasios.mil@mail.mil.
4. Sinek S. Start with why: how great leaders inspire action.
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_ Keywords: SOLCUS; ultrasound; prolonged field care; 18D;
inspire_action?language=en. Accessed 22 February 2016. medic; ultrasound, bedside
5. American College of Emergency Physicians. Policy State-
ment: Emergency Ultrasound Guidelines. http://www.acep.org
/workarea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=32878. Accessed 22 Feb-
ruary 2106.
The gaps are fluid such that, at any time, a critical gap
USASOC Division of may be identified in the field, resulting in expedited ex-
Science & Technology ploration of solutions.
S&T investment is required to ensure ARSOF Opera-
What It Means for Special Operations Medicine tors of the future have the most advanced capabilities
to conduct surgical strike operations and special war-
by Chris Calvano, MD, PhD; Scott Forman; fare campaigns. This editorial aims to familiarize the
Travis Osborn, 18D; William Gothard
Special Operations medical community with the role of
the USASOC S&T and to raise awareness and encour-
age continued Operator-driven identification of medical
he US Army Special Operations Command Sci- gaps and development/evaluation of solutions.
ence and Technology Division (USASOC S&T)
Thas the mission of maximizing the use of science Discovery of the S&T gaps comes from three sources:
and technology (S&T) resources from external organi- top-down directive (strategic), bottom-up innovation
zations to extend USASOC warfighters’ technological (tactical), and technology discovery (scientific). Com-
and knowledge dominance in support of special war- mand directives define a given gap and, therefore, the
fare and surgical strike operations. Within S&T are solutions often follow. Operators may have no choice
defined area gaps covering strategic, tactical, and sci- but to innovate in the field; indeed, this is expected and
entific areas. These include core warfighter functional provides a valuable “tested” solution that can be trans-
areas such as weapons, mobility, communication, and lated to a modification of an existing product versus a
medical, which are organized as commodity areas to completely new item. Occasionally a solution is identi-
include Soldier Systems (including medical), Mobility, fied via technology discovery as a commercial off-the-
Human Domain, Aviation, Intelligence Surveillance shelf product. Such instances will still be fully vetted
Reconnaissance/Intelligence Support Squadron, Target within USASOC, but advantages may include standing
Engagement, and C4. Each commodity is assigned an US Food and Drug Administration approval or current
experienced Operator to chaperone the process. Inter- use within sister services or branches.
ested scientists, clinicians, and engineers from private
industry, academia, and government/military agencies Identification of many medical gaps and development of
all collaborate to meet these needs of the yearly gaps. solutions ultimately depends on and is driven by Opera-
The medical gaps (some of which may be classified) are tor input and feedback. Always observing that Special
codified, keeping good faith to the guidance provided Operations medicine is Operator/Medic centric facili-
by Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) 2022. tates this process. The S&T division has representatives
Editorials 65
