Page 158 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2017

from the
NA
NATO SOF SurgeonTO SOF Surgeon

reetings from NATO Special Op- impact a SOF Combat Medic has on the
Michael Cohen,
Gerations Headquarters (NSHQ) in Michael Cohen, MDMD battlefield.
SHAPE, Belgium. We continue to strive COL/OF-5, MC, FS, USA ACOL/OF-5, MC, FS, USA A
to maintain and develop Alliance Spe- NATO Special OperationsNATO Special Operations The Special Operations Medical Panel
cial Operations Medical capability and Headquarters has made yet another step forward in
capacity through a variety of efforts. Medical Advisor/ the development of NATO SOF medi-
The Allied Center for Medical Educa- Command Surgeon cal standards and doctrine. The panel
tion (ACME) functions as the primary revised the SOF Medical Standards and
platform of NATO SOF Medicine Development Initia- Training Directive, which will help to improve the medi-
tive (NSMDI) and serves to improve SOF Medical Sys- cal standard of care and improve interoperability. As
tems across the Alliance. NSHQ Medical Operations in the chair of the panel, I am working with other panel
association with the Special Operations Medical Expert leads to improve operability and am working with
Panel is moving forward with the development of SOF- NATO Standardization for assistance with publishing
specific medical doctrine. As the Special Operations our doctrine.
Component Command (SOCC) for NATO Response
Force (NRF) 2017, the operational mission will offer in- As the SOCC Role 1, NSHQ Medical Operations
sight into operational and strategic planning and assist (MEDOPS) has an operational responsibility requiring
with future SOF Force Generation. Our human perfor- interoperability with multiple directorates within un-
mance (HP) initiative will function as a source of experi- conventional and conventional organizations. This role
ences, knowledge, and research to help improve current requires interactions with current operations and future
HP programs as well as assist in the development of new operations and provides an opportunity to develop the
programs. medical operations team that will assume the NRF in
2018.
The demand for ACME courses and national training
continues to accelerate. Recent iterations of the Spe- The recently completed Human Performance Research
cial Operations Medical Support and Planning Course Workshop was a great venue for discussion of ongoing
(SOMSP) and the Special Operations Surgical Team and future HP initiatives. There were 78 attendees with
Development Course (SOST-DC) enhanced SOF and a variety of different backgrounds representing 20 na-
conventional medical capabilities of the participating tions. The presentations, discussions, and networking
nations. Of significant importance, the International served to improve everyone’s knowledge and awareness
Special Training Center (ISTC) in Pfullendorf, Germany, of current programs, developing programs, ongoing re-
is about to graduate its first NATO Special Operation search, and future efforts. This clearly is a high visibility
Combat Medic (NSOCM) Course in which 23 students initiative and forums like this are key to enhancing hu-
representing 10 nations will achieve competency of man performance efforts across the Alliance.
the 174 NSOCM critical tasks during a period of 22
weeks. This is a critical step to expanding the NSOCM NSHQ MEDOPS continues to maintain and develop
capability across the Alliance. Additionally, the course SOF medical systems. Future initiatives and efforts
provided an opportunity for advocacy. A team of senior include the addition of an NSOCM pilot course in
leaders from the German Military Health Service visited Hungary, assisting with the sustainment of the current
the ISTC and NSOCM Course as part of an ongoing NSOCMs, and leveraging research and technology to
effort to review national policy on SOF combat med- improve how we train and educate SOF medical person-
ics. The medical leaders were clearly impressed with nel. All focused on building SOF medical capability and
the program and gained a better understanding of the capacity across the Alliance!

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