Page 10 - JSOM Winter 2017

from the
SOMA PRESIDENT

Greetings SOMA Members, Volunteers, first have tactical patience. And tactical
and Friends, Steven Viola patience comes from strategic reserves.
Command Master Chief (SEAL) (Ret) This, in part, helps you survive encoun-
hope this message finds you all doing ters on the X.
I well. We are gearing up for the 2018 ATP, NREMT-P
Special Operations Medical Associa- Tactical patience is basically having
tion Scientific Assembly (SOMSA) in Charlotte, North Caro- the end in mind and engaging targets of opportunity as they
lina. This event will be one to attend for a variety of reasons: present themselves. Having strategic reserves basically means
(1) it will be the official 30th anniversary for the Special Op- wanting to do 10 things at once and having enough presence
erations Medical Association (SOMA), (2) it’s our third year of mind and discipline to budget your resources accordingly.
in Charlotte and we have seen some incredible support and This is done by the “wisdom of the many” and their respective
interest from the local municipalities, and (3) we will be tran- responsibilities. The past momentum from the wise helps sta-
sitioning the leadership role at SOMA. bilize us for the here and now, and launches us into future suc-
cesses (the there and then). Simply stated, SOMA wanted to
It’s hard to believe that we started with a good idea at the Hol- be close to the X, where the largest components of SOF could
iday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and went be found. This way, we can best support those who support
from “parading the turkey” to “parading the beef.” Then we others on the X. Drop a pin on a map where Charlotte, North
stepped up the game and moved to Tampa, Florida—“closer Carolina, is located and draw a 400 nautical-mile circle (that’s
to the flagpole.” Now we are back, closer to our roots, in ≈1.15078 statute miles for the nonmariner types) and you will
North Carolina and partnering with like-minded folks in the see we are as close to the X as we can be. So, for now, we are
local community. In some ways, it seems like just the other day staying in Charlotte and will continue to do good things there.
and, in others, a lifetime ago.
How Does That Affect SOMA?
The SOMSA 2018 will be like no other. We are looking for- The provisions for the successes we share ride on two opera-
ward to our 30-year celebration and are hoping to add a few tive verbs: come and go. Peer groups come and discuss what
new topics that will help keep the force whole, both while on makes sense, lessons learned, and the constraints of the op-
active duty and beyond. Wholeness in mind, body, soul, and erating parameters they are faced with for getting on or off
spirit are essential for those who go where angels fear to tread. the X. Then they go and apply what they have learned and
inventory the available resources for those requirements. This
At 30 years, the benchmarks we have accomplished, and will does a few things. (1) It raises the bar for tactics, techniques,
continue to accomplish, are nothing short of magnificent. and procedures (TTP). (2) Responsibility is accepted for the
SOMA has been the best in class by the Herculean efforts of decisions on TTPs. (3) Scores and composites are aggregated
so many individuals who found solidarity in placing service meaningfully. In simpler terms, today’s initiative becomes to-
above self. For that, I thank you! God willing, another 30 morrow’s achievement, intentionally! The SOMSA venue is
years of benchmarks will follow. where discipline × initiative = influence. Influence yields high
impact! The following are three examples of that impact:
On that note, as my time as SOMA President comes to an end,
I will be turning over the reins to our Military Vice President • Responding accordingly to the gap between conven-
Harold “Monty” Montgomery in May 2018. He is well versed tional and SOF medicine.
in all aspects of the needs in Special Operations Forces (SOF) • Pushing the envelope and being disruptively innovative.
medicine and he always has the medic’s best interests in mind. • Walking circumspectly (i.e., 360° and three-dimensional
I hope that you will show him the same support and under- awareness).
standing you have shown me.
We wanted to have SOF and tactical members be able to come
The Next Right Step and go. Charlotte provides the location for the vision and the
In the SOF community we spend a considerable amount of business location for continued positive impacts.
time planning to be on the “X” (aka, the objective, target).
To the uninitiated, think of the map at the mall that states Keeping Rounds in the 10 Ring
“you are here.” SOF professionals and their mission-critical As medical professionals, we exhibit expert skill and knowl-
elements concentrate the most effort in getting on and off the edge in our roles. Among the many elements that make you
X, preferably without injury or death. To do this, you must an influential leader, there are three that stand out: your

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