Page 12 - JSOM Winter 2019

from the

SOMA PRESIDENTOMA PRESIDENT

Greetings to the SOMA do not have interruption of your
Membership and JSOM Readers, JSOM subscription or SOMA ac-
cess and benefits.
olidays and the winter sea-
H
son are upon us. First and Harold Montgomery, MSG (Ret)arold Montgomery, MSG (Ret) For those that are not yet SOMA
Hforemost, I want to thank members, take the time to join
and think of our deployed SOMA members and JSOM and be part of a personal and professional group dedi-
readers who are shouldering the burden during the holi- cated to bringing together the unique blend of pre-hospi-
day timeframe. It’s always tough on families during this tal, tactical, wilderness, austere, disaster, unconventional
time of year, and these are those times when we must and deployed medicine. All of those make up special op-
look out for each other the most. We also recognize that erations medicine, they are all SOMA, and SOMA is the
most of you are fitting more work in between the holi- people who make up the organization. It’s not just about
days as you work projects, conduct exercises, or are in joining but it’s really about what you bring to SOMA.
predeployment mode for launching out after the first of Each member’s unique experiences, background, and
the year. talents are what make the organization into what is
needed to support the greater mission. If you want to
The 2020 Special Operations Medical Association’s effect change for tomorrow or change in SOMA, then
Scientific Assembly (SOMSA2020) program is moving start by being a member of SOMA.
along in development and coordination. For planning
purposes, May 2020 is just around the corner. Plan and Consider this a call for committee members, mentors,
ensure SOMSA is on your travel and training schedule. presenters, writers, and contributors to all of SOMA’s
And we do mean “on the training schedule.” We have efforts. As mentioned above, if you want to effect the di-
listened to attendees who wished they could attend mul- rection of SOMA then take an active role in navigating
tiple labs or multiple presentations. If all the plans come the SOMA efforts.
together, SOMSA2020 is going to start a new trend and
method for the way ahead for SOMA events. We are Committees: We need dedicated members and contribu-
developing SOMSA into a unique blend of traditional tors for our many committees working projects for spe-
medical conference and a training event. The training cial operations medicine. See what committee(s) interest
labs will no longer be a preconference event for a day you and sign up at: http://www.specialoperationsmedi-
or two. Our goal is to provide labs and hands-on events cine.org/Pages/committees.aspx.
through the entire week co-located and scheduled adja-
cent to the regular Assembly sessions. Not everything Mentors: SOMA’s Second-Half and Scholarship efforts
will have duplicate events, but most of the high-demand over the last few years are coming to fruition as we have
events will have repeat sessions so that participants can several members in various stages of their schooling or
attend different parts of SOMSA and still get everything second-half careers. That said, we need members to step
they are looking for. We are also tailoring the event as a and be mentors for other young SOF enlisted medics,
true training event to meet USSOCOM and component corpsman and PJs who are seeking higher medical edu-
training requirements such as non-trauma modules. cation and careers. This is a chance for those who have
In the future, we foresee the labs also being hands-on trekked this path to mentor others seeking to take simi-
culmination points for online classes taken through the lar trails. To those who are the beneficiaries of SOMA’s
SOMA LMS (SOMed). All in all, we are trying to make scholarships and second-half initiatives, it is an implied
SOMSA a special and different event than all the routine task to be a mentor for those following you.
medical conferences out there.
Contributors: There are literally dozens of ways to be a
For SOMA members, the membership renewal season contributor to SOMA’s projects. From building educa-
is upon us as well. Hopefully, many of you chose auto- tion products to giving presentation lectures or hands-on
matic renewal last year and it will be seamless for you. labs at SOMSA to recruiting new members to writing
If you did not, then please do so this year so that you JSOM articles, there are many ways to contribute.

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