Photo By Chief Petty Officer David Kolmel | 210602-N-IT566-0118 JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Jun. 2, 2021)...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (June 2, 2021) – Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, chief of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and Surgeon General of the Navy, and Force Master Chief Michael Roberts, director of Hospital Corps, visited here June 1-2.
During Gillingham’s stopover, he had the opportunity to visit Naval Medical Forces Support Command (NMFSC), Navy Medicine Training Support Center (NMTSC), and Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio (NAMRU-SA) Navy assets on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston (JBSA-FSH). He also met with joint service partners and leaders of U.S. Army North, 502nd Air Wing, and Uniformed Services University – Southern Region, College of Allied Health Sciences.
After touring the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), Gillingham had the opportunity to observe classroom labs of both basic and advanced courses and talk with instructors and students to get further insight into the courses. After visiting METC, Gillingham traveled around NMTSC to see the student housing area and meet with Sailors.
"I was thrilled this morning with the level of training that is going on in the schoolhouse and in hospital corpsman ‘A’ school for our Sailors.” Said Gillingham. “To feel comfortable in a mass casualty situation and know what the initial lifesaving steps are, that is phenomenal training.”
As an orthopedic surgeon, Gillingham was impressed by the level of medical training given to new corpsmen. As a practicing surgeon, he was fascinated by the skill of these future technicians and the level of preparation they will offer surgical teams entering operating rooms. Gillingham said he views each of these future corpsmen as force multipliers and was very inspired.
NMFSC leadership hosted the Surgeon General and Force Master Chief’s visit and led the two on a whirlwind tour of the JBSA area during their short two-day stay.
“The Naval Medical Forces Support Command motto is ‘Medical Readiness Starts Here,’” said Rear Adm. Cynthia Kuehner, commander of NMFSC. “This week we were honored to host the Navy’s Surgeon General, Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, and Force Master Chief Roberts to proudly showcase the substance behind our motto."
Before departing, Gillingham hosted an all-hands call with Navy Medicine Sailors assigned to the JBSA area to thank them for their hard work, let them know that the highest levels of the Navy appreciate them, and discuss the future of Navy Medicine.
"I cannot tell you how exciting it is for Force and me to be here, and what a great trip it has been,” said Gillingham. “Every time I come to San Antonio I am reminded of the immense power that is generated here."
Gillingham and Roberts expressed their appreciation for what Navy Medicine Sailors, civilians and contract support staff do every day on our One Navy Medicine team of dedicated professionals.
“What you do every day counts, what you do every day is extremely important,” said Roberts. “Listen, learn and lead that is what you do here. There is no one better than your team and I want to thank you for that.”
“Both of us are extremely grateful for what you do whether you're advancing the science of medical care at NAMRU-San Antonio, teaching the future (Sailors) that will replace us, that will care for us on a daily basis, or sharing your knowledge. Whatever capacity you serve here in San Antonio, thank you,” said Gillingham.
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| Date Taken: | 06.02.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2021 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 398094 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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