Photo By Sgt. Rachael Moore | Sailors with the 2nd Maintenance Battalion Surgical Company, 2nd Marine Logistics...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM, Afghanistan – Local Afghans are helping to turn the tide in the counter-insurgency mission because of the care they receive inside two specific tent that sit in the back of Forward Operating Base Delaram, Afghanistan.
One tent is for emergency room situations and another is an operating room. The people who work inside are collectively known as the Shock Trauma Platoon.
“We’re here for medical evacuations,” explained Hopstialman Nicholas Collins, a team leader with the 2nd Maintenance Battalion Surgical Company, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), also referred to as the STP. “Our mission is to stabilize patients until we can get them to a higher level of care.”
The STP cared for 34 patients during their first month in country. Most of their patients were local nationals, and their injuries ranged from broken bones to gun shot wounds.
“I remember when we got our first call,” Collins recalled. “My heart was pounding. My hands were shaking, but now it’s like second nature. It’s just like putting your boots on. After seeing all of the different injuries, I have the confidence I need to come in and just get started.”
When an incident happens, the sailors receive a call about the patient approximately five minutes before the arrival. The team of corpsmen rush into the tent and get to their stations. When the patient gets there, one sailor takes the patient’s vitals, another prepares an intravenous drip, and others document and evaluate the injuries.
“Some patients are nervous at first,” said Hospitalman Duron McMillan, a corpsman at the STP. “But we have our interpreter here, and we make sure to let them know everything that is going on.”
When children are brought to the STP, the corpsmen take an extra step to make sure they feel comfortable.
“We give them gifts,” said Collins. “It’s like crayons, stuffed animals, and in some cases, if we have to cut their clothes, we give them a new outfit.”
“Some [local national] patients even come back to thank us and I really appreciate that,” McMillan added.
The thanks the patients give not only affects the troops on base, but it’s helping the troops off base as well.
“What we’re doing makes a huge influence on the war,” explained Cmdr. Eric Sherck, a doctor with the STP. “The patients we’ve taken care of go back out into their villages and spread the word, and when our troops are out there, they actually walk up to them, thank them and give them information.”
By simply doing their job, the sailors with the STP are changing the face of the Marine Corps in the eyes of the Afghans.
“We’re changing the hearts and minds of the locals by providing medical care,” Sherck concluded.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2011 01:26 |
| Story ID: | 67426 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM, AF |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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