Military medicine
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Since January 2002, pre-deployment training of forward resuscitative and surgical units has taken place at the U.S. Army Trauma Training Center (ATTC) in Miami, FL. In June 2019, the 240th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Team (FRST) conducted the first pre-deployment Surgical Readiness Training Exercise (SURGRETE) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to allow the team to rehearse in a resource-constrained environment more similar to that expected on deployment. The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the pre-deployment training experiences of the 240th FRST during their SURGRETE in Honduras and ATTC rotation in Miami, FL. ⋯ Appropriately planned SURGRETEs can provide a concentrated case volume in a resource-constrained setting and challenge the team to consider definitive management algorithms. The cases performed may not necessarily reflect the type and acuity of operations performed in a deployed environment; however, they facilitate repetition of basic skills, team cohesion, and cross-training. The SURGRETE experience could be improved by locating a facility with a trauma-dominant patient population that allows increased autonomy of U.S. physicians.
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The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a threat to global health, including the health of deployed armed forces. Servicemembers had to adjust to the "new normal" while maintaining the interests of the nation's security as well as that of our host nation partners. This commentary examines how Special Operations Forces operating within four different regions worldwide leveraged the challenges presented by the onset of this pandemic in maintaining stability, sustaining a ready force, and operating forward deployed. ⋯ We hope these experiences will provide a rough framework for future forces faced with a similar struggle. We also want to stress that challenges vary depending on the area of operations and the pathogen responsible for the pandemic. Any feedback and collaboration that may come from this work is appreciated and encouraged.
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Medical students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences participate in a leadership curriculum designed to develop leadership skills. Operation Bushmaster is a 5-day field practicum designed to test these skills. In this article, we describe 10 leadership lessons learned during Operation Bushmaster applicable to all leaders.