Naval Hospital Deploys More Corpsmen
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040803-13 Release Date: 8/3/2004 8:18:00 PM
By Journalist Seaman Dustin Q. Diaz, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Public Affairs
NAVAL HOSPITAL CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- As 13 Navy hospital corpsmen returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton from Iraq July 14, more than 30 other hospital corpsmen were preparing to deploy to replace the returnees in support of the global war on terrorism.
According to Medical Mobilization Department Leading Chief Petty Officer, Chief Hospital Corpsman Julius Mesias, 30 hospital corpsmen from Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton (NHCP) and Naval Medical Center San Diego who deployed to Iraq with 1st Marine Division (1st MarDiv) have returned to the United States, with 34 more corpsmen scheduled to return soon. He said some are expected to begin repatriation at NHCP within one to two weeks.
Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, located in the heart of the coastal southern California Marine Corps Base, has 199 physicians, nurses, and hospital corpsmen attached to various deployed base commands: I Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st MarDiv, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG).
Eleven more personnel will report to 1st MarDiv Aug. 1, and one more group will report to 3rd MAW Sept. 15, Mesias added.
"(1st Marine) Division will be receiving the front-line corpsmen who are prepared to deal with trauma and render first aid," Mesias said. "Other corpsmen play more of a secondary care role. For example, 1st FSSG has specialized doctors, nurses, and an operating room in addition to the corpsmen. That's where a Marine with 1st MarDiv will go if he is hurt badly enough to be medically evacuated."
Mesias stressed that these deployments are the hospital's motto of "Health in Garrison, Readiness in Deployment" being put into action.
The deployments are expected to be seven to eight months in length.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
