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Battalion Aid Station Cares for Seabees During Deployment, Field Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080623-01
Release Date: 6/23/2008 7:47:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. (NNS) -- While the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 endure the rigors and stress of the battalion's field exercise (FEX), the corpsmen and officers of NMCB 7's medical department remain dedicated to ensuring each member of the battalion stays healthy, during the exercise or on deployment.

The members of the battalion's medical department operate primarily out of a battalion aid station (BAS) while in the field.

"The main purpose of the BAS is to provide field medical support to all members participating in the unit's FEX," said Lt. Jayram Krishnan, NMCB 7's medical officer. "The BAS is a critical part of FEX because people can get injured, have heat injuries and various other inflictions, and we need to be able to get them back on their feet as soon as possible."

The treatment process begins with the injured Seabee being evaluated by medical personnel.

"Everyone is evaluated here," explained Krishnan. "From that evaluation, we decide if we can triage the patient here or if we have to summon a [medical evacuation] from Camp Shelby, who is supporting us by providing them if we need one."

During MEDEVACs, medical professionals transport a patient to a hospital in emergency cases not treatable in the field by the battalion's corpsmen or medical officer.

"We are well staffed here and able to meet every medical challenge, save the gravest injuries," said Krishnan. "We have ten corpsmen, two officers and a senior medical department representative. All of them have various levels of experiences in running a BAS during a Seabee battalion FEX."

"This is my first FEX but not my first time in the field," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ricco Hayward, a NMCB 7 corpsman. "I served with the 1st Division, 25th Marines in Iraq and while the Seabees and Marines are two different breeds, the experiences are similar. It's fun working with the Seabees. These field exercises are an important part of every member of a battalion's training because we can learn from our mistakes and improve our knowledge so we can survive in an actual contingency environment."

With temperatures in the high 90s and humidity levels near 80 percent, the likeliness of heat injuries suffered by battalion members increases.

"Our biggest concern out here is the heat," explained Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Robin Ward, NMCB 7's senior medical department representative. "We're focusing on preventing heat casualties by ensuring everyone is well hydrated."

Even while performing their duties by providing the battalion with medical support, the medical department's BAS must also successfully pass FEX-related test.

"We are evaluated primarily during the mass casualty drill," said Ward. "We don't know when it will take place, but we prepare for it throughout homeport and even on deployments by conducting exercises."

While life in a Seabee battalion may differ from life on board a ship, the corpsmen say they find many similarities.

"We prepare for things the same way we would on board a ship," said Ward. "The basic principles are the same, such as defending yourselves and by running mass casualty drills. Even with Marines, the basic principles are similar.

"Our mission remains the same no matter whether we're with Marines, on a ship or supporting Seabee battalions. We make sure their readiness is there and encourage prevention of injuries and getting those casualties we do have back in action as safely as possible."

For more news from NMCB 7, visit www.navy.mil/local/NMCB7.>