Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search
File: aabhf_05.txt
their slow periods; now it's much, much slower. I would say
in retrospect that was a very, very good idea. Even if the
hub is not here, even if the AECE is not here, I think MASFs
and medical clearing platoons belong together, and I would
like that to qo on record.
S: What about limitinq factors to do Your mission here? For
example, personnel or equipment or facilities. Could you
address that a little bit?
M: Yes, there are limiting factors, and some of these were
corrected in this theater, and I hope again it becomes
doctrine. One of the limiting factors is the personnel
package. It is so small that from the minute the radio gets
set up--the first thing we do is to set up the radio, even
before the tents are up--we are operational. That means 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. Now, with four nurses, that is
a little difficult, especially in this strat tac hub,
because as the OIC [officer in charge] and commander of this
element, I was constantly pulled out to make this thing work
up here--the input and the meeting here and meeting there
and talking to this person and talking to that person--
probably functioning on three nurses. When the patients
came in, I would assist with the missions. My nurses had a
lot of autonomy. I think they enjoyed that, and they
learned how to run the missions, and I think they did a
really good job, an outstanding job.
Limiting factors; medications are a limiting factor. We
looked at our medications, and many things we need in this
MASF are not in our package: antipsychotic agents such as
Haldal, third generation antibiotics, cardiac atropine. As
far as equipment, we are woefully inadequate, and in this
theater it really proved to be true. We need four impact
suctions. We need percussion ventilators; just throw the
5
Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search