Surgical team deploys to Afghanistan

by Paula M. Fitzgerald
Paraglide



The 15 members of the 541st Forward Surgical Team, 28th Combat Support Hospital said goodbye to Family and friends during a deployment ceremony at the 51st Logistics Complex Friday.

This is the unit’s third rotation in support of either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit will head to Afghanistan for this one-year tour of duty.

By doctrine, an FST is capable of continuous operations with a divisional or non-divisional medical company for up to 72 hours with a planned caseload of 30 critical patients. The FST can sustain surgery for 24 total operating table hours and has the ability to separate into two teams that function independently. The 541st FST will provide medical support to American and Coalition forces, along with Afghan local nationals and security forces.

“We are more than ready for this deployment,” said Maj. Jason Seery, commander of the 541st FST. “These Soldiers have been training and preparing for about six months.”

During the past six months, members of the team have conducted computer-based training, scenario-driven training and real-world training.

“Anything we could do to get ready, we pretty much did,” Seery added. “Five of the Soldiers came from other bases, so they did training at their home bases. Then we all went down to the Army Trauma Training Center down in Miami to do some real-world stuff.”

During its two-weeks in Miami, the team received a week of classroom training and then a week of practical training at the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The team broke up into two teams, one for the day shift and one for the night. The Soldiers took over and managed the trauma center for the entire week, brushing up on critical skills needed for the battlefield.

“I’m very fortunate to have such a capable and professional team,” Seery said. “They are 99.999 percent prepared and can’t be any more prepared because there’s still that aspect of not knowing everything that will happen all the time. We have the best training and best equipment, so we will do everything we can to safely perform our duties of saving life, limb and eyesight while in Afghanistan.”

Colonel Ruth E. Lee, deputy commander of the 28th CHS (Rear), was on hand for the day’s event and spoke highly of the members of 541st FST.

“I am confident in your abilities, your training and heritage. You are heroes, and we’re proud of you,” Lee said. “I am sure this unit is prepared and ready to go. The Soldiers standing before us are national treasures. They are the best part of the Army with the best training. They are the strength of our Army and of our nation.”