Engaging a Class Act

For those who wonder what a Fleet Surgeon without patients to see really does to earn his pay, the answer is that I engage.

As one of my persistent priorities, I develop partnerships with my medical counterparts in other militaries across the western Pacific. I recently completed a very rewarding engagement with one of our premier partners, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Much like the nation they support, this Navy and its medical team is a highly developed, sophisticated, and competent enterprise. I enjoyed a rewarding several days of ship and hospital tours, culminating in a live afloat exercise involving medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of a simulated patient off a U.S. ship onto an RSN frigate for emergency resuscitative surgery. Forward resuscitative surgery on small operational platforms is a new capability under development by both navies. Testing the concept at sea is an important step in that development.

The day began with helo transport via a Singapore Air Force Chinook to the deck of the Tank Landing Ship (LST) RSS Persistence. I joined several U.S. and RSN Flag officers in observing an operational exercise associated with the annual CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) between our two navies. Upon conclusion of that event, our medical team boarded an FCU (Fast Craft Utility) boat for the short sea transfer to the frigate RSS Steadfast where the medical exercise would take place. (The LCU resembles those landing craft featured in "Saving Private Ryan".) The conclusion of the transfer involved an engaging ascent up a road ladder hung over the side of the ship. How many civilian docs ever get to do that?

Soon the U.S. Navy HS-60B Seahawk arrived on the flight deck with simulated patient on board. The RSN medical team demonstrated superior acumen and professionalism in triaging and transporting the patient mannekin from flight deck to hangar bay to the medical centre, which is a one-room resuscitation/treatment area similar to what we have on our own smaller vessels. These treatment rooms are not designed for surgery, hence the cutting edge nature of this exercise. The RSN team executed the drill with flawless medical precision, moving from resuscitation/stabilization to "damage control" surgery with alacrity.

Thus stabilized, the simulated patient was then moved to a temporary ICU set up on the aft mess deck. Again, the medical care rendered was flawless. The lessons learned from adapting spaces not usually dedicated to emergency surgery will be great value to both our navies.

The exercise was by any definition a huge success, and I proudly posed for an after-action photo with this superb medical team.

We then boarded a RHIB (Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat) for a rapid sea transfer to another frigate, RSS Tenacious, for the voyage back to Singapore's Changi Naval Base.

From there a taxi brought me back to my hotel, where I entered my room at 0130 this morning. I was pretty tired after a long and action packed day, but grateful not only for the opportunity to be part of cutting edge operational medicine exercise, but also grateful for time spent with my warm and very engaging RSN friends.

And friendship, ladies and gentlemen, is what this job is all about.