Volume III Issue III Sick-Call at COB Basrah By SPC Melissa Ludwig The Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) is the primary medical facility on COB Basrah and made up of 20 small tents connected by one very long hallway. At the end of that hallway is Sick- Call. Sick-Call is run 6 days per week with a 2- hour session in both the morning and the afternoon. On any given day, the TMC will see anywhere from 15-30 patients. Mondays are the busiest, often treating well over 30 patients, most likely because Sunday is most Soldiers downday. 204 th Area Support Medical Company 8180 Belden Boulevard Cottage Grove, MN 55016 (651) 268-8196 Heal The Warrior! Communications Pharmacy wings of the hospital often. One of the medics is also assigned as the "Jump Medic", responsible for assisting the Evacuation (Evac) section on runs or when Evac is tasked with more than one run at a time. *The Evening shift is mainly responsible for organizing work areas and daily cleaning after the busy Day shift. *The Overnight shift is responsible for resupplying any medical equipment that was used throughout the day, cleaning and organizing some more. All shifts are responsible for Radio checks with the Naval Air Ambulance Detachment (NAADs) and the Base Defense Operation Center (BDOC) as well as any Medical Emergency on the base or transported to our location. The medics at the TMC get valuable training on the job which is some of the best experience one can get. The TMC's Pas (Physician s Assistants) are always enthusiastic about teaching the medics new skills and letting them practice those skills on each other or other soldiers, under careful supervision. Supporting Bucca by SPC Benjamin Botanel 17 October 2009 Exam Room in Basrah s TMC The medics assigned to the Troop Medical Clinic (TMC) are split into three separate shifts: *The Day shift s primary task is conducting Sick- Call. They see patients for everything; whether it is back pain, influenza, allergies or the occasional blister. They utilize the Lab, Radiology and the In addition to their normal duties working at the TMC, the 204 th Medics stationed at Bucca provide support to various operations and activities conducted on base. Any training or MWR event usually requires medics on hand just in case someone gets hurt. The medics have recently supported the Army 10-miler running race and Bucca Fight-Night, a boxing tournament.
soldiers are hurt just doing normal things than in combat, and the Army knows this. Therefore it is the goal of every service member, but in particular medics and those in leadership positions, to minimize the risks and be adequately prepared in case something goes wrong. As always, every medic stands vigilant to support and provide for their fellow soldier. 204 th Soldiers who ran the Army 10-Miler at Bucca cool down after the race The Army 10-miler is a long-standing tradition and for the event on Bucca, about 250 service members from every military branch showed up. With so many runners, four medics were tasked to provide support for the event. The medics operated two Army ambulances to help cover the base because the route took the runners all around and back and forth across the camp. Overall, the mission was a huge success. All the runners completed the ten miles and the only injuries were a few blisters on the runner s feet. Fight-Night was a 13-bout event where soldiers glove up and box with another soldier in arranged fights, going for three 2-minute rounds each bout. Obviously, there is more risk and more potential for a service member to get hurt in this type of event versus running. One ambulance and 2 medics, along with our Physician s Assistant, CPT Kedinger, were on hand to watch over the entire event. All of the boxers wore gloves and boxing helmets to prevent injuries and it was required that after each fight, the fighters talked to the PA to make sure no serious trauma was observed. It is with the support of medics that events such as these can be completed safely. Without the medic s support it is unlikely that these events would be authorized at all. The Army devotes a considerable amount of time and resources to risk assessment and safety management. More SPC Lee and PFC Pavlak supporting the Fight Night First Sergeant Comments By 1SG Andrew Pederson For the past two weeks I have had the pleasure of traveling between Basrah, Camp Bucca, Kuwait, and Baghdad. Certainly the highlight of my travels was the time I spent with our soldiers on Camp Bucca. The Bucca soldiers form what is known as a detachment, or Det in military speak, from the main company. A Det is given a separate mission by the Company Commander to manage away from company headquarters. After seeing what the 204 th Det on Camp Bucca has created, I commend them for all their efforts. They have truly taken ownership of their mission and have created something we can all be proud of. Their hard work has ensured the tenants on Camp Bucca continue to have outstanding medical care. In addition to outstanding medical care, Camp Bucca is also known for boxing. The Morale Welfare and Recreation, or MWR, staff
organize a Fight Night for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. The participants train with a coach, pair off by weight class, and step into the ring in front for hundreds of cheering fans. I had the honor to be in our own PFC Barker s corner as he squared off with his opponent during his first boxing match. I am proud to report PFC Barker won his bout in what can only be described as a brawl. Watching PFC Barker get into the ring was just one more example of our soldiers demonstrating the Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Working with such high caliber soldiers is what has kept me coming back to serve for over 20 years and, God willing, with many more to come. Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation. Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses. Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls. Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you know the cook well. Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Otherwise, stay outside. PFC Barker and 1SG Pederson accept the award for a victorious Fight Night bout FRG Comments by Teresa Evensen Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible. Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat. Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flameresistant costumes. Commander s Comments by MAJ Paul Peterson Greetings 204 th ASMC Family and Friends! I can t believe we have been in theater for 6o days already! What is important about this milestone, you ask? It means the Environmental Leave (EML) Program, better known as R & R Leave starts. This is a much anticipated event with expectations on both sides. Soldiers receive a briefing before they depart so they can identify some of the pitfalls and learn how to steer clear of them in order to have an enjoyable time at home
or wherever they decide to go. Here are some things to keep in mind: Communicate Expectations Everyone has a different idea of what they want to experience or accomplish. Share that with friends and loved ones to avoid frustration. Relax, Take it Easy The proverbial Stuff 10lbs in a 5lb bag comes to mind. Trying to do too much in a short amount of time can wear soldiers and their loved ones out. Start off Slow - It may take a day or two for separated people to warm-up to each other. Be patient and communicate your feelings. Lee: I do what I am tasked out to do, which includes a wide variety of duties ranging from normal sick call business to documentation to labwork. HTW: And what exactly do you do as assistant evening shift leader? Lee: Well, let s get one thing straight first: that s assistant TO the evening shift leader. But I make sure that the rest of the shift hears what the shift leader, SGT Nygaard, has to put out to them; and if he goes down or takes a day off, it s SPC Lee s time at the TMC. Also, I make a MEAN cup of tea (grrrs). Let it Go Don t try to change things. Just like deployed soldiers, friends and family have settled into a rhythm too. You may not agree, but it is their way of operating and one they will have to continue after the Soldiers return to theater. Stay Safe Sometimes soldiers feel safe and take unnecessary risks back in the good old US of A. Also, they have not had access to alcohol under General Order #1 so it is important to drink responsibly and definitely don t drink and drive. The main reasons for R & R Leave are to give Soldiers a change of scenery, take a break from the deployment grind, enjoy spending time doing things with people they love; go about it the right way and it will be a good experience for everyone involved. Take care, MAJ Peterson. Bucca Soldier of the Week: SPC Jayme Lee For her valiant efforts while serving as assistant to the evening shift manager at the Bucca TMC, Specialist Jayme Lee was chosen as FOB Bucca s warrior of the week. Heal the Warrior (HTW): So what are your job duties here at the TMC? HTW: What do you do on the civilian side? Lee: I m a full time mom! HTW: Well that s probably enough work for anybody to handle. What do you like to do in your free time? Lee: A wide array of outdoor activities, cooking and watching the Food Network Channel. HTW: Wow. Cooking. Food Network Channel. How does that work out for you? Lee: I would kill to be a judge on Iron Chef America. HTW: Really? Lee: Really. HTW: Are you looking to gain anything from this deployment? Lee: Yes, I plan on toning the bod, gaining plenty of medical skillz, learning how to interact with people again, and improving the foxhole here at the FOB Bucca TMC. HTW: Sounds like you re doing just fine with that. Keep up the hard work you have been doing at the TMC. It is always appreciated. Lee: Ditto.
Basrah Soldier of the Week: PFC Melanie Pundsack For her extra work running wire to the living tents to provide internet access, PFC Pundsack was chosen as this week s Warrior of the Week. HTW: So Pundsack, what are your job duties at the Tactical Operations Center (TOC)? Pundsack: I have several miscellaneous tasks, such as running wire through the TMC to provide internet for MC4 systems. I also run wire to allow the phones to operate. I clean the TOC daily, run SPAWARE, and currently I am running wire into our personal living space to allow soldiers to access internet. I would also consider myself the assistant mail handler, because I assist SGT Lubben most days going to pick up the mail. HTW: Sounds like you ve been busy! Does anyone else help you with this? Pundsack: Mostly SPC Lu, because he is also Commo, but PFC Buetow has also been very helpful with all of our assigned tasks. HTW: What do you enjoy most about your job here? Pundsack: The thing I enjoy the most would be the silly conversations SPC Lu and I have while we are tasked out. HTW: What do you miss most about being away from home? Pundsack: Honestly, I miss my dog Mandy the most and my job as a Direct Support Professional (which is assisting adults that are mentally and physically disabled with their everyday lives). HTW: Do you stay connected with your consumers? Pundsack: Yes, I write them letters and they usually draw pictures in return. Recently I just sent my consumers a big teddy bear. HTW: Are you looking to gain anything from this deployment? Pundsack: Yes, I think every person will gain a lot from this deployment. I personally have/will become more mature, make life time friends, learn a lot about a foreign culture and respectively save money. HTW: Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. Keep up the hard work you have been doing at the TOC. It s very much appreciated. HTW: Sounds interesting.so what do you do here at Camp Basrah on your free time? Pundsack: Almost every night I sit in SPC Nelson s room after a long workout and then chit chat with the girls.