This is also my second time being attached to the USNS COMFORT. I was previously attached from 2001 to 2004 as FOS (Full Operating Status personnel) while I was stationed at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. I did an underway to the Baltic and another to the Persian Gulf when we started the Iraq War. I worked on the wards for the first trip and CASREC on the second.
Now, I am permanently stationed onboard as ROS (Reserve Operating Status). We have a crew of approximately 60 people in ROS status. Surgical Services consists of Anesthesia, CASREC, CSR (Central Sterile Receiving), Dental, Eye Clinic, MOR (Main Operating Room), PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) and PT (Physical Therapy). We spent the last several months getting ready for Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11).
CP11 is a 6-month mission where we will be visiting a variety of countries in the Caribbean basin, Central America, and the northern portion of South America. Each visit will be tailored to meet the specific needs of that Partner Nation. We will provide medical, dental, and veterinary care. There will also be time for community relations projects and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges. We will have close to 1000 personnel onboard, consisting of Navy, Air Force, Army, and NGO Non-Government Organization.
I will try and update the blog at least weekly but it will also depend on internet availability. So, off the ship and the start of my next adventure...
