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Expeditionary Medical Force Portsmouth
Boots on Ground
By LCDR Christina Jamieson, NC, USN
Expeditionary Medical Facility Porstmouth Wave 1 and 2 is fare welled by Commanding Officer and
Command Master Chief of NMCP and wished a safe deployment and return.
Jetlagged and exhausted, it was February 25, 2006 , when we finally arrived! This marked the first day of a 180 day deployment for the incoming 18 personnel of the Expeditionary Medical Facility, Kuwait from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. We consist of a core group of doctors, nurses, corpsmen, supply, administration and communication staff that are here to send home Wave 1 from NMCP who arrived last August and are ready to see their families again.
(click on photos to enlarge)
Three female hospital corpsmen
from Portsmouth pose together
showing their comrodority
for one another.
Some people are having way
to much fun during this 20th
airtime hour.
The new EMF Kuwait's
official mascot.
The hospital command welcomed us whole heartedly as we stepped off the plane at 0400 and after some in processing we were led to large tents filled with bunk beds for berthing, given a brief camp overview, and more importantly a very BIG SMILES. Our left seat counterparts have worked hard and efficiently in the past 6 months providing excellent Navy medical care to thousands of troops, sailors, coalition forces, and local nationals. Our arrival officially marked the first of a 12 day count down for the first wave and the first of a 31 day count-down for the second wave TMC personnel returning home to their families.
EMF NMCP gear. Something
appears to be out of place.
Navy corpsman from NMCP
volunteers to have his
225 pound body used
for litter bearing training.
Any volunteers?
Freezing our buns off in the
early morning muster at FHOTC.
These past few weeks have been spent adjusting and orienting to this climate, sandy environment, Army policies and procedures, and, oh yes, combat showers. There will several upcoming changes that we will be challenged to make happen and opportunities that many of us will experience for the first time. Seimper Fi seems to be the most popular phrase around here and we will soon know it well.
NMCP's EMF outgoing and
incoming officers at one of the
outlying Troop Medical Clinics.
Getting patients in and out
of the Army's FLAs.
Petty Officer Third class from
Dental takes out some quiet
time while awaiting transportation.
We have big boots to fill! There is a lot to be said about the EMF personnel already here who have not only established an outstanding working relationship with the United States Army and Army National Guard that our hospital command has so diligently worked at to promote and support the Army's mission. We too are beginning to build our own relationships with the permanent party here whether it is when we are caring for these soldiers at the hospital or at one of the scattered Troop Medical Clinics or just coming together at any of the MWR facilities or functions. These will be friendships that we will carry on when we depart Kuwait .
Navy physician from Portsmouth
checks out the softness of his
mattress, I mean cot. The Navy
officer in the back appears to be
having second thoughts.
Female nurse core officer
from Portsmouth at FHOTC
in Camp Pendleton training
on weapons.
Petty Officer First Class
corpsman prepares to
coordinate a patient from
a helo to the hospital
during this training exercise.We are proud to be here to serve our sailors, soldiers, and allies. We represent the first and finest of Navy medicine and as ambassadors of our great nation, United States of America . We patiently wait for our Wave 2 sailors to come onboard next week, when we too will give them a whole heartedly welcome hug and help get them settled into their new home.
Corpsmen practicing inserting
IVs into each other in the
Trauma bay area.
Some of the EMF Portsmouth
detachment trying on their
personal protective equipment.
More to follow…..
LCDR Christina Jamieson, NC, USN
Last Updated: 16-Mar-2006
