LIVE E-Club Chat Tonight 2100-2300 EST

You can chat with us live in our scuttlebutt forums tonight from 2100-2300 EST.

We usually have Navy Recruiters, as well as NHCS instructors and Vets of all specialties in house to answer your questions..

So Visit us tonight!!

Remember you have to have joined our Scuttlebutt Forums which are free, and then hit the E-Club Chat button in the Forums.. you will be whisked away to military nirvana..

D/C

Tina Fey for Vice-President..

AWESOME!! From SNL 28 Sep 2008

Hospital Ship Returns From Four-Month Humanitarian Deployment

From Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy returned to San Diego Sept. 25 after completing Pacific Partnership, a four-month humanitarian, civic assistance and theater security cooperation mission, conducted with countries from the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Throughout the 2008 Pacific Partnership mission, Mercy served as an enabling platform for military and nongovernmental organizations to coordinate and carry out relationship-building work in the Republic of the Philippines, Vietnam, the Federated States of Micronesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

“[We] worked hand-in-hand because the people in the areas where we are doing these procedures usually don’t have access to either of these kinds of services,” said Pheonix native Cdr. Rosemarie Tan, a physician aboard Mercy. “We try our best to support these people, who typically can’t afford treatment otherwise.”

During this year’s mission more than 90,000 patients were treated by the medical teams from Mercy. Among those treated were more than 14,000 dental patients and more than 1,300 surgery patients in various locations throughout the Western Pacific.

“With thousands of people who benefitted from the mission, it’s humbling to think that only 67 civilian mariners drove the ship,” said Mercy’s civil service master, Capt. Robert Wiley. “While Mercy’s focus was primarily medical, the mission wouldn’t have been possible without the civil service mariners getting the ship were it needed to go.”

The civil service mariners embarked for the deployment were responsible for Mercy’s navigation, propulsion and engineering services. Because of Mercy’s size, she wasn’t able to pull pierside in any of the countries, so civil service mariners also operated two 33-foot utility boats that were used to ferry patients and mission personnel between ship and shore.

“The mariners were the first that patients saw and the last when they departed,” said Navy Capt. Jim Rice, Mercy’s embarked Military Treatment Facility commander. “They left a lasting impression.”

In addition to running the ship and transporting patients, Mercy’s civil service mariners contributed to Pacific Partnership’s community outreach. They assisted Navy Seabees with engineering projects that improved life for people in the host countries. The projects ranged from repairing plumbing, playground equipment and lighting in a local school and health clinic in Vietnam to fixing air conditioning in a hospital in Papua New Guinea.

“Throughout Pacific Partnership, the professionalism of Mercy’s civilian mariners and the support of Military Sealift Command were vital to the success of the mission,” said Navy Capt. William Kearns, Pacific Partnership mission commander.

The Paficic Partnership mission had a positive effect not only for the local population but also for the multi-agency team embarked aboard Mercy.

“It feels really good because you don’t realize how much you’re helping them until you’re actually out there,” said San Antonio, Texas native Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Manuel Mireles. “Once you see the people and all their problems, the impact of what we’re doing really hits home.”

Mercy’s Military Treatment Facility included personnel from public health/preventive medicine; U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force medicine; and U.S. Public Health Service. Nongovernmental organizations also embarked to provide medical support throughout the mission.

Mercy is one of two U.S. Navy hospital ships owned and operated by MSC. In 2007, Mercy’s sister ship USNS Comfort deployed on a similar four-month humanitarian mission that treated more than 98,000 people in 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces, conduct specialized missions and replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea.

Suicide Prevention: No Soldier Stands Alone

Sep 05, 2008
BY By Heather Graham

At Fort Hood and Armywide, some Soldiers are waging a war outside of the theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan. These Soldiers are battling depression, stress, medical and relationship problems, all of which are the leading causes of suicide.

It is a battle Soldiers do not have to lose because there is a force ready to help in the form of unit command, social workers, medical and psychological professionals, helping agencies and — likely the first line of defense - the Soldier’s own battle buddies.

That’s the concept behind the Army’s Suicide Prevention Week’s theme this year “Shoulder-to-Shoulder - no Soldier stands alone.” Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 7-13 and the theme conveys the idea that Soldiers are stronger together, especially when times are tough.

Soldiers relate best to those with shared experiences and battle buddies count on each other in combat as well as in garrison. Recurrent deployments, stress increases, prolonged periods of separation and horrific conditions in theater are difficult to explain to Family members and civilian friends.

For that reason, Soldiers continue to lean on and expect help from their peers. To be prepared to help, Soldiers and leaders need to recognize depression and know risk factors and warning signs of suicide.

“Be cognizant of what’s going on with your battle buddy,” Lt. Col. Ben Phillips, chief, Behavioral Health at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, said. “They’re counting on us. We can’t just wash it under the table.” Phillips urges Soldiers to listen to each other and pay attention to any red flags or disturbing trends, but cautions that professionals should perform treatment.

“Realize you’re not a mental health expert,” Phillips said. He suggested Soldiers “lend a soft ear,” and then escort the depressed Soldier for treatment. “Ensure they’re safe. Safety is the primary key,” he said.

“Do not leave them alone.” Since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, the Army has lost the equivalent of an entire battalion task force, more than 580 Soldiers, according to Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth Preston.

Suicide is the fourth leading manner of death for Soldiers, behind hostile fire, accidents and illness, Preston stated in the Army Suicide Prevention Program guide. The Army has seen a recent increase in suicides.

In 2007, there was a 21 percent increase over the previous year and, although 2008 figures are not complete, it appears the trend is continuing. Soldiers operate in austere conditions and must perform tasks and see things no one ever should. They shoulder the hopes, expectations and freedoms of all Americans and others around the world.

They are warriors who volunteer to do what others cannot. With all they can and do handle, Soldiers sometimes find themselves experiencing relationship problems, depression, severe, prolonged,or perceived unmanageable stress, serious medical problems and significant loss.

“We all feel anxious and overwhelmed from time-to-time,” Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, III Corps and Fort Hood commander said in his Aug. 7 (Fort Hood Sentinel) column. “However, suicide and suicidal behavior is never a normal response to stress. If you are suicidal or think someone you know is suicidal, help is available.”

From chaplains to medical services and hotlines and Web sites, resources and services are available to help. Seeking help is no longer as taboo or stigmatized as it was in the past. As the war continues, the stigma attached to depression is removed, Phillips said.

“Soldiers are seeing their buddies seek and receive treatment,” Phillips said. In most cases, confidentiality is so high the Soldier’s command is not even notified a Soldier sought mental health help. “Typically, the Soldier’s command is not notified, unless there is a safety or deployment issue,” Phillips said.

For Soldiers who choose not to talk to friends or prefer another avenue of one-on-one help, battalion chaplains are another venue for assistance and guidance. “We’re reaching out,” Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Marvin Luckie, chief, Department of Ministry and Pastoral Care at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, said.

Luckie knows the stresses faced by Soldiers and said a chaplain can act as a sounding board in a non-threatening way. Armed with educational materials, resources and experience, chaplains can offer advice, direction or simply an understanding ear.

The discussions do not have to be denominational or even spiritual. Luckie said recurrent deployments and, for new Soldiers, adjusting to Army life can be trying experiences for anyone. Like everyone else, Soldiers sometimes need a break. “(Soldiers) too need to be recharged,” Luckie said.

Fort Hood has an active Behavioral Health Department at CRDAMC to help Soldiers recharge and manage depression. The good news is Soldiers are seeking help. Phillips said his department sees a lot of walk-ins and referrals. The medical center offers in-patient and out-patient mental health services to Soldiers.

Currently, there are eight beds in the in-patient unit, but Phillips said that number is expected to increase to 12 beds in November. In addition, the Resilience and Restoration Center provides outpatient mental health services to Soldiers.

Warrior Combat Stress Reset Program, a two-week intensive outpatient program that was developed at Fort Hood, uses various intensive therapies and operates on a continuous cycle providing mental health care for eight to ten Soldiers.

Soldiers in the program are assigned to that program for the two-week period. Hotlines and Web sites are available as well and many use Military One Source to gain immediate access to counseling.

The key is that Soldiers are able to talk when they need to, Phillips said. Whatever the method, Soldiers experiencing risk factors for suicide need immediate help. It is not a battle anyone needs to fight alone because there is an Army standing shoulder-to-shoulder to help.

Medics Receive Battlemind Training to Help Fellow Soldiers

by Hannah M. Hayner
Fort Drum Blizzard Staff Writer

Hundreds of Fort Drum Soldiers received training last week on one aspect of war that does not always take precedence: the battle of the mind.

Retired 1st Sgt. Michael Rinehart, training specialist from the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, came from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to offer Battlemind Warrior Resiliency Training. The training was integrated into the advanced individual training for health care specialists and AMEDD Officer Basic Leader Course / Basic Officer Leader Course curriculum in July, and a mobile training team teaches it to Soldiers throughout the Army.

Rinehart offered two-hour courses for those certified in combat life saving and four-hour courses for medics, to teach them how to help themselves and others when they are dealing with stresses of military life. The medics’ portion was a “train the trainer” segment, to give them valuable information to take back and teach fellow medics and others.

“Warriors go to other warriors—someone they trust—when they have a problem, and you need to know how to deal with it,” Rinehart told Soldiers Friday. “And for some of you, they are already coming to you.”

Rinehart talked about how some people are more able to cope than others, and even mild stressors can set people off.

“You can get (stress) from standing in line at Wal-Mart,” he said.

He told participants they should make it their responsibility to help fellow Soldiers be mentally prepared for combat or other military deployments.

“You can’t keep sending bodies where you haven’t trained their minds to go. If you send them before their minds are ready, there’s a price and you’re going to pay it. Treat them now, or you’ll treat them later,” Rinehart said. “Preparing yourself and your Family is extremely important, too.

“Medics, especially, do everything they can for others—stay up late for their Soldiers, take care of their Soldiers—but they don’t take care of themselves,” he added. “Don’t forget about the ones who don’t necessarily have battle buddies looking out for them, like the commander and the doc.”

Rinehart also talked about those who already are suffering effects of deployments.

“The warriors need to understand that their thoughts and emotions are common, they’re fine, they’re predictable,” he said. “We need to help diminish the stigma and barriers to seeking behavioral health care if people know they’re struggling. Some people don’t go because they think others will look down on them, think they’re incompetent or crazy or weak, but they need to know that what they’re going through is normal.”

Rinehart said it is important for Soldiers to find a way to tell their Families what they have been through.

“It’s important to be able to redevelop the same cohesive bonds that you developed with your fellow warriors with the people who should be the most important in your life—your Family,” he said. “You have to be able to discuss your experiences in a way you’re comfortable telling it, and above all, you have a right to be proud of your service.”

Rinehart added that medics should take it seriously that some Soldiers really need help.

“You should ensure early identification of an at-risk warrior,” he said. “You’re no longer the medic friend, you’re the medic authority. If you know someone who’s acting like they’re still downrange, but they’re sitting at home, there’s a problem.”

He talked about the TAIL light effect. Warriors need help getting help, and this acronym gives some pointers.

T: Tell them you are concerned; listen to their story without getting in the way, and then tell them what you are seeing and hearing so they can hear it back.

A: All are impacted by war, and it could be any Soldier, so watch out for each other during deployment and at home.

I: Insist they see someone, and have names and numbers of resources available, like a chaplain or behavioral health professionals. Explain that you have been taught enough to know when to be worried, but not enough to treat them. Remind them they would do the same for you, as a good battle buddy.

L: Look for ways to help, whether it is offering to go with them, make the phone call for them, drive them, get directions for them. Check back with them often, letting them know you are there to help and that you are not going to let this drop.

Another thing Rinehart emphasized is how medics deal with the death of a Soldier.

“You can’t think you’re not worthy to do your job because a Soldier died,” he said. “People die when you do everything right. You have to be genuine about that and honest with yourself and others.”

MAJ Matthew Barry, chief of psychiatric services, Behavioral Health, USA MEDDAC, facilitated bringing the training to Fort Drum, because he sees people all the time who suffer from common stress and emotional issues stemming from the high operational tempo here.

“We want people to know that it is most common for Soldiers to turn to their peers, but here is what to do if it is over your head,” Barry said. “We need to break down the stigma that holds people back from getting help. No one is being held back from promotion—there is no adverse effect to getting help.

“The good news is, what they are going through is completely treatable,” he added. “People feel like they can’t be helped, but if they get the right treatment and stay away from avoidance techniques, like drinking and drugging, it is treatable.”

Soldier’s welcome

This was from “Redding.com”

By Tim Hearden Tehama Today
Sunday, September 28, 2008
A wounded Iraq war veteran stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., Army Sgt. Lalena Heathington-Adams knows what it’s like not to have much of a homecoming.

With her family living across the country, the former Red Bluff resident didn’t know anyone when she got off the plane from her deployment overseas.

“You get off the airplane and they put you in an airport hangar, and there are a lot of ‘Welcome Home’ banners up and there are news crews,” Heathington-Adams said.

While some soldiers are greeting their families in front of the cameras, “the rest of us are standing against the wall feeling saddened by the fact that we don’t have the same homecoming,” she said. “Some of the soldiers don’t have families at all. Everybody enters the Army for different reasons.”

So Heathington-Adams decided to help. She’s started putting together care packages for troops set to return to her Army post in the coming months, and she’d like to someday expand her effort to other bases.

“When I came home, that’s when I realized I wanted to do something,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what it is I could do. At that time, my husband (Erik Adams) and I were flip-flopping tours. He would be in Iraq and I’d be back.”

Heathington-Adams was known as Lalena Ellis when she was growing up in Red Bluff, attending Mercy High School and later Red Bluff High School before graduating from Santa Rosa High School.

Her grandparents are Bill and Gayle Kemp, owner of Gayle’s Tuxedo Rentals and Casual Clothes on Main Street.

Heathington-Adams entered the Army when she was 19, nearly 10 years ago, and became an operating room technician.

“My job is to assist the surgeon during the surgery,” she said. “It’s basically instead of two hands, you now have four.”

After being stationed in Missouri, Texas and later Germany, Heathington-Adams first went to Iraq in 2004. She was assigned to the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Tallil, an airbase southeast of Baghdad, in the middle of the desert.

She was later transferred to Baghdad, where her unit was followed by an HBO crew that was shooting a special titled “Baghdad ER.”

“It showed a really genuine feel of Army medicine,” Heathington-Adams said, “and the compassion behind the soldiers and patients, how we’re treating the patients and how personal and moving it is.”

In Baghdad, Heathington-Adams developed a seizure disorder, as have other soldiers stationed there, and “there’s no definitive answer how it developed,” she said. Within 15 days, she and her husband found out they were expecting a child, and she kept having the seizures through the duration of the pregnancy.

“He was very premature,” she said of her son. “He was born on the first day of the seventh month and remained in ICU for two to three weeks, and since then he has been fine. He’s been a healthy baby boy.”

Heathington-Adams is on medications and has been seizure-free for nine months. But the disease will prevent her from returning to overseas duty, and she’s studying for degrees in global studies and journalistic photography.

In the meantime, she’s started the Warrior Transition Act, a nonprofit organization that puts together gift baskets full of small merchandise donated by local businesses and parents of soldiers.

She started by filling some stockings with movies, recordings of “Saturday Night Live” and other things that “guys would like” and sent them to 50 soldiers in her husband’s platoon in Iraq. In each of them, she put a handwritten thank-you note.

“That’s what I could do personally with my own money,” she said. “But then, becoming a disabled veteran cuts your income in half.”

Then she thought of doing something bigger. So she’s planning to put together gift baskets for as many as 25,000 soldiers who will be returning home in the coming months.

“A lot of the things are positive things to do, like movie passes,” she said. “Some baskets are more family-oriented. … So far, I’ve gathered roughly $3,000 in merchandise. It’s just me right now, and I’m trying to help as many as I can.”

Heathington-Adams would like people in her hometown to help. The easiest things to send would be gift cards to places like Target, Wal-Mart or a fast-food restaurant, she said. A T-shirt, hat or even a thank-you letter would also help, she said.

“I would like to help as many soldiers as possible,” Heathington-Adams said. “I think they all deserve as much as the next soldier, so I think it should be equalized. At this point, I’m just one person.”

Reporter Tim Hearden can be reached at 529-5110 or at thearden@redding.com.

The Business State of Corpsman.com, Hosts, IPhones –Oh My…

Folks ask me almost daily how we run Corpsman.com.

Today I wanted to enlighten you all to the business of our site and how it works.

To start, our site / family is run not only by myself, but several others who spend their valuable time helping shape / build Corpsman.com as well.

Da-Chief, Da-Anchorman

First the owner of the site is me, Da-Chief Crone a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer with 24 year of service to our Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army team.  My Specialty was Aviation Medicine as well as I was a FTS/TAR Corpsman who took care of the Reserves. (Those are the services I have directly worked with during my 24 years.)

CrazyCajun, A Real Sailor

CrazyCajun, a Navy Chief petty Officer who is still serving with the Marine Corps with over 24 years of total service as well in the Navy, He has a diverse background in that he has served on Shore stations, Ships, as well as the Marine Corps.. His Specialty is “Bug Chasing” (He’s a PMT).

8404

8404, A Doc’s Dad as well as a Marine for life. 8404 served in the Marine Corps way back in the day, as well as the Guard for the reserves.  8404, came to our site to learn about the Corpsman program for his son to assist him with some decisions, and in the process was recruited (actually we kidnapped him) to help with our forums.  He has since made contacts through all the Military services, as well as becoming a specialist in the Navy Corpsman program.  Tony is in essence our “CAPT STEUBING” in charge of the shuffleboard tournaments on our site.  I “KID”, 8404 is the guy who keeps our forums running and has created several FAQ’s for those thinking about joining the service as a Doc.

DeeDee our editor Wear's her team on her sleeve!

DeeDee, a Doc’s mom, and editor of our newsletter “Scuttlebutt News”, and Moderator of our Tuesday night Chats in our Scuttlebutt forums, Coordinator of “Adopt a Doc” which has essentially turned out to be “ADOPT A SERVICE MEMBER” program here at Corpsman.com.  Dee is contastanly helping us out daily on our site.  She was one of the first volunteers who did volunteer and has walked the walk.

0311_Doc Somewhere in the world.. "Where's 0311???"

0311_Doc, Training P.O.. Always looking for schols and opportunities for Doc’s in all services, when he is not activated and doing time supporting our Navy and Marine Corps Team!

PegasusHM

PegasusHM, Is a Acitve Chief Petty Officer assigned to Naval Hospital Corps School and is our subject matter expert on all things NHCS.  He will be interviewed this next Wednesday night and you will be able to ask questions of him Wednesday night @ 2100 EST in our Talkshoe Room / Corpsman.com Live

8404, DeeDee, and 0311_Doc are all Co-hosts with me on our “Attack of Da-Chief”

All of us are in constant connection via our “IPhones, SMS, Twitter, Email” etc.. 24 hours a day.. I now since I got my IPhone am in constant contact with our team as well as our site.  I have a plug-in that actually lets me post to our site on Corpsman.com while on the fly anywhere anytime. (Best purchase I have ever made..)

As I alluded to last week on the Episode 37 of Attack of Da-Chief (Listen to be informed!), there is a new upgrade to our front end coming down the pike.  We are now in “ALPHA” testing, but we will give you fair warning when we go live.  I believe  you will like the new changes as it will make it easier for you to navigate and search for info on our site.

I am going to do this type of post every Saturday AM (As long as my kids don’t have me hog-tied) on updates to Corpsman.com.

I hope you join our team, not only here but in our forums as well!!

POW will be posted on Sunday Night for next week, stay tuned!

Da-Chief

Oregon hospital tells grandpa he’s pregnant

Oregon hospital tells grandpa he’s pregnant

Computer error caused staff to give 71-year-old man the happy news

(At least it’s not a Naval Hospital!!

PORTLAND, Ore. - A patient treated for agonizing abdominal pain received this surprising news in the hospital’s paperwork: “Based on your visit today, we know you are pregnant.”

Surprising indeed for 71-year-old John Grady Pippen.

The staff at Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach gave the retired mechanic and logger the ridiculously happy news this month, along with some pain pills.

Hospital administrator William McMillan says an errant keystroke caused the hospital’s computer to spit out the wrong discharge instructions for the grandfather.

NEW “Attack of Da-Chief” #37 Cleaned mix

Attack of Da-Chief Episode #37 final is now up.  You can download it here: “AOTC #37″

We answered a phone call with questions about the new/old Reserve “Non-Prior Service” program and what it means with the name change.

You can download the show notes (Doc file Word 2003 and older) Here: “AOTC” Show notes #37

Enjoy!

Da-Chief

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

ATACK OF DA-CHIEF!! Live tonight!! 2110-2310 EST!!

TONIGHT!

LIVE!!

Da-Da-Dahhhhh….

I your “OUTSTANDING NAVY CHIEF HOST” will be broadcasting live in our Corpsman.com HQ bringing you all the “Enlisted DOC NEWS” you need to know!!

Heck, I’ll even let you call in!! Go to our Talkshoe page sign up for a free account and you can call into our show..
Corpsman.com Talkshoe Central Nervous System– “HQ”

Or you can listen live at Corpsman.com/live

Hope to see you tonight!!

Da-Chief

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