Summer - United States Special Operations Command

Peter J. Benson, MDCOL, USACommand SurgeonThe summer always brings personnel changes tothe medical community, and Fort Bragg is no exception.I have left the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne),Command Surgeon position in the able hands ofLTC Andrew (Drew) Landers, formerly the 7th SpecialForces Group Surgeon. I have replaced COL Tom Dealas the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (US-ASOC), Command Surgeon. This was a somewhat precipitousmove, but hopefully all the pieces will fall intoplace as we proceed about the business of supporting theCommand and subordinate units in the provision ofHealth Service Support (HSS). I want to thank all themedical providers in the Special Forces Regiment fortheir support and input as the Special Forces CommandSurgeon’s Office was established and found its way. Ihave every confidence that LTC Landers will do an outstandingjob in continuing to build the office and supportingthe Regiment as the Surgeon’s Office matures.As the new USASOC Command Surgeon, I feelprivileged to be chosen to follow such august gentlemenas COL Farr, COL Diamond, and COL Deal. I hope tovalidate the trust and confidence of the Command in havingbeen chosen. The Surgeon’s Office will continue tobe the advocate for providing the right personnel, equipment,and training to medically enable the force. I planto take a look at some new, as well as some old, initiativesthat will have long-range effects on the medical partof the force. This includes the creation of an organic US-ASOC organic Forward Surgical Resuscitative Element(FSRE) capability, an Female Treatment Team capability,strategies for critical care CASEVAC, an advanced clinicaltraining course for Special Forces Medical Sergeants,the establishment of additional medical Modified Table ofOrganization & Equipment (MTOE) positions in the 4thPSYOP Group, among others. Another initiative for US-ASOC has been the recent approval for selected specialstaff officers to attend the 18A Special Forces QualificationCourse. This program, recently approved by MGCsrnko, the Commanding General of the John F. KennedySpecial Warfare Center and School, will once again allowselected medical corps and medical specialist corps officersthe opportunity to become Special Forces qualified.Although not granted the 18A MOS, this will provide asolid core of foreign internal defense (FID) and unconventionalwarfare (UW) trained providers to be the advocatesfor HSS as it relates to Special Forces Operations.This pilot program will fix a 16-year hiatus in training SFqualified medical officers.I would like to commend all the providers at alllevels within USASOC for doing their very best to providethe best medical support possible to their units. Asforces prepare to conduct the ongoing operations of theNation’s persisting engagement, I encourage all to remaindiligent and steadfast in their roles as providers. Continueto maintain your skills and equipment, train your peers andsubordinates and remain one step ahead of the threat.Component Surgeon 87