HONOLULU - Members of the 1984th United States Army Hospital (USAH), Army Reserve ,Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), Honolulu, Hawaii, Detachment 1 (DET) , Anchorage, Alaska, DET 2, Fairbanks, Alaska, and the 119th Medical Group (MDG), Air National Guard (ANG), North Dakota, conducted overseas Annual Training at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), Schofield Barracks Health Clinic (SBHC), and Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) March 7-20, 2015.
A combined 200 Airmen and Reserve Soldiers were assigned to a total of 26 different clinical and support departments executing critical administrative and clinical functions.
The 119th Wing Airmen also provided additional services for Security Forces and Air Field Management at JBPHH.
According to Lt. Col. Derek Morton, Pacific Regional Medical Command (PRMC), Chief of Reserve Affairs, "The 1984th USAH and 119th MDG both were a great asset backfilling TAMC while Soldiers attended Operation Key Resolve. The intent of the Reserve Component (RC) backfilling during Key Resolve is to duplicate a realistic mobilization process within PRMC. Mobilizing from home station, provide continued quality care and ancillary services when TAMC Soldiers are deployed forward is essential to the RC mission. Most notable is that the mission was accomplished by Joint Services."
Sgt. Jeanne Aglugubdomingo, Health Care Specialist, 1984th USAH, Acute Care Clinic (ACC) at Schofield Barracks stated, "I have had a lot of hands on training here which has really enhanced my clinical skill set. The staff here has been tremendous by providing additional training to help enhance our techniques and show us everything that they know when we have free moments between patient care."
Marlene Oliveros, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Civilian employee of ACC at Schofield Barracks shared with us, "Having the Reserve and Airmen here has been such a great asset to our clinic. It has improved our patient flow having the extra clinical personnel here with us, we can't wait to have everyone back again if the opportunity will allow for it."
Capt. Dellas Herbel, Chaplain, and Tech. Sgt. David Permann, Chaplain Assistant, 119th Wing Staff, expressed, "We have worked closely with Chaplain, Maj. Gale Cotton at TAMC and it has been such a great opportunity. We were able to provide services to the post/pre-operation and surgical wing patients. Air Force Chaplains are very rare so this was a very unique and special experience having the opportunity to provide services to the different branches of service. We are planning to stay in touch with Chaplain Cotton and implement ideas we learned from the Bible study services here. It is our hope we can conduct future annual training here at TAMC."
Pvt. Joshua Evans, Patient Administration Specialist, 1984th USAH, Medical Records at Schofield Barracks stated, "Being here has actually taught me more about my job than the basics we learn in school. The staff is always showing me something new which is really great. I have been able to help alleviate the load in their department with an extra set of hands."
Lt. Col. Lynette Schmidt, Chief Nurse, 119th MDG, Internal Medicine at TAMC mentions, "The staff here has been awesome and very informative. I have been able to conduct routine direct patient care but also help assist in some procedures. I was able to help and fill their vacant position of nurse case manager which was very helpful to both the patients and providers."
An approximate total of 8,151 patient encounters were conducted by Reserve and Airmen personnel during this successful annual training operation.
Spc. Megan Burr, Health Care Specialist, 1984th USAH, 8th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) Soldier's Home Clinic stated, "I really enjoy the change of pace here, it's much different than my civilian job. I've been able to do throat cultures, wrap ankles, and conduct range of motion with my patients. Integrating with the active duty has been a great experience. I have been able to answer a lot of their questions they have had of me about being a Reservist and share the clinical knowledge I have from civilian job which they found helpful."
A few of the Airmen working in the emergency room were able to share some of their experience.
"It has been pretty exciting working in the emergency room. We have been able to learn about code processes and different procedures we haven't worked with before," stated Master Sgt. Sara Hagenbeck, Medical Technician, 119th MDG.
The combined military and civilian experiences made an exceptional positive impact to patient care overall.
As the 119th MDG finished their last day of work and prepared for their travels back to the mainland, the mission wasn't quite over for the 1984th USAH.
For their third and final week in Hawaii they conducted field training exercises (FTX), which included a four-mile ruck march, leadership reaction course (LRC), and land navigation with classroom and outdoor instruction.
Sgt. 1st Class Edmund Thompson, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the 1984th USAH Annual Training Operation stated, "Training opportunities to enhance Basic Soldiering skills is always a very important piece for Leadership. Today's Army has a Soldier First mentality that we like to live, not to mention different field training builds teams, comradery, and esprit de corp."
Overall, members of the 1984th USAH and 119th MDG say that their experience has been a privilege to conduct annual training at TAMC.
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