Brig. Gen. Sargent talks about the direction of the RHC-P

By Master Sgt. Anthony Elliott, (RHC-P)March 2, 2016

Brig Gen. Sargent meets with his Hawaii based staff
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), took the opportunity on Feb. 29, 2016 to host a Town Hall event for the RHC-P Headquarters (HQ) staff located in Honolulu. Sargent held a similar event in Januar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Gen. Sargent shares his vision with staff
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Brig. Gen. Sargent fields questions from his staff
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), listened to a question from a staff member during a Town Hall event held for the RHC-P Headquarters (HQ) staff located in Honolulu, on Feb. 29, 2016, to discuss ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HONOLULU -- Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), took the opportunity on Feb. 29, 2016 to host a Town Hall event for the RHC-P Headquarters (HQ) staff located here.

Sargent held a similar event in January for the RHC-P HQ staff located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington.

Given the many changes that have resulted from the U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) enterprise-wide reorganization, Sargent felt it necessary to discuss those changes, and more, with his staff; allowing them to ask questions about how the RHC-P will continue to develop over the next 18 months, until the reorganization reaches its full operational capability (FOC) status.

Sargent began the event by thanking the staff for all of the hard work they have put forth over the past six months, during which time the region saw the addition of U.S. Army Public Health Command-Pacific, U.S. Army Dental Command-Pacific, Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC), Bassett Army Community Hospital (BACH), and the Presidio at Monterey U.S. Army Health Clinic to the RHC-P's family of commands and Health Readiness Platforms (HRP), along with the HQ evolving into a split-HQ staff between here and JBLM.

Along with these additions, RHC-P has also seen an increase Global Health Engagements, a concept that Sargent and his team have spearheaded in order to use Army Medicine's knowledge and capabilities to strengthen relationships across the Indo-Asian-Pacific region.

"The United States government has seven treaties; of those seven, five are with countries from right here in the Pacific" said Sargent, "so for us as a medical community, it is important that we be look at as pivotal players in building diplomacy."

The staff's questions ranged from future staffing projections, command dynamic with the addition of the Deputy Commanding Officer (projected to become Deputy Commanding General) at JBLM, the syncing of the RHC-P enterprise across an even larger region, and the development of the RHC-P as a Medical Theater Enabling Command (TEC) in support of the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) mission.

In regards to syncing the RHC-P enterprise Sargent said, "If we have a distinguished visitor enter a facility in Korea or Japan or Hawaii or JBLM there is a strategic aspect that we shouldn't miss in conveying; they should see and hear the same thing throughout the region", he added "we do this so that when they leave, there is no doubt in their mind that on behalf of Lt. Gen (Nadja) West [U.S. Army Surgeon General (TSG)] and Gen. (Vincent) Brooks [commanding general, USARPAC] the Soldiers and families across this region are being properly care for."

In regards to the Medical TEC, Sargent enlightened the audience on yet another initiative that the RHC-P is leading Army Medicine in.

The Medical TEC concept, which is pending final approval from the TSG, is an approach which will blur the lines of between Table of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) and Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) medical units, when it comes to medical capabilities and doctrine across the Pacific.

This would give Sargent, who also serves as the USARPAC Surgeon, the ability to assist with all things Army Medicine across the region and give Brooks a single point of accountability for healthcare, regardless of the environment in which it is given.

"This doesn't mean that USARPAC will be managing the HRPs within the region, those will still belong to Army Medicine, and I will have no formal control over the FORSCOM medical units under Gen. Brooks' command" Sargent said, "but what it does mean is that I will have the ability to use RHC-P's expertise and intellectual capital to provide technical oversight in support of those FORSCOM organizations."

As the town hall neared its end Sargent brought up the topic of sexual assault and how he is saddened with each case that he is briefed on and must to report to the TSG.

"Less than one percent of the population serves in the military and of all the sexual assaults that occur in the Army, most are committed by our own people…this elite group of people." said Sargent "I am trying to figure out how this can continue to be."

Sargent went on to re-enforce fact that everyone needs to take a stand against sexual assault and to remain committed to doing the right thing by taking a stand and reporting violations.

He also stressed that the senior leaders of the RHC-P must do everything possible to ensure that each and every member of the organization must feel safe in their workplace and living environments.

Sargent ended the town hall with, "We've been changing and evolving every day since I entered this organization, we will be ready to do so much more as we get even closer to FOC…I want to thank each of you for the professional approach that you take towards doing your jobs; I want you all to know that I will continue to advocate for the resources that you need in order to better support our beneficiaries and to have an impact in terms of a strategic aspect across this region."