FORT KNOX, Ky – On any given weekday, Fort Knox’s Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) site hums with activity: the sights and sounds of readiness happening, if readiness had a sight and sound.
Deployers and redeployers – “re” referring to Soldiers coming home, not going downrange again – shuttle their folders between medic stations, getting items checked off.
Shuffling through the SRP maze can be a “hurry up and wait” experience. Yet Soldiers patiently plod along, seemingly unfazed by the slow-go. Bookending the staccato sounds of battle is muffled mundanity: papers ruffling, chairs squeaking; questions quietly asked.
Some of those questions come from Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC) Fort Knox and V Corps providers. This is the peaceful piece of Army readiness; quiet healers putting the care into healthcare.
‘How’s your health?’
Captain Matthew Taylor recently returned stateside from Poland, where V Corps is setting up a forward command post. He notes that it’s been a long day of examinations, being asked a lot of health questions — and waiting.
However, “[The healthcare personnel] are ensuring I maintain my deployable status, and documenting if I received any injuries from the deployment. Those are addressed and taken care of.”
He silently slips papers from his readiness folder over an office divider to Capt. Delphia Naut, a V Corps battalion surgeon. The two officers break into smiles as a routine moment turns into a public affairs photo op. Naut is one of the medical providers who Soldiers meet at virtually every SRP event.
“There are about 30 different check boxes listing specific exposures and everything. You walk the patient through it.”
Naut sums the mission up this way: “We’re about to send people to potentially austere environments where they may not have access to these medical resources. We want them to go in the best physical shape possible. We want to make sure they have all their medications if they take any medications. We want them to be healthy when they go.”
And if a Soldier voices a concerning condition?
“If medical issues come up, Soldiers’ healthcare needs will be quickly coordinated.”
A mad scientist in the mix?
The SRP site could look like a freaky video game where the lighting dimly flickers, while ominous music drifts around dark corners. Rounding the corner, a full-blown lab looms into view …
… Fortunately, no aliens or abandoned mad scientists scuttle about – the room remains bright, a cheerful voice welcomes.
An Army combat medic specialist, lights up when talking about Fort Knox’s readiness mission.
“We’ve been really busy; but I think it’s a good experience – getting to do my job.”
The medic pauses for a quick photo op, then goes back to the lab work.
“It’s definitely good practice. As a medic, it’s not every day you get to work in a lab, drawing blood and giving imms [immunizations], so it’s definitely good practice.”
Drawing blood, good practice? Sort of sounds like a mad scientist experimenting on troops at a secret government facility —
The medic isn't a mad scientist, nor are they wearing a white lab coat while muttering or mixing bubbling liquids. Importantly, there’s also nothing secret about the medical facility itself – in fact, it is sound communication strategy to show and tell that we take care of our troops at home, so our Army Strong Soldiers take care of America’s business downrange.
… Leaving flickering lighting and creative writing behind, the “SRP Express” chugs into the next station.
Conducting training exercises: ‘All Aboard!’
To make health-related readiness happen, the medics from Fort Knox-MEDDAC and Ireland Army Health Clinic (IRAHC) work side-by-side with V Corps providers. And if all V Corps providers were tasked out, MEDDAC would simply pick up the slack, keeping medical readiness rolling down the track.
Whether processing actual deployers and redeployers — like today’s operation — or running a quarterly unit training for practice, it’s common to hear the sounds of readiness happening inside this non-secret government facility.
Says Lt. Col. Doug Dudewicz, doctor and deputy commander for clinical services: “MEDDAC would be happy to work with any of the units on post, including V Corps, to schedule regular SRP events that fit into their long-range training calendar.”
For units listening for easy opportunities to build “readiness muscle-memory,” this standing offer to come shuffle through the SRP site likely sounds pretty good.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government.
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