TMC keeps Soldiers mission ready while deployed

By Spc. Angel Washington, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div., USD-NJanuary 7, 2011

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Capt. Cyrus Kardouni (left), brigade physical therapist assigned to Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, helps Sgt. Veronica Torres, a medic in Compan...
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Capt. Cyrus Kardouni (left), brigade physical therapist assigned to Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, helps Sgt. Veronica Torres, a medic in Compan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
COTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Capt. Bernardo Bianco (left), and Spc. Rachelle Halaska, both with Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, fill a cavity at the troop medical clinic at Co...
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – COTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Capt. Bernardo Bianco (left), and Spc. Rachelle Halaska, both with Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, fill a cavity at the troop medical clinic at Co... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
COTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Capt. Bernardo Bianco, a dentist assigned to Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, seals a filling at the troop medical clinic for 1st Lt. Frank Siler D...
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – COTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Capt. Bernardo Bianco, a dentist assigned to Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, seals a filling at the troop medical clinic for 1st Lt. Frank Siler D... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Soldiers assigned to Company C, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, operate the troop medical clinic; providing for the physical and behavioral health care needs of Soldiers at Contingency Operating Site Marez.

"When you talk about a brigade-sized element, with the amount of Soldiers we have, it is important that we are able to take care of them," said 1st Lt. Julliet Ayodele, the brigade nurse.

The clinic offers specific areas where Long Knife health care professionals can treat their patients in a variety of ways, said Ayodele, who is currently on her first deployment.

Soldiers of Company C maintain a lab, a medical radiology section, a dental section, a physical therapy section, a pharmacy and a patient holding area.

"We treat colds, bumps, and anything else a Soldier may have so they can continue to do the mission we came out here to do," said Ayodele, a native of Houston.

Medics working at the TMC provide coverage 24 hours-a-day to 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div. Soldiers, Department of Defense employees and service members based at COS Marez.

"Our convenience in hours allows Soldiers to be seen around the hours of their missions, and we have a variety of capabilities," said Ayodele. "We have specialized doctors and experienced professionals that are capable of treating many problems."

Since the medical team of Company C, 27th BSB, assumed authority for the troop medical clinic, they've added a personal touch to make it more patient friendly to include painting the walls to add the 1st Cavalry Division patch.

"We've been treating many of the people (back at Fort Hood) and we are continuing to treat them here which allows continuity of treatment," said Maj. Ashley Maranich, a native of San Antonio and brigade surgeon assigned to 27th BSB, 4th AAB.

"We typically see around 35 patients per work day and thus far we have had over 2,800 appointments since we took over on Oct. 1," said Maranich. "That includes sick call, dentistry and physical therapy."

Soldiers assigned to the unit also take the time to train their Iraqi counterparts in different areas of the medical field in support of U.S. Division-North's mission to advise, train, and assist.

Since arriving in Iraq in September of 2010, Long Knife Soldiers of the 4th AAB, trained their Iraqi counterparts on pharmacy, radiology and basic patient treatment procedures; sending training teams to the 3rd Iraqi Army Division Headquarters at al-Kisik, Iraq.

"We conserve the fighting strength of our forces in Iraq and are preparing the ISF to do the same for their country" said Capt. Arthur Knight, the company commander.

The Soldiers of 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div. deployed to Iraq to assume a new mission in October for a one-year deployment in support of Operation New Dawn.