A year in the life of a Medical Assistant with 3 Commando Brigade

摘要

In 2014 I joined Medical Squadron (Med Sqn) at Commando Logistic Regiment (CLR), straight from my Part 4 consolidation training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM). I was nervous, as this was my first draft, but also excited at the prospect of deploying with the Squadron. I knew it was going to be a busy draft, as I was aware of the experiences of colleagues who had completed a draft with medical squadron. They had told me all about how they had been to Norway, completed tours of Afghanistan and completed EX COUGAR. I was excited at the prospect of these endeavours. What I didn't expect was to be going out on medical cover within my first fortnight of joining. I had been sent out to Braunton Burrows Training Area with the Pre All-Arms Commando Course. This was a big learning curve, as suddenly I had to learn how to live in the field, alongside treating casualties in an austere environment. We then deployed to Dartmoor the following week, where I found myself yomping alongside the course with my medical bergen. This provided a steep learning curve, especially when the weather deteriorated with significant rainfall. I went on my first exercise with Med Sqn, called Exercise SALISBURY SCORPION. The exercise was put together so that the Royal Marines could refresh their infantry skills at Fighting Company level. I was chosen to be the company medic for the Med Sqn contingent. This was another completely new experience for me involving section attacks, casualty exercises during building clearances and, of course, yet more obligatory yomping!