Journal of Special Operations Medicine. Inaugural Issue, December 2000

摘要

Three decades ago, no one in a Special Operations unit ever thought: that Special Operations would be considered 'legitimate,' that one could spend more than one assignment in SOF without committing Career suicide; that we could actually (and legally) own our trucks; that we could develop our own special weapons and equipment without having to make them ourselves (or steal them). Fifteen years ago, none of us could have imagined that there would be a formal, tri-service, entity known as a Special Operations Combat Medic--who trained with fellow services' medics at a single Special Operations medical schoolhouse. A decade ago, none of us could have Imagined that all SOF medics would hold the civilian EMT-Paramedic certification or there would be a mandatory SOF-EMT-F sustainment training course. Never before... have we seen such great things as those which have happened to Special Operations in less than a decade. Never before... has there been such an empowered CINC Surgeon's office to ensure medical readiness. medical support to the field, adequate initial and sustainment medical training, proper medical doctrine. and research and development of SOF-peculiar medical items- an office capable of reaching directly to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the Services' Surgeons General.