Courtesy Photo | Petty Officer 1st Class Reynaldo S. Datu patrols on a mountain in eastern Konar...... read more read more
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by Marine Staff Sgt. Luis P. Valdespino Jr.
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan – The only sailor at Forward Operating Base Naray is making his mark every day, using his experience, instincts and personality to improve the lives and welfare of the embedded training team and Afghan national army.
Petty Officer 1st Class Reynaldo S. Datu, a 42-year-old hospital corpsman assigned to ETT 7-2, has been in Afghanistan for about six months. The team is deployed to Afghanistan from Okinawa, Japan.
A native of the Philippines who now calls San Diego home, Datu provides medical care for the ETT, acts as a mentor to the 3rd Kandak (Armored), 3rd Brigade, 201st ANA Corps, doctor and medics, and intervenes when civilian Afghans seek medical assistance from the FOB trauma center.
Datu's impact as a member of ETT 7-2 started immediately on joining the Marines in training.
"He's kept us all up to date with our (medical) requirements" said Marine 1st Sgt. Matthew
S. Seamans, a 42-year-old Shorewood, Minn., native and the senior enlisted mentor with the ETT. This has been the case since they began preparing for the deployment.
A few days after ETT 7-2 arrived in country, they joined the ANA in Operation Nowruz Jala (New Year Hail) in Kapisa province, where Datu put his medical experience to use.
"Doc ran out under fire and dragged an ANA soldier out (of the kill zone) to treat him," said Seamans, one of the three Marines Datu now works with at FOB Naray.
Since Operation Nowruz Jala, Datu has personally provided medical training to the ANA soldiers and has bridged a working relationship between the ANA and Army medics on FOB Naray.
"Doc's the consummate team player, which is real important to our training team," said Marine Lt. Col. James F. Werth, ETT chief. He added that the team can always count on Datu's upbeat attitude.
The other Marines with ETT 7-2 agreed that Datu's personality has helped him develop the working relationships needed for the team's success with the Afghan soldiers.
"Right from the beginning he's developed a good relationship (with the ANA)," Seamans said.
"He's picked up the (local) language better than the rest of us," said Marine Sgt. Will D. Craig, a 26-year-old Culleoka, Tenn., native, and mentor with ETT 7-2.
Datu has put his communication skills, personality and initiative to use by helping the ANA medics gain confidence in their skills. He also wants the ANA soldiers to gain confidence in their medics. If Afghan soldiers come to him for medical care, he ensures they have been seen by
the ANA medical staff before he helps them.
In a recent visit to Anchagal Village in Naray District, he said he was pleased he was able to stand back and mentor while the ANA doctor and medics cared for the local Afghans.
It's all a part of the effort to make the ANA, "independent and capable," Datu said.
| Date Taken: | 01.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2008 10:54 |
| Story ID: | 15572 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 508 |
| Downloads: | 484 |
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