Bonhomme Richard: Warfighting First, Part 4

SASEBO, JAPAN

12.21.2014

Courtesy Story

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Dickinson
USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan – The Chief of Naval Operations three tenets are: Warfighting First, Operate Forward, and Be Ready. The medical team aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) does all three, but operating forward, they do figuratively and literally.

“Bonhomme Richard has many capabilities for patient treatment,” said Lt. Nikolas Matos Makris, Medical Department’s division officer. “X-ray, surgery, laboratory, preventative medicine, all focused to support a crew of 3,200 and we do it thousands of miles out in the ocean.”

“Bonhomme Richard’s medical mission maintains the same operational battle rhythm in port as we do underway.” said Matos Makris. “The number of services provided remains the same, while the manning for these services significantly drops from 80 Corpsmen, five physicians and a few other specialties, to two shipboard providers, 23 Corpsmen, and host nation/DoD MTF support.”

While at sea Bonhomme Richard embarks medical staff from Fleet Surgical Team 7, as well as from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which brings the total medical staff to around 90 personnel of doctors, nurses, administrators and hospital corpsmen.

Bonhomme Richard medical is currently preparing to get underway. In order to follow the last of the three CNO Tenets, Be Ready, they are making sure everything is stocked, and all the necessary checks are done.

Before BHR gets underway, medical personnel must check and stock lab supplies, pharmaceuticals, and daily medical consumables. Also, pre-underway certifications must be met, to include Medical Readiness Inspection, and Fleet Support Operation: Medical (FSO-M). FSO-M involves engineering, supply, and safety departments; specifically heat, hearing and sight conservation programs. Electrical and mechanical checks of equipment also must be conducted by a biomedical technician.

Not only are they getting themselves ready for deployment, they have to take care of the entire crew’s medical readiness as well.

“We communicate with all hands to ensure everybody is caught up with their immunizations, dental exams and or physical health assessments so that everybody is medically ready at a moment’s notice,” Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Eugene Alvarez, Medical Department’s leading petty officer said. “Also, all of the ship’s inspections, medical inspections specifically have prepared us long before deployment.”

The Bonhomme Richard’s medical team and capability is the largest in the amphibious ready group. Any mission the ship is involved in, the medical team usually plays a big part. From disaster response, to serving as a casualty receiving and treatment ship.

“We are proud sailors who keep USS Bonhomme Richard medically ready at all times.” Alvarez said, “I am very proud to work with such highly dedicated and highly committed corpsmen with abilities and capabilities that can make great things happen.”

• Date Taken: 12.21.2014
• Date Posted: 12.21.2014 23:40
• Story ID: 150888
• Location: SASEBO, JP