Photo By Spc. Daisy Zimmer | U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Ellen Ratcliff, veterinarian, 445th Medical Detachment...... read more read more
In any other situation, she would seem like just another large animal veterinarian doing a hard day's work but there's something that makes her different: She's an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
“We're workin' calves!” shouts Maj. Ellen Ratcliff, a veterinarian from the 445th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services (MDVS), Independence, Missouri, and resident of Fairgrove, Missouri, through the dusty plumes and incessant moos emanating from the herd.
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers who are the Animal Care Specialists and Veterinary Food Inspection Specialists that make up the 445th and 993rd MDVS, Independence, Missouri, and Aurora, Colorado, respectively, arrived at the Lester Patterson ranch, Lockwood, California, to “work” – vaccinate, de-worm, castrate and brand – beef cattle, and learn valuable veterinary care techniques from Lester Patterson, a local California rancher.
The Soldiers use community involvement to learn veterinary skills through exciting hands-on, real-world techniques during Combat Support Training Exercise 91-16-02. As the largest U.S. Army Reserve training exercise, CSTX 91-16-02 provides Soldiers with unique opportunities to sharpen their technical and tactical skills in combat-like conditions.
Patterson, ranch owner, jack-of-all-trades for the Department of Public Works at Fort Hunter Liggett, and resident of Lockwood, California, runs his ranch operation with his two sisters, Pam Davis and Barbara Koester, and his wife, Dawn Patterson. He often interacts with the military community, especially when it comes to firefighting in the Fort Hunter Liggett training areas or performing maintenance on military vehicles. But, today, teaching Soldiers valuable veterinary job skills is his sole focus.
“If you can’t stand dirt, poop or blood, you have the wrong job!” Patterson exclaims to the 27 Soldiers eagerly gathered around during his initial block of instructions.
Safety was one of the highest priorities during the process. Patterson explained different scenarios that could happen while handling the cows, as well as the appropriate ways to react under stressful situations.
“We have a lot of first-timers here,” said Patterson, “So they need to be taught properly the first time. That includes being aware of their surroundings and keeping themselves and the animals as safe as they can be.”
“He is doing a great job at teaching us,” said Sgt. Erin Vanderhoff, Animal Care Specialist, 445th MDVS and native of Kansas City, Missouri. “He just helped me do my first castration today. It's definitely a valuable experience.”
Many of the Soldiers are veterinary technicians in the civilian world, but have never interacted with large animals. Training at Patterson's ranch was a way for the Soldiers to learn field care for these animals while employing community engagement skills to become a well-rounded Animal Care or Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist overseas.
“Exposure to these types of scenarios is important for mission readiness,” said Ratliff. “The Soldiers need to learn how to become part of the community, because humanitarian missions comprise much of what we do overseas. We develop relationships with local nationals and make sure the food they raise is free of disease.”
Building relationships with local food providers also positively affects the health of deployed Soldiers. While pre-packaged and shelf-stable food provides the necessary calorie content and nutritional requirements to sustain Soldiers in the field, said Ratliff, nothing replaces a fresh, home-cooked meal.
“When we are able to source meat, eggs, milk, cheese and other delicious things locally, we form relationships with the local population while simultaneously giving our war fighters a morale boost through fresh food,” she said. “And all that starts at the farm.”
Animal Care and Veterinary Food Inspection Specialists of the 445th and 993rd MDVS were also invigorated by the opportunity to venture to a local California farm and interact with ranchers, all while doing many procedures for the first time.
“It's a great day when we do our job in the field,” said Sgt. John Horn, Animal Care Specialist, 445th MDVS. “I'm glad that the Army gets involved with the community because this is really important training.”
“Truly, these guys are doing a good job,” said Ratliff about these Soldiers. “At the end of the day, I try not to get complacent. With every animal, I remind myself and the Soldiers that this is a living thing, and in my opinion, a soul. We are doing these procedures to keep them healthy for the duration of their lives, which in turn benefits the Soldiers. I have the best job in the Army.”
| Date Taken: | 06.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.22.2016 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 202132 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 281 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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