Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Romero | The complete Joint Task Force MED 374 Hospital staff, co-led by Col. Robert Gregg and...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas—More than 80 Soldiers assigned to the Joint Task Force MED 374, a Role III medical center, arrived at Fort Hood, Texas, last week, completing the 9-month medical mission to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The headquarters for the unit is based out of Fort Sheridan, Ill., just north of Chicago, known as the ‘Great Lake Medics.’ The majority of the unit was composed of Soldiers from the 801st Field Hospital, representing 22 different states.
After completing an 8,000-mile journey from Iraq to Kuwait then on to Fort Hood, Texas, the Task Force was received by Brig. Gen. Michael Pyle, 807th Medical Command Deployment Support (MCDS) Deputy Commanding General for Operations. As Soldiers made their final steps down the staircase onto U.S. soil, Pyle, Lt. Col. Israel Velez, 330 Medical Brigade, Command Sgt. Maj. Beau Buford, 330 Medical Brigade and 1st Sgt. Jason Bierschbach, 374 Hospital Center, welcomed each Soldier home, greeting them with a handshake and thanking them for their service.
Speaking to the group, Pyle reminded them just how rare their deployment accomplishments and experiences were and how they should be proud of their service and completed mission.
"The Army is an all-volunteer force, and out of the entire population, you represent 1 percent of the population," he said. "Out of all service members, you represent another 1 percent of Soldiers that have deployed in a combat environment. I want to also thank your families who are not here right now. While your deployment might have been tough, your families were the ones holding down the fort while you were away."
Pyle also presented coins to two Soldiers during their homecoming, recognizing them for their above-and-beyond contributions while deployed.
The Task Force was led by Col. Robert Gregg, JTF 374 MED Hospital Commander and Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) Command Surgeon and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Hopkins, JTF MED 374 Command Sergeant Major. Traditionally, Army medical units deploy as two separate field hospitals, but for this mission the Task Force directed medical operations on a much larger footprint, overseeing six other medical units and providing medical and logistical support to U.S. Service members, Department of Defense contractors, and Coalition partner countries to include Britain, Italy, Canada, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.
Major accomplishments of JTF MED 374 included caring for 2,300 outpatients, responding to four major traumas, and conducting 21 surgeries, all while conducting continuous hospital and tactical operations.
During their time in theater, JTF MED 374 also made significant contributions to a number of the standard operating procedures and capabilities at the Role III and beyond, including diagnostic testing and treatment for traumatic brain injuries; improved sterilization program of surgical instrumentation, developed a whole blood walking blood bank program, initiated and validated a theater-wide physical therapy extender program, implemented force health protection activities related to influenza, COVID-19, and rabies; and updated patient movement operation related to strategic evacuations. The highly motivated team was also able to increase the Role III capabilities by acquiring an upgraded CT scanner to replace one that had been non-functional for a number of previous rotations, and acquiring stationary and portable x-ray machine that was utilized by other down-range units.
During the deployment, 10 Task Force Soldiers extended their military service commitment and reenlisted in the Army Reserve. Twelve Soldiers were promoted and over 300 awards were inferred.
Looking back on the deployment, both Gregg and Hopkins agreed that the overall mission was a success primarily due to sticking with the basics.
"Soldiers really need to understand the commander's intent and the mission they are completing," said Gregg. "This needs to translate into the related training and avoiding complacency. So many times, throughout the deployment, we would conduct training, and then that same scenario would play out in real life. Our Soldiers should feel a sense of pride for what they have accomplished while serving overseas. The bonds they have formed over this deployment have the potential to last a lifetime."
"I hope that our Soldiers and leaders will bring their deployment knowledge back to their home units and civilian jobs, using their operational experience in their professional and military careers," said Hopkins. "Armed forces recruitment is struggling right now, so it is even more important that we retain our Soldiers, especially those with skills and experience that can only be gained through deployment."
The Task Force will complete a demobilization process at Fort Hood, Texas and then be released to their home of record to reunite with family and friends.
The greater mission of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) is to advise and assist Iraqi security forces and enable partnered forces to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria, according to https://www.inherentresolve.mil/.
The Institute of Heraldry offered the following background and history on 374-unit medical designation.
"The 374th Hospital Center was first constituted on 15 July 1943, in the United States Army as the 7th Convalescent Center at Camp Ellis, Illinois. Upon completion of training, the unit deployed to England in February 1944. In August 1944, the unit deployed to France, where it remained until April 1945. Continuing the health service and support mission, the 7th CC moved into Germany until July 1945 until January 1946, when it returned to France. The 7th Convalescent Center returned to the U.S. and was inactivated on 4 February 1946, having earned campaign participation credit for Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
On 13 August 1947, the 374th Hospital Center was activated and redesignated as the 374th Convalescent Hospital in Chicago, Illinois in the Organized Reserves, the predecessor to today's Army Reserve.
In March 1950, the 374th Hospital Center was redesignated as a Convalescent Center and ordered into active duty serving at Fort Lewis between September 1950 and January 1952. From Fort Lewis, the unit was relocated to Germany until January 1955, until it returned to Chicago, where it was inactivated on 31 January 1979.
On September 16, 2021, the 374th Hospital Center was reactivated to provide mission command for the 801st Field Hospital and 452nd Field Hospital in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. There are 12 direct reporting units in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois throughout the Midwest, known as the "Great Lakes Medics."
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2023 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 440453 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 889 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Medical Mission Completed—JTF MED 374 Returns from Deployment, by CPT Brandon Janson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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