FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq, May 6, 2005 — Traditionally, the title "doctor" is bestowed on those who have earned an advanced degree, whether it is medical or philosophy; either way, the term is used as a measure of respect.
In much the same way, medics in the military are affectionately known as "doc" because of the respect they are shown by their fellow troops.
Medics assigned to C Company, 703rd Forward Support Battalion are no different.
Capt. Matt Farishon, the company commander, entered the medical branch after enlisting in the combat arms during the Cold War.
"At that time in combat arms there's only so much I can do in a given situation, training wise," he said. "In medicine, you can see your impact on a daily basis as far as helping soldiers. That self satisfaction of knowing that you're helping so many soldiers and actually seeing it with your own eyes is what filled a lot of my career needs."
'Charlie Med's' mission is to provide level two combat healthcare to units at Forward Operating Base Falcon. This includes approximately 5,500 soldiers assigned to the 4th BCT as well as tenant units.
"We have a very young company, only six of us came over the last time," Farishon said. "We do a lot of training, but there is still that uncertainty that when you are under fire, or you get that first U.S. casualty. They have developed a huge sense of confidence knowing that they have the training and are able to use that training to save lives."
One grizzled veteran who has served as a doctor in the Army for 14 years manages to undergo new training all the time.
Lt. Col. Jeremiah Stubbs the battalion surgeon grew up on a farm helping the animals give birth to their young. While in school, his love for biology coupled with the guidance of a trusted teacher, nudged him towards practicing medicine.
Stubbs deployed from the Medical Activity Command at Fort Jackson, S.C., where he is a family practice doctor. Since he has been in Iraq, he has dealt with far more than he is used to.
"This is far beyond what I would normally see as far the trauma," Stubbs said. "I look at this as an opportunity for expansion because I don't get to do all the stuff I'm doing
here back in garrison. At the same time we still get to take care of soldiers. This is what really makes us Army physicians, real army doctors."
Back in garrison, Stubbs deals primarily with Initial Entry Training soldiers and retirees. Here he is able to focus on more mission-specific care for the deployed soldiers.
"By the time we get the soldiers here, most everybody that's over here knows the dangers," Stubbs said. "We want to mitigate those dangers by keeping them healthy, functioning, keep 'em going and get them home safe."
Stubbs credits his soldiers for helping him to succeed at his job.
"We have a great staff here including our mental health people, our chaplain and our noncommissioned officers that are keeping the soldiers' spirits up and mentoring the younger soldiers."
Staff Sgt. Ronald Diaz, attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, is one of those soldiers mentoring the uninitiated. Diaz is assigned to 1st Battalion 184th Infantry, a National Guard unit from Modesto, Calif. Like most of the medics assigned to his unit, Diaz works in the medical field as a civilian. The medics assigned to 1/184 support 703rd in many ways. Because the majority of the 1/184 medics are emergency medical technicians back in the states, they have all kinds of experience dealing with the trauma found in a war zone, Diaz said.
For Fairschon, there is nothing better than seeing his soldiers do their job.
"When I see a casualty come in, and watch my medics take care of him, going through all their steps such as IV's and bandaging wounds, whatever they have to do, calling a helicopter to get them to the CSH and then hearing that they have been stabilized, that is the most tremendous feeling of 'what I'm doing is worthwhile and making a difference,'" Fairschon said.
"To me it means a lot, it's important for me to have my company in the mindset that what you're doing is for everybody because there isn't a single person back in the states that doesn't want their loved one to come back home."