First Deployment Advice

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Just found out I'm deploying to Afghanistan and although very excited am now finding myself very nervous. I've been volunteering for over a year and a half without success and now that I've been told it's going to happen I'm finding myself wondering where to start. My mind is in such a state of flux... I feel like I'm in my first trauma and everyone is speaking a different language!!!

Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

O ok, I didn't know that nurse deployments were only 9 months. Well that's good news for them. I just unclipped the entire pistol belt instead of unclipping the holster, it comes off as one neat package carrying your magazines and other pouches. Having the leg holster pull while I was running and lack of access to my cargo pocket drove me nuts with the leg holster.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

I didn't bother me if I had to run which was not often. The holster had a pouch to carry magazines. The 9 month deployment for nurses is an increase for most, it was only 6 months. The execptition was nurses that were organic to the unit and then they deployed for the whole tour. So for a CSH it might have only been 5 nurses who went for 12 months and the rest which were PROFIS was 6 months. Now all nurses will deploy for the whole tour. Last I heard doc's will still be splitting the tour.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

Considering I was deployed for 6 months at Craig Joint Theater Hospital, I have a different perspective than a nurse on a FST would. Overall our "traumas" were very much patched up by those teams... already vented, trached, washouts, woundvacs in place, etc.

I'm sure you'll go through all the range of emotions while deployed... it's totally normal to feel them all AND be tearful. I was super frustrated taking care of the local nationals- we had docs that ran our ward like a longterm care facility sometimes. And I was so excited to see our boys(and ladies) get patched up and sent back home or returned back to the fight- helping them contact home was always emotional... Definitely loved my work over there.

I only know that Bastion was hit hard while I was there- lots of blown-up Marines, soldiers, ANA and NATO soldiers... many bilateral AKAs. The ICU staff called those the "Bastion special". I pray that things slow down and those little Taliban f-er's get pnuemonia this winter and die. :)

My experience was limited ( I worked on the 28-bed inpatient ward) but I'd love to answer any questions you might have! Enjoy your time at home and if you don't get any packages, shame on your home unit and let me know!!!!!

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OPSEC please.

My experience has been mostly with local nationals (good guys AND bad guys). First I thought they were superhuman, going through painful injuries like they were nothing. Little did I realize they were already addicted to opium...

Neverthless, it was a useful experience for back home when working with immigrants from that part of the world. Alcohol is a taboo but opium? Not so much. As soon as the sun goes down, it is on...

This obviously does not apply to everyone, but I wouldn't be surprised if Talib fighters use it as a way to relax before going to a fight. From some of the footage I have seen, you would think they were high or something.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

They sure do use it, they would be stoned out of their mind when they came in at times. It would be amazing the amount of meds needed to but even kids down in the OR. There would be times they would give a 10 year old enough narcs to kill the average adult back here. Yeah taking care of the LN's ended up being a pain after awhile, wonder how many RN's who worked in the "village" at the CSH end up getting out. Can only guess that it will be a high percentage.

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Baghdad ER was manned by the 86th CSH: 86th Combat Support Hospital

91% survival rate

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

31st & 115th CSH's

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

I agree with rustynail: OPSEC, OPSEC, OPSEC

I will be there with y'all in March...

Ummm I used an over the shoulder holster for my 9mm....but when I had flight nurse duty I just

attached the weapon to the front of my IOTV...

Stay Safe and Watch Your Six....

athena

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

As far as I can see from the post there is no OPSEC issues, no current or future dates, unit rotations etc. being listed.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

My deployment advice is to use Space Bags To Go. I stuffed them and put an index card with what was in it (after several repack and repack adventures). They ensure that your stuff won't get wet or sand in it, or leak shampoo over everything. The "To Go" part is that you sit on them and squish the air out instead of needing a vacuum -which you won't have on the return trip. They lasted really well and I will reuse them next time.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Also with using space bags, once you have the air out wrap tape around them in case they leak. This will help keep them small.

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I am sorry for stepping on your thread. @jeckrn- when were you based in FOB Dwyer? I made a long pit stop there, ending up in Marjah. My former fellow squad leader's squad was tasked out to hold security for (Dust Off) you might have crossed paths. From a grunt, jeckrn I want to thank you, I carried too many men into that black hawk but more times than not they were fighting by my side within weeks.

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