Happy Holidays

Friends and families of EMFK,

Happy Holidays to you all! Thanks to the new technology of internet communications I know that many of you were able to connect to your warriors and actually see each other during this holiday. I’ve heard many wonderful stories of how families got to watch each other open presents, share in the joy of the season, and just plain connect. We who are forward very much know that it is often more difficult for those that stay behind taking care of the home front. We greatly appreciate your efforts and sacrifices, and your support for those of us deployed in the War on Terror. You guys are awesome!!!!

We recently advanced several of our shipmates. Please join me in congratulating the following:
Petty Officer First Class; LS1 Adegoke, HM2 Abdullah, HM2 Olivar, HM2 Rios (redeployed), HM2 Siegert, Petty Officer Second Class; HM3 Freeman, HM3 McCauley, HM3 Nixon, HM3 Randle, YN2 Shouse (redeployed), HM3 Smith, HM3 Theopolous, HM3 Hall (redeployed), HM3 Pescadormartinez (redeployed), Petty Officer Third Class; HN Andrews, HN Aninzo, HN Barry (redeployed), HN Fajardo.

By now I'm sure most of you have heard that EMFK was shorted 32 of the incoming billets for Juliet detachment. We have a plan that enables us to continue to provide the essential services that we need to do to support those warriors going into harm’s way, and at the same time minimizes the impact on our returning India det warriors. BUMED and USFFC are working hard to get us every warrior we need, and while some of them will arrive late, they will all get here. We have asked for volunteers to stay for additional time, and have only had to keep 2 of our warriors here out slightly past their expected return date. All of those we will need to stay longer have been notified, so if your warrior hasn’t been notified there is no plan to extend them.

Juliet det starts to report for training next week, and should be out here towards the end of January. India should be returning home sometime soon after that. Due to security concerns I can’t tell you exactly when, but you will be notified by official channels when your warrior is due to return.

India detachment was in my opinion the most successful detachment to date for EMFK. The things your warriors accomplished in the last 6 months have been incredible. They nailed the # 1 goal of EMFK, to provide outstanding medical care 100% of the time. Not a single patient was turned away, or failed to get an appointment when they wanted it. There were NO adverse outcomes. We nailed the response to H1N1 preventing a major epidemic that could have had a significant effect on the US Military’s ability to prosecute its mission. And we were able to do things in a single day that would take months to have accomplished back in the states. We also did this with 42% fewer staff than previous detachments, we moved an entire clinic into new facilities, we struck the main supply tents (the last vestige of the legacy EMFK) and moved into a new supply facility, we deployed warriors forward into Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Gulf of Aden to support the front line efforts, and our warriors learned new skills that will be of great benefit to themselves and the US Navy. WELL DONE SHIPMATES!!!!!!

I wish you all an amazing New Year, and thank you all for your unflinching support.

V/R
CAPT Lynn Welling