Page 38 - QARANC Vol 14 No 6 2013

36 QARANC THE GAZETTE
306 Hospital Support Regiment (V)
Commanding Officer Col Jane Carey Harris
US/UK Exchange Visit 306 Hospital Support Regiment (V) & 3274th US Army Hospital Unit
Majors Debbie Taylor and Alison Price of 306 HSR (V) were fortunate enough to be chosen for a UK/US cultural exchange from 26 July to 11 August 2012.This was part of an annual exchange programme open to all Tri-Service reserve ranks between the two countries. The aim is to build enduring partnerships, allowing for exchange of ideas and a better understanding of each other’s military culture, capabilities and limitations.
After a full day at the Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire; where the concept of the exchange programme was discussed; we were shown how to complete the many forms required. We were then allocated our host Unit and discovered when and where in the States we would be sent. Our allocation was to be with the 3274th USAH Unit, Army Reserves based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, however their annual training was to be at Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL), California. This is the largest US Army Reserve Command post with over 165,000 acres, located 150 miles south of San Francisco and 250 miles north of Los Angeles. On a cultural note it is also home to the buildings Milpitas Hacienda (designed by Julia Morgan and constructed by William Randolph Hearst), and the San Antonio de Padua Mission, both of which are on the US Historic Register.
Their Unit personnel were very much the same as 306 HSR, consisting of a range of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, allied health and patient administration with a mission to provide trained, ready, skill-rich soldiers to meet medical requirements across a full spectrum of military operations.
After a very long 39 hour transatlantic journey from Heathrow to San Jose, with delayed planes and missed connections; thank goodness for the USO*; we were picked up by Col Park and Maj Hughes and after a two hour car journey south, finally arrived at FHL. We were introduced to our hosts 1Lt Hillyer (Maj Taylor) and Capt Wilman (Maj Price), exchanged cultural presents and received the equipment
Maj Price and Maj Taylor
we would require for our stay. Our accommodation was a 50 bedded bunk bed dormitory with adjoining ablutions and laundry facilities.
The day’s work commenced at 0500 with a superb selection of breakfast choices however with MRE for lunch every day this was welcome. The Unit initially met at the well-equipped medical facility within the camp. We were briefed on our mission which was to provide real world medical cover to the 244th Engineer Battalion during installation related construction, such as bridge building and road construction, which was designed to enhance the Engineers technical skills and improve the facilities within FHL. The 3274th staff and ourselves were allocated areas to work with some staying within the medical facility and the rest rotating around the 7 sites of construction. The first day was spent orientating ourselves to the Medical Aid Centre; gathering the medical equipment required in the field, packing
the medical bags and practicing enhancing our skills of cannulation, commencing IV fluids, splinting and documentation.
We also visited each construction site to establish any potential problems there and mark out and get grid co- ordinates for the helicopter landing sites. Although we did not see it, the first site we visited had already killed their first rattle snake! We had the one and only early finish for day during the duration of our stay and spent a couple of hours at the very well-equipped gym and pool within the barracks.
The mean temperature daily was above 100F and as FHL sits in a bowl within the surrounding mountain range, the environment was hot, dry and very dusty. Evenings cooled to a balmy 50F, this was a welcome reprieve. Our days were spent rotating to seven different engineering sites to provide medical cover in numbers of two. Our hosts were very very proactive on the ‘buddy’ system; the most common medical