ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Members of the Army's 8th Forward Surgical Team (Airborne), a front-line medical unit which will provide emergency surgical care in Afghanistan, had their deployment ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Friday morning.
The 20-member team, under Maj. Nathan Marsh, is based at JBER and assigned to the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 2nd Engineer Brigade. It includes surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, operating room technicians, medics, a medical operations officer and a detachment sergeant -- all of whom are qualified paratroopers.
“While we may lament the circumstances by which soldiers will have to come to the professionals of the 8th Forward Surgical Team, they could not be in better hands.” said Lt Col. Andrew Mergens, commander of the 17th CSSB. “Maj. Marsh and his team are prepared to deploy and provide the best medical care on the planet.”
The team will leave in December for a year-long deployment.
Contact Rebecca Palsha at rpalsha@ktuu.com
