DVIDS
By Army Sgt. David E. Roscoe, Task Force Pacemaker Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan- Sharana Aid Station medics are busy keeping the war efforts alive. Treating the sick and wounded has been a rewarding and motivational mission for the personnel.

The Sharana Aid Station is a medical facility staffed with medics assigned to Task Force Pacemaker, from Fort Lewis, Wash., and TF Rugged, from Fort Hood, Texas. The primary mission of the aid station is to treat the sick and wounded, stabilize the patient’s condition, and to provide emergency medical evacuation to the combat support hospital or other medical treatment facilities.

The Sharana Aid Station was established in November 2005 as a mid-way medical facility between Forward Operating Base Orgun-E and Bagram Airfield. It was dedicated in memory of Army Staff Sgt. Damion G. Campbell, from Baltimore, who was killed in action August 26, 2005 while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The staff at the Sharana Aid Station has been directly responsible for conserving the fighting strength of both TF Pacemaker and TF Rugged by providing appropriate medical and sanitary treatment to more than 200 individuals since early February.

Medical personnel treat coalition forces, contracted civilians, and more than 200 Afghans make up the diverse patients who frequently receive care from the aid station staff.

In addition to providing medical assistance, the staff has also trained Soldiers in combat lifesaver skills. The Combat Lifesaver course was developed to increase survivability on the battlefield where the combat medic may not be readily available. Sharana medics teach basic casualty evaluation, airway management, chest injury and pneumothorax management, controlling bleeding, IV therapy and requesting medical evacuation.

Whether teaching first aid or treating wounded Soldiers, Army Staff Sgt. Eugene D. Sangrey, the TF Pacemaker senior medic, from Great Falls, Mo., said the job is rewarding.

“This mission has given me the opportunity to show the younger medical personnel the proper treatment and techniques for sick and injured individuals,” said Sangrey. “It has also allowed me to share battle skills and survival techniques with the junior medics that participate on road missions to provide medical assistance for Soldiers outside of FOB Sharana.”

Army Sgt. Jeremy A. Spradlin, a medic from Las Vegas also said each day allows him to have an impact on someone’s life.

“I was a civilian medical provider before entering the Army and the biggest difference between the two is that being a military medical provider you’re able to have more of a hands on effect with sick and injured patients, which allows me to get up everyday knowing that I’m going to enjoy my workday,” said Spradlin. “Keeping the treatment and welfare of the Soldiers on the battle field to the highest standards gives me a sense of accomplishment in my job and helps me know that I truly make a difference.”