By Amber Martin
Garrison Public Affairs Office
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Col. Mark A. Stevens, center, commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Smith, senior enlisted leader, both with 10th Field Hospital and Task Force Spartan Medic, case the 10th FH colors signifying the beginning of their deployment in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve May 28, 2018, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group. (Photo by Amber Martin)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The 10th Field Hospital, 627th Hospital Center, held a color-casing ceremony May 28, 2018, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group signifying the start of its deployment to Iraq.
The hospital’s mission is to provide the highest level of deployed health care to sick, injured and wounded service members in support of Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR).
“Task Force Spartan Medic (10th FH) is trained and ready to deploy in support of the CJTF-OIR mission,” said Col. Mark A. Stevens, commander, 10th FH and Task Force Spartan Medic. “This unit has a proud history of providing exceptional Army Health System capabilities to the best warfighters operating throughout the central command area of operation.”
The task force is made up of Soldiers from across the 627th HC, to include the 10th FH. The 10th FH Soldiers spent almost a year training and preparing for the deployment, including a validation exercise and certification exercise in Fort Gordon, Georgia, and a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation in Fort Polk, Louisiana. But it was the final certification exercise which prepared them specifically for their upcoming mission in Iraq.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Col. Mark A. Stevens, commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Smith, senior enlisted leader, both with 10th Field Hospital and Task Force Spartan Medic, lead 10th FH Soldiers to the aircraft to begin their deployment in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve May 28, 2018, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group. (Photo by Amber Martin)
“We replicated what the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center would look like,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Smith, senior enlisted leader, 10th FH and Task Force Spartan Medic. “We conducted operations for approximately one week. That was the final certification.”
The 10th FH was formerly known as the 10th Combat Support Hospital. In June 2017, the unit made history by becoming the first active-duty unit to set up and test the field hospital – Army Medicine’s modernized, modular update to the combat support hospital. The unit has supported campaigns in World War II and Operations Desert Storm, Joint Forge, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
“The 10th Field Hospital’s history goes all the way back to World War II,” said Smith. “Operation Inherent Resolve will be an additional deployment and campaign for a unit that has an illustrious history.”
The casing ceremony signifies the unit’s important transition from routine garrison training and readiness activities to providing the highest level of deployed health care.
“We look forward to this challenge and this deployment,” said Smith. “This is a tremendous group of Soldiers we have. They want this mission, and it is going to be exciting for Col. Stevens and me to lead this group.”
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Col. Mark A. Stevens, left, commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Smith, senior enlisted leader, both with 10th Field Hospital and Task Force Spartan Medic, prepare to case the 10th FH colors signifying the beginning of their deployment in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve May 28, 2018, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group. (Photo by Amber Martin)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Col. Mark A. Stevens, commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Smith, senior enlisted leader, both with 10th Field Hospital and Task Force Spartan Medic, stand by as Soldiers with the 10th FH board the aircraft to begin their deployment in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve May 28, 2018, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group. (Photo by Amber Martin)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Sgt. Tristian Adriano, combat medic specialist, 10th Field Hospital and Task Force Spartan Medic, holds the 10th FH colors while Col. Mark A. Stevens, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Smith, senior enlisted leader, both with 10th Field Hospital and Task Force Spartan Medic, prepare to case their colors signifying the beginning of their deployment in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve May 28, 2018, at the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group. (Photo by Amber Martin)