Department of Defense Journal Publishes Articles Written by Maryland Defense Force Officers
Contact:
Major Robert Hastings
Maryland Defense Force
301-793-4108
rhastings@mddf.us
BALTIMORE (October 2, 2007) - The Department of Defense published two articles written by Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) officers addressing health disaster preparedness and response in the prestigious Department of Defense Publication, the "Joint Center for Operational Analysis (JCOA) Journal." This volume (IX, Issue 2, 2007) was a special edition focused on “Medical Lessons Learned.” Both articles addressed the 10th Medical Regiment’s role in the Katrina relief effort and emerging health roles for State Defense Forces (SDF).
The first article was written by COL H. Wayne Nelson with Capt. David Arday of the U.S. Public Health Service. The latter was the director of America’s National Disaster Medical System during Katrina. Their article, "Medical Disaster Preparedness and Response: A System Overview of Civil and Military Resources and New Potential," surveys total disaster health infrastructure in the context of the National Response Plan and provides a focused look at the capacity and capability of the Public Health Service’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and State Defense Force medical units to help fill the gaps that proved so glaring following Katrina.
The Medical Reserve Corps program was established by the Surgeon General after 9/11 to strengthen America’s health and emergency service infrastructure to promote homeland security. The MRC’s specific role is to augment civil health agencies’ capabilities with rapid response, trained and organized local medical and health volunteers when faced with a major health crisis. MDDF’s 10th Medical Regiment became the second State Defense Force in the nation to receive MRC status.
Although nearly 1,500 MRC members served during Katrina, the MDDF was the only MRC unit from outside the afflicted zone to respond to the disaster as a cohesive organized unit.
The second article, "Developing Vibrant State Defense Forces: a Successful Medical and Health Service Model," was an "all MDDF" effort authored by COL Nelson, COL Robert Barish, BG Frederick Smalkin, LTC James Doyle and COL Martin Hershkowitz. This article not only tells the story of the shifting fortunes of America’s SDFs following the end of the cold war, but focuses in great detail of the rise of the MDDF as a vibrant example of volunteer military service that has garnered national attention, as evidenced by this DoD publication.
As explained in the article, the MDDF model ensures that top-notch health professionals in all fields, who have the will and time to serve when needed, can be used by a SDF to help the nation by succeeding at meaningful, real-world missions that both support the National Guard and homeland security. To date the MDDF has deployed to Louisiana immediately following Hurricane Katrina, to medically under-served rural Bosnia and to the Sioux Indian Nation in South Dakota. In addition, MDDF personnel provide ongoing support to the Maryland Army National Guard’s Post Deployment Health Reassessment Program to assess both physical and mental problems of soldiers returning from combat.
Both articles were originally published as part of the State Defense Force Monograph Series on Medical Support Teams by the State Defense Force Publication Center (www.sdfpc.org), an on-line resource dedicated to the dissemination of information and items of interest to SDFs across the country as well as the active services, the National Guard and the Reserves.
The Joint Center for Operational Analysis Journal was formerly known as the Joint Center for Lessons Learned Bulletin and is published by the Joint Center for Operational Analysis, a component of the US Joint Forces Command, responsible for leading and accelerating the transformation of the joint force by producing compelling recommendations derived from direct observations and sound analysis of current joint operations, exercises and experiments.
The articles are available at the following link and have been provided with the permission of the Joint Center for Operational Analysis and the State Defense Force Publication Center.
Joint Center for Operational Analysis (JCOA) Journal, volume IX, Issue 2, 2007
The Maryland Defense Force is one of a number of State Defense Forces authorized by the U.S. Congress under Title 32 and the respective state legislatures. While specific missions vary from state to state, State Defense Forces exist primarily to augment the capabilities of the National Guard. Employing volunteers who bring military experience and/or civilian professional skills, they supplement the capabilities of the National Guard, assist in National Guard mobilization for federal service, replace National Guard assets deployed out-of-state, and support state homeland security missions. State Defense Forces operate under the command of the Governor, as state Commander-in-Chief, and fall under the operational control of the state Adjutant General’s office. State Defense Forces receive no federal funds and are supported entirely by the state.
Headquartered at the Pikesville Military Reservation in Baltimore, the Maryland Defense Force is a volunteer uniformed state military agency organized under the Maryland Military Department. Formally established by the Maryland legislature in 1917, the unit's heritage and traditions trace back to the 17th century. Its mission is to provide competent supplemental professional and technical support to the Maryland Military Department and the Maryland National Guard.
For further information about the Maryland Defense Force, visit www.mddefenseforce.org.
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