Surgeon General
Acting SG’s Message
One Navy Medicine Shipmates,
Last week Navy Medicine said farewell to Admiral Gillingham after 40 years of impeccable selfless service and more than three and a half years as the Navy’s 39th Surgeon General. Thank you to all those who tuned in to watch the retirement ceremony via Facebook Live and all those who helped ensure a great send-off.
As he enjoys his well-earned terminal leave, the engines of Navy Medicine continue to move forward here at Headquarters and across the enterprise. Late last week, we released our first Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) to the FY23 Navy Medicine Campaign Order. This FRAGO is a result of continuous assessment in the organizational design process to adjust, modify, and add tasks in the annual Campaign Order as part of our five-year Campaign Plan to meet our Force Development, Force Generation, and Force Preservation objectives in support of Distributed Maritime Operations, Littoral Operations in Contested Environments, and Expeditionary Advance Basing Options providing critical capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps.
The Campaign Order and FRAGO direct us to be prepared to conduct sustained medical support in high intensity combat operations in a peer warfighting scenario. Executing the important actions in these orders will ensure that our medical warfighters have the right people, with the right skills, training, and equipment, to preserve the force and save lives on the battlefield. Please click on the CAC-enabled link below to read these orders and understand the actions we’re taking across One Navy Medicine to deliver manned, trained, equipped, maintained, sustained, and certified medical units that provide enduring support to the Fleet, Marine Corps, and Joint Forces.
At the Echelon four and five NMRTC/Us you all maintain warfighter readiness daily through the assurance that our operational forces are prepared to fight now!! Performing that mission from DHA’s platforms that are otherwise known as MTFs, is just as critical to supporting the National Defense Strategy as deploying as part of the medical department on an SSN, CVN, DDG, MEU, ERSS, ERCS, or EMF. Thank you to all of you, no matter where you serve in the organization, for all you do every day to support our Sailors, Marines, and their families. I’m truly appreciative of your continued dedication and drive, and I am humbled to be a part of One Navy Medicine. Keep up the incredible work!
Navy Medicine FY23 Campaign Order and FRAGO (CAC-enabled website):
https://esportal.med.navy.mil/bumed/campaignorder/Pages/default.aspx
VR/
RDML Darin Via, MC, USN
Reminder – Retirement Ceremony for RADM Bruce L. Gillingham – Monday, March 27th, 1000 EST
The Surgeon General will retire on March 27 at 10 a.m. after 40 years of dedicated service to Navy Medicine, the Navy, and our great Nation. Unfortunately, given the space limitations of the ceremony venue, it will only be possible for some to attend.
BUMED’s Communications team has arranged for the ceremony to be viewable via Facebook Live, so all are invited and encouraged to “attend” virtually by using this link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/6524291220928699/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5b%5d%7D
SG Message – Farewell Navy Medicine Shipmates!
Esteemed Shipmates,
On Monday, March 27, my 40 years of service in the Navy, and my tenure as your 39th Surgeon General, will come to an end. Of course, I say goodbye knowing that Navy Medicine and its people have left an indelible mark on my life and career. These last three and a half years as your Surgeon General have been a time of tremendous change and progress. Our One Navy Medicine team has shifted its focus from the day-to-day oversite of MTF-based care to delivering expeditionary Medical Power for Naval Superiority.
We’ve realigned our entire enterprise with new organizational structures to strengthen command and control functions, while increasing our ability to make informed decisions and take action. Under these frameworks we’ve seen the future USNS CODY – the first EPF with Flight II designation – christened, the first ERSS team assembled, and the expansion of strategic military-civilian partnerships – that along with the “reps and set” we receive in MTFs – will ensure our people have the skills necessary to save lives at sea and on land.
As we sail toward our North Star of delivering agile, scalable, and certified medical units, we also fought against a deadly global pandemic that altered how our naval force operates. As a high-reliable organization, we quickly incorporated the lessons learned during our EMF deployments and built scalable medical response teams. These lessons have been built into our future theater/ashore medical capabilities.
Our COVID-19 response efforts were second-to-none. We executed the simultaneous deployments of USNS COMFORT and USNS MERCY and supported DSCA missions at many civilian hospitals and vaccination centers across the country. Throughout the fight, more than 5,600 Navy medical personnel deployed and delivered critical medical capabilities and high-value research products across the Department of Defense, and to our Nation. It was incredible to see how we all came to together (virtually and in-person) to solve tough challenges as we provided the biological body armor to keep Sailors, Marines, and their families safe.
We have accomplished so much together; and yet, we still have much to do as we prepare to care for warfighters in environments where our dominance on sea, land, air, space, and cyberspace will be challenged. As outlined in the current National Defense Strategy (NDS), China remains our most consequential strategic competitor and pacing challenge. We must be ready to meet potential adversaries head-on. This requires us to continue to take hard looks at how we develop and generate our force, and ultimately, how we restore and preserve the force during times of conflict.
Our newly issued Campaign Order and 5-year Campaign Plan will assist us in transforming into the medical force we need to be. Our core mission remains focused on supporting the warfighter wherever they go whether they are on the ground, sailing atop the waves, cruising silently beneath them, or roaring through the blue skies above. We’ve done that well and will continue to get even better at keeping them in the fight.
After I am piped ashore and no longer wear the uniform, one thing I can say for certain, I will always be part of Navy Medicine; my blood is blue and gold. As the next chapter of Navy Medicine begins, you can be assured that I will continue to be your biggest fan cheering you on from the sideline.
I know our organization will be in capable hands with RDML Darin Via, our DSG, assuming the role of Acting Surgeon General until the Department of Defense and the White House selects a nominee to the Senate for confirmation. Once confirmed, it will be publicly announced on the Senate website.
In closing, I could not say “goodbye” without saying THANK YOU – to all our women and men in uniform, to our civilians, and to our contractors, and to their families. All the successes we have had are truly YOURS. Collectively, you have understood that achieving our mission requires both a unity of effort and unity of purpose. Thank you for your dedication in supporting the operational readiness of the Naval Force and upholding the highest standards of conduct and reflecting our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.
With my continued respect and admiration,
Bruce Gillingham
Rear Admiral, Medical Corps, US Navy
39th Surgeon General of the Navy
Happy Holidays Navy Medicine!
Esteemed Colleagues:
There only are a handful of days left in the year, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the tremendous impact your work has made on the lives of Sailors, Marines, and their families over the past twelve months. During this holiday season, be sure to take some time to rest, rejoice, and rejuvenate. Keep in mind those who are deployed in support of freedom and those who selflessly stand the watch all over the globe. Also, remember that the holidays can be a stressful time. We ask that you continue to look after your shipmates – and the positive impact your actions can have on those who may be in need of support.
I hope you will commit to investing in your own growth and health. If we all share a mutual goal of fostering self-improvement, our One Navy Medicine family will be stronger and more productive.
On behalf of the entire Navy Medicine Leadership team, please be sure to have a safe and restful holiday. And take a moment to click on one of the links below to watch a holiday video message from the FORCE, DSG, and me. There are “special scenes” at the end that you don’t want to miss.
Navy Medicine Holiday Video:
— Navy Medicine DVIDS (Gov’t Computer Access):
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/867879/navy-medicine-surgeon-general-holiday-video-2022
— Navy Medicine YouTube Channel:
SG / DSG / FORCE Send
SG’s Message – A Time of Thanks for Your Selfless Service!
Esteemed Shipmates,
Greetings all! Last week FORCE and I travelled to Cartagena, Colombia to meet with our Shipmates aboard USNS COMFORT as she executed CONTINUING PROMISE 2022. It was a busy and rewarding trip and we saw firsthand the incredible work our One Navy Medicine team continues to do as a matter of routine. Two, of many great examples, include:
· Cardiologist CAPT Nellie Linz and HM2 Dillon Davis who led an effort to address a backlog of echocardiograms at the Cartagena Naval Hospital. The Hospital normally has cardiology support only one day a week and our folks were able to lend a much needed hand.
· COMFORT members provided a wheelchair to a 13-year old child suffering from cerebral palsy. This small act had a meaningful impact on this young girl’s entire family. Up until this point the mother was the primary mode of transportation and regularly carried her child everywhere.
In Navy Medicine, humanitarian missions remain among some of the most meaningful deployments for our people and those we serve. We make a positive difference not only for the United States and our Allies but also in the lives of our fellow human beings. Whether its Continuing Promise, Pacific Partnership, or another HADR effort, we are fortunate to be able to serve a greater good. Navy Medicine is lucky to have so many great people who regularly place the mission and others before themselves.
The trip reinforces all that we have to be thankful for. We should never lose sight of all that our Country takes for granted – like having a wheelchair when needed.
So as we celebrate and reflect upon Thanksgiving this week, I am thankful that I have had the privilege to serve nearly 40 years in the world’s greatest Navy. I am thankful that I live in a land where opportunity is a given. And as always, I remain THANKFUL to all of you for your SERVICE and your DEDICATION.
On behalf of the entire Navy Medicine Leadership Team, I cannot express our gratitude enough for all that you do to for care for our Sailors, Marines, their families – and people from all around the world. We are grateful and thankful for you!
As we celebrate with family and friends this week let’s offer a special prayer for the safety of those currently deployed defending our freedoms and the blessings that these freedoms provide every day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
SG
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