Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Jarvis

USS Boxer (LHD 4) Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BOXER (LHD 4), At sea – As of May 15, civilian and military medical professionals embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) performed nearly 40 surgeries on Guatemalan patients brought aboard ship as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) mission aimed at fostering friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding between partnering nations by providing medical assistance and the opportunity to share ideas that will improve the future of health care throughout the region.

Wasp-class amphibious assault ships like Boxer are uniquely capable of providing the kind of health services required for a mission like CP. The ship’s afloat-medical capabilities are second only to dedicated hospital ships and are fully capable of a wide variety of modern surgical procedures in Boxer’s four operating rooms.

Embarked surgeons from Fleet Surgical Team Five (FST 5) and Project Hope have performed operations ranging from gallbladder and cyst removals to hernia repairs and cataract surgeries.

Potential surgery patients were prescreened by the Guatemalan Ministry of Health and a pre-deployment site survey team of surgeons prior to Boxer’s arrival in Guatemala, which informed the ship of which types of surgeries to prepare for.

“The approach is to tailor our services to them,” said FST 5 lead surgical nurse, Lt. Philip Bamford. “We are providing needs-based care.”

Having surgeons and nurses from many different organizations gives the team a large pool of experience to draw from in the operating room.  The diversity also gives the surgeons an opportunity to learn how non-governmental organizations and other military branches operate.

“I think combining branches of the military and different non-governmental organizations in a mission like CP is a really great experience,” said Lt. Melissa Alexander an embarked nurse normally stationed at the National Naval Medical Center in  Bethesda, Md.

Most Guatemalan citizens seen by CP medical teams don’t even have access to common outpatient medical care, so those able to be seen by military and NGO surgeons are especially appreciative.

“Having my surgery on a U.S. Navy ship has been the most wonderful experience of my life.  The Doctors and nurses treat you with love,” said Luz Rodas, a Guatemalan patient who had a cyst removed from her neck. “God bless you all and may God watch over you whatever you do.”

Boxer’s mission exemplifies the U.S. maritime strategy, which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.       

Embarked units and organizations aboard Boxer for CP include Amphibious Squadron 5, Fleet Surgical Team 5, U.S. Public Health Service, Project Hope, Project Handclasp, Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Special Marine Air Ground Task Force 24, Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron 23, Assault Craft Unit 1, Fleet Survey Team and Beach Master Unit 1.