New taskings will soon be out for JTF-FA, and there is already a need for upcoming missions.
Do you have experience with JTF-FA? Maybe you could share with the community some of your observations:
- What information would you pass on to those thinking of going?
- Why did you want to go?
- Would you go back?
- What did you think of the experience?
- What should someone do to prepare for JTF-FA?
Feel free to share any of the above information, or anything else you may think is important for those thinking of going!
Ken Richards
webmaster
I made 2 missions (98 & 99), so here goes.
What information would you pass on to those thinking of going?
- Make sure your command knows that they are offering/accepting the fact that you will be GONE for at least 6 weeks.
- Make sure you have everything ready, passport and the such, ready when you volunteer.
Why did you want to go?
- When I was a young HM3/HM2 on the USS Leftwich, the IDC onboard HMCS Joel Cajudo, had gone on one of the first missions. His stories motivated me to put in for it.
Would you go back?
- IN A HEART BEAT!!
What did you think of the experience?
- It was a good time. Very interesting in dealing with the Army and their mindset on how things are done. They aren't used to people questioning or asking the question- WHY?
- The people in Laos were great, the goverment officials were "interesting".
What should someone do to prepare for JTF-FA?
-Get in contact with JTF ASAP. Find out what you need to bring, what you need done prior to deployment
-Get money up front. CASH!! Just because you have a gov. credit card, remember, you will be in the boonies and they "don't take american express"
I had the honor of going on a det in 2001 to Vietnam, WOW! what an experience. If you get a chance to go then do it.
-Plan ahead, well ahead, get the list of all immunizations; some take a while to complete.
-Brush up on emergency medicine as you never know what you will have while out there.
-PMT skills, need brushing up on as well, remote sites have to put up everything from small cooking area to field latrines.
-You can be placed anywhere from a small town doing intel work to working up on a hillside so make sure you are physically FIT. I made it carrying an extra pound or two but nearly wiped myself out working in the heat.
-A wonderful buddy of mine HMC Tran introduced me to the idea after he went. I would go back any day!
-What an absolute experience being able to work with so many different folks and having a common goal.
I had the honor and privledge to serve on two JTA/FA (Now JPAC) operations in Vietnam
Lessons learned: Lots of skin conditions and acute trauma type things from digging and muckin around in the jungle. Depending on the enviroment you are deploying to...plan accordingly...JPAC has a great archive of AAR's for you to see what others experienced.
I would go again in a heart beat...you can email me at mark.kane [at] med [dot] navy [dot] mil if you have any questions.
Mark
HMCS(SW/FMF)Mark J. Kane
Hi Ken,
I had the honor of going in February 2000. I was an alternate for an earlier mission, that ended up being scrapped..so, they took me in on the next mission and went to Vietnam. Prior to that, we were in Hawaii at Camp Smith for pre-deployment training.
Let me make this comment...it's the BEST MISSION I WAS EVER INVOLVED WITH in the military. As mentioned earlier, we are a bit more inquisitive than our Army brethrens because we are trained to think that way..."what if's" are standard SOP with Navy IDC's vice the Army's "oh s*&t!" approach. As a case in point, our pre-entry powow in Thailand drew me accolades from the Colonel because I was asking pertinent questions. What was I asking? Nothing special, basic IDC stuff like MEDEVAC routes and SOP..since there really was no plan for this. Scary thought.
- What information would you pass on to those thinking of going? Go for it. You will regret not going.
- Why did you want to go? Wanted to explore more than the basic navy stuff.
- Would you go back? If given the chance, I would.
- What did you think of the experience? As above, The BEST!
- What should someone do to prepare for JTF-FA? Passport, Wills (yes, JTF lost a few five years ago when the helo hit a mountain, one IDC, and entire JTF-FA chain of command in Vietnam), finances, etc. All part of the checklist.
Best regards to all. I am now retired from the service and a full-time businessman. I often tell my staff about my JTF experiences, though, and they are all amazed (together with some sub stories/lies : ).
One last before I go. We were having some issues with how the land/excavation area was drawn up, so our team leader was having a hard time discussing with the town chairman into making any concessions. It turned out that the chairman had a teenage son with a nasty facial infection. Needless to say, he was brought to me for treatment. Slammed him with what I got..Keflex, plus some careful I&D action. The next day, our team got what we want from the Chairman, plus more thereafter. It cost us a few cents of antibiotics and less headached after that.
Ed
PS/Interests in learning a new language will come a long way, too.