Maryland Defense Force 10th Medical Regiment: Past, Present and Future
Abstract
The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) has almost always had some form of medical support, typically of the aid station format. In the mid-1990s, Brigadier General Frank Barranco (MD), Commanding General of the MDDF (CG/MDDF) and himself a renowned physician, decided to build a responsive Medical Command to provide medical support in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. The Medical Command began to staff up to General Barranco's expectations, but was limited to providing aide station support to MDDF personnel and civilian participants at parades or other civic gatherings. By 2001-2002, the MDDF Medical Command (MEDCOM) existed only as a bare bones headquarters training and operational planning outfit. Additional medical and allied health personnel were scattered among the four former regional battalions, now designated military support region (MSR) teams. These people reported directly to their regional MSR commanders, and not to the director of MEDCOM, who had no operational authority over MDDF medical personnel per se. In 2003-2004, Brigadier General (MD) N. Lucas, the CG/MDDF at the time, began an effort to redesign the MDDF from its Cold War format into an organization based on professional directorates supported by the line battalions, or regional support teams. This movement opened up an opportunity for a full resurrection of the Medical Command and life began to stir within its tottering form. By late 2005, Brigadier General (MD) Frederic Smalkin, the next CG/MDDF, redesignated the quickly growing MEDCOM as the MDDF 10th Medical Regiment (10MEDRGT) as a result of its service during the Katrina recovery effort, and arranged for it to have a much broader mission. Under the direction of its then new, and current, Commander, Colonel (MD) Robert Barish (M.D.), the 10th increased its mission portfolio well beyond what was originally thought feasible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA496636
Entities
People
- H. W. Nelson
- Martin Hershkowitz