Navy Hospital Ship Trains Civilian Medics for Tsunami Relief Mission

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- Nearly 100 civilian volunteers from Project Health Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) trained aboard Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) in Baltimore Jan. 26-28 in preparation for deployment to sister hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during Operation Unified Assistance, a Tsunami relief mission in Asia.

The group, which included about 75 doctors and nurses from 22 medical facilities across the country, was the first of three "waves" of Project HOPE volunteers who will staff the 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship during the humanitarian assignment. Their training aboard Comfort, which is nearly identical to Mercy, was crucial for the team. Most of them had never been on a Navy vessel, let alone performed medicine aboard one.

"Our goal was to prepare the Project HOPE members with a basic understanding of ship life and what they may encounter while on board Mercy," said Capt. Thomas Allingham, commanding officer of Comfort's Medical Treatment Facility, "so they can focus on those who are in need and provide them with ideal relief."

The three-day training aboard Comfort consisted of briefings on infectious disease and stress management, as well as shipboard safety and anti-terrorism. Preparation for the large-scale training evolution was a unique opportunity, according to Comfort crew member Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW) Rahim Cromer.

"Volunteering their service says a lot about these people's hearts, and I'm more than happy to play a role in what they're doing," said Cromer.

Comfort's "twin" ship, Mercy, set sail Jan. 5 and will take position in Indonesia in February. Comfort and Mercy are the U.S. Navy's only hospital ships, both owned and operated by Military Sealift Command.

For related news on Navy tsunami relief operations, visit the Focus on Tsunami Relief Operations page at www.navy.mil/local/tsunami.

For related news, visit the National Naval Medical Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nnmc.