For most people, there is an inherent mystery surrounding the Operating Room. While medical reality shows provide us with a peek into the world of the OR, for the Soldiers of the 334th Combat Support Hospital surgical team this is not a reality show. There are no “take 5’s” no “let’s do that take again”, no wrap parties. This is just reality, and the reality is… this is the final training stage before they deploy in support a contingency operation.

Soldiers come in to the CSH with all types of battle field injuries and you have to be ready for anything that comes through that door the training scenarios are very similar to what they will experience during their deployment. This year, the training is very intense.

The 334th CSH is participating in the Joint Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Fort Polk La. The JTRC provides a realistic training environment for the full spectrum of war. An integral part of that spectrum is the medical portion which includes a fully functional CSH. The CSH is the successor to the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital or MASH, capable of providing quick and decisive care, allowing most wounded soldiers, to return to combat, it also has the resources available to provide life saving surgical care to the severely injured as well as the capability to air evacuate them for definitive care.