Thursday I found myself knee high in wild grass and scotch broom on the far eastern edge of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

About 160 soldiers assigned to the 47th Combat Support Hospital were participating in Operation Rammasan Relief, an 11-day field training exercise designed to test the unit's ability to deploy - and save lives.

"It's going well; we're at a baseline to show our soldiers what 'right' looks like," commented Col. Jennifer Caci, the CSH's commander.

Possessed of a quick smile and quicker mind, Caci walked her talk.  Moments later, I watched her pitch in to help a group of soldiers move a large tent into position.

"It's kind of like working with LEGOs as we put this camp together," she quipped.

>>> Spc. Analiza Ong-Lynch, a nutrition care specialist, prepares a soup.  The nutritionists make meals to meet patients' needs. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

Off to our left at about 250 meters, Sgt. Jacob Culp, Spc. April Gonzalez and Spc. Randolf Calisang stood guard at an entry control point.

They had told me of their encounter with an opposing force, or OP4, during the night.

"It is definitely a learning experience," commented a tired looking and dirt streaked Gonzalez, a medical supply technician.

Several of the OP4 soldiers told me that Culp, Gonzalez and Calisang had done a good job.

"I liked what I saw," one soldier assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, said.

>>> During their field training exercise in preparation for a mass casualty surge, soldiers practiced moving litters on rickshaws. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

Off to their right about 100 meters away, a civilian contractor worked with a dozen soldiers on how to set up a defensive perimeter.

I commented about the Special Forces patch on Caci's right shoulder; she mentioned she had served with 5th Special Forces Group.

"We've got a little city here," Caci continued, "and part of our mission is to be able to protect and defend it."

The comment resonated with me.

>>> Sgt. Jacob Culp keeps watch at one of two entry control points. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

An expeditionary and stand-alone unit, the 47th not only brings medicine to the battlefield, it also provides its own communications, vehicle and equipment maintenance, food preparation and force protection.

Outside of the concertina wire ringing the camp's perimeter, the only way the 47th's soldiers could defend their hospital, patients and fellow soldiers was with M-16s.

Caci's comment about protecting and defending her city began to sink in.

"I think we should have more than just M-16s," she said.

"Our soldiers are good soldiers, and we could effectively and expertly use M203 grenade launchers and M249 light machine guns to defend ourselves.

Made perfectly good sense to me.

If allowing her soldiers to see and know what "right" looks like, then why wouldn't they take more than just M-16s into a potentially hostile area of operations?

>>> Soldiers learn about the CSH's operating room and the technology it offers. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

Meanwhile, Maj. Michele Buratti, charge nurse of the Intensive Care Ward, kept a close eye on the training soldiers were receiving in advance of a mass casualty problem they would soon confront.

"We're fully functional now," she pointed out as we walked from the radiological wing of the emergency medical treatment center, or EMT, to the operating room.

"We can do what Madigan does out here."

Admittedly an outside-of-the-box thinker, Buratti exudes a sense of calm confidence.

"We aren't in a race to break records when we deploy and set up, but we are always looking and learning to improve," she continued with a smile.

"But we did completely set up in 63 hours when our standard is 72 hours."

The 47th will have more opportunities to train as some of its units will train in Japan and at the National Training Center in the near future.

>>> Even in the field, cleanliness is desired. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson