U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph De La Cruz
Summary
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph De La Cruz demonstrates tactical combat casualty care on U.S. Navy Lt. Vincent L. Ackerman for conference participants Feb. 16 at Wing One Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kingdom of Thailand, during a mass casualty plan conference as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The conference allowed subject matter experts from the RTAF, surrounding local hospitals and military medical professionals from the U.S. Navy to exchange best practices and enhance collective efforts to improve planning, processes, communication for mass casualty events between hospitals. CG13, in its 32nd iteration, is a multinational exercise that promotes regional prosperity, security and cooperation among partner militaries. Ackerman is a squadron surgeon and De La Cruz is a surface force independent duty corpsman with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.