NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. — An elite, far-forward Navy Medicine surgical asset returned to U.S. soil on Oct. 17, 2026, touching down at the military air terminal at Naval Air Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
During their deployment, which began on March 5, 2026, Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System 15 (ERSS-15) established Damage Control Resuscitative and Surgical care at a far-forward base. Their presence directly supported land and maritime task forces by providing a critical life-saving capability in theater.
“We provided a surgical team in a forward position,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Rachel Robeck, a physician’s assistant on the team. “Different operations can only occur because we were pre-positioned where we were. We were ready to take casualties and patients if needed.”…