CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan -- U.S. Navy corpsmen with Evans Medical Clinic conducted a shot exercise, also known as SHOTEX, with the Marines of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Marine Corps Installation Pacific, on Camp Foster Aug. 24.
The SHOTEX is a medical readiness stand-down held to increase medical readiness by providing vaccinations, physicals and eye exams conveniently where the majority of Marines live and work.
After signing in, the Marines had their blood pressure, vision and temperatures checked to ensure they did not have any previously unknown medical issues.
"Right now we are tracking people down who need medical attention and getting them up-to-date on all of their shots and physicals," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Ricardo L. Arreguin, a hospital corpsman with 3rd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. "This contributes to battalion readiness."
The SHOTEX is another avenue by which commanders can reach a higher level of readiness, and it also gives the corpsman a good training opportunity by providing a chance to conduct live procedures.
According to Petty Officer 2nd Class Leonard F. Thomas, a hospital corpsman with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, force health protection guidelines state the minimum readiness standard is 75 percent. However, leadership within III MEF has set the standard at 85 percent, with the ultimate goal of 100 percent.
"This is our second time conducting a SHOTEX in a year and a half," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Norman L. Delacruz, an independent duty corpsman with the clinic. "Today we will be expecting around 100 people."
For the corpsmen and hospitalmen of the clinic, the goal is to keep Marines healthy and mission ready through excellent medical care while sticking to their motto of "medical readiness is mission readiness."
"We want to increase our medical readiness, therefore raising our deployment readiness," said Delacruz. "We want to make it possible for Marines to do their jobs without the hindrance of any medical issues."