When most people think of special operations units, they tend to think of Navy SEALs, Delta Force, or Green Berets.  In the minds of many, particularly our nation’s enemies, America’s Special Operations forces have earned a reputation as the most capable war fighters on the planet, able to train friendly foreign nations, take on missions no others could, and in the simplest possible terms, deal death to those who would stand against our nation and its interests.

Not all special operations units deal in death however, and for many that have been injured in combat in recent years, there’s one special operations unit that represents something completely different: another chance at life.

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Surgical Teams (SOSTs), like other units that fall under the command umbrella of SOCOM, are made up of some of the best and brightest medical staff in the U.S. military.  These highly trained teams carry the latest in life-saving field equipment intended to permit them to follow America’s elite war fighting groups like the SEALS, Rangers, and others into austere and high threat environments, all while providing advanced levels of care with a significantly smaller tactical footprint than conventional surgical assets.  Each SOST is almost like a mobile trauma center, complete with modular load outs intended to help best prepare them to treat the types of casualties they may expect from a specific operation.

This ability to rapidly deploy to high risk environments and provide life-saving care to those injured in combat has meant many of America’s war fighters who would have otherwise died in the field or en route to treatment, are still alive today thanks to the bravery and hard work of men like Lt. Col. (Dr.) Benjamin Mitchell, an SOST surgeon who was awarded the 2017 Heroes of Military Medicine Award this past May for his life saving work while deployed in support of operations Inherent Resolve, Resolute Support and Enduring Freedom.