The "first" "Joint/International Special Operations Medical Conference" was held in 1987 at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and Schools at Ft. Bragg, NC (JFKSWCS, GEN James Guest, Commandant). Recognizing that Special Operations medics, worldwide, had a unique and onerous responsibility, and that these medical assets were developing their own solutions to problems in isolation from each other, then -MAJ Steven Yevich, JFKSWCS Command Surgeon, initiated and organized the effort to get all the Special Operations medical players to one table – both US military as well as foreign military – to exchange ideas, get new information, look at new products being developed, and build unity and an identity in this small, but intense, group of medics. The intended target audience for the conference was Special Operations medics from US Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, although physicians and Physician Assistants, Medical Operations and Logistics officers, and nurses were also invited. To their considerable credit, Ms. Carol Bushong, with assistance from Jim Fetterson (deceased), took Yevich's ideas and input and translated them, single-handedly and in less than three months, to a surprisingly successful four day conference, complete with Special Forces Training tours, Army Surgeon General attendance, a formal banquet, "Special Operations Medicine" belt buckles, and binders with logos. Over 75 medical representatives from all four US military services' active duty, National Guard and Reserve Special Forces, Ranger, SEAL, and Force Recon units attended, as well as DOD Research and Development, Medical Operations, and Logistics agencies. Three foreign countries sent representatives (German, British SAS, Australian SAS). Over a dozen military and commercial vendors displayed products and equipment. US Army and Navy Medical sections held breakout sessions during the conference.

         The success engendered a second Joint/International Medical Conference at JFKSWCS in 1988, supported by the Deputy Commandant ( then- COL Richard Potter) with sponsorship by the fledgling US Special Operations Command (newly established at Mac Dill AFB, FL). Attendance doubled, with representation from five countries – and with a much greater product demonstration. An outcome agenda, with "deliverables", drove the meeting.

          The impetus to continue an annual Special Operations Medical conference was dropped after Major Yevich left the Command in 1989 due to the intensity of effort required to put on this production. However, in December 1992, COL Alan Meyer, the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Surgeon, brought his Special Forces Group and Ranger Regimental/Battalion Surgeons together along with all available medics. Additionally, Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) Surgeons attended for a total of 75 physicians and medics. That conference was held in the Prince Charles Hotel in downtown Fayetteville, NC. It was funded by Miles Pharmaceuticals (now Bayer), Hoechst (now Aventis), Smithkline (now Glaxo-Smithkline), Pfizer, Medical Plastics Lab, and Skedko -- all original contributors who continue to support and fund the SOMA organization. The attendees mutually agreed that this joint convocation should continue on an annual basis, with the main focus aimed at the continuing education of Special Forces (SF) medics.

            To overcome the financial and logistical constraints involved with a military-run conference, it was decided to launch a not-for-profit organization dedicated to Special Operation Forces (SOF) medical personnel. The initial planning cell for this was Bob Clayton (US Army Special Forces, Retired) and Dale Hamilton (LTC, Special Forces, Reserves). A charter with by-laws was drafted, and LTC Hamilton incorporated the Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) in his home state of Tennessee, where he organized the bulk of the annual meetings' agendas during the year. In 1994, the IRS granted SOMA tax-exempt status as a private, educational charity under section 501C-3 of the Federal Code.

           The SOMA logo, submitted by COL Jimmy Coy, depicts the caduceus, crossed arrows, wings and a green beret – a design which can be traced back to a logo used in the 300F-1 Special Forces Aid man class, possibly designed by SFC Jesse Denman (circa 1987).

            While there had always been an evening for a social platform for attendees, speakers and sponsors to informally interact, LTC Hamilton recognized the need for a signature event to institutionalize this interaction. Accordingly, he went to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, to the Army Bagpipe School, where the experts in this traditional lore laid out the program and music in use today on Mess Night.

           The subsequent three annual SOMA meetings were held in Fayetteville, NC. Original members (all Individual Manning Augmentees or IMA reservists) who put the meetings together were COL Harry Heinitsh, COL Jimmy Coy, LTC Mike Huggins, MAJ JD Leppert, SGM Rupert Knowles, and, of course, LTC Dale Hamilton and Mr. Bob Clayton.

           In 1996, COL Richard Smerz, the USSOCOM Surgeon, used the SOMA meeting as the venue to bring his Component Surgeons and medics together. The meeting was moved to the Mac Dill AFB region (Tampa, FL), where the meeting has been held annually ever since. As the Command Surgeon for USSOCOM from 1998-2001, Colonel Yevich continued the emphasis for strongest support of the SOMA meeting as the single annual forum which brought together all US military medical personnel from SOF, or in medical support of SOF, to interact with each other, research and developmental agencies, commercial vendors, and foreign Special Operations medical personnel. Following him, Col. Dave Hammer, as the first US Air Force physician selected as USSOCOM Command Surgeon, has continued the support and emphasis on SOMA, assisting in the development of the annual agenda to best reflect the current interests and nuances of the SOF medical community.

            With only an annual meeting to make organizational decisions, from 1993 until 2001, the SOMA was able to survive and indeed rapidly expand due to the energy of Dale Hamilton, who humbly assumed the onerous role of keeping the organization together, arranging every facet of its operation, including the conference's agenda, layout, hotel arrangements, banquet arrangements, and sponsorships and other associated financial transactions. Sponsorship and attendance have now grown to over 700 attendees, representing 21 countries, with an annual entourage of distinguished guests and speakers, 45 commercial vendor displays, the granting of CME's/CEU's, SOMA paraphernalia, and a banquet steeped in newly established tradition. In addition, paramilitary medics now attend – FBI, SWAT, DEA, firefighters, etc. The SOMA provides strong support for the Command Surgeons and other medical components of USSOCOM, realizing that the genesis of formal medical support tailored specifically to SOF was conceived and refined by these US SOF units over half a century ago.

           As from the beginning, intentions for a gathering of Special Operations medical personnel were directed toward the education and training of the SOF (and the SOF-like ) medic, who often alone and unsupported, in perilous circumstances, are responsible for the health care of the team, as well as the surrounding indigenous population (including non-combatant children, women, and the elderly). By providing the forum for these military and civilian personnel from around the world to meet and exchange ideas, the SOMA seeks to advance the science, technology, and skills of this group to increase survivability, against the odds, for the people under their care.

Former Presidents

1. Jim Coy, COL , MD, USAR, Ret. - 1994 – 1995

2. Craig LLewellyn , COL , MD, USA , Ret. - 1996 – 1998

3. Robert Leitch , COL , RN, Ret. - 1999 – 2001

4. Steven J. Yevich, COL , MD USA Ret. - 2002 – 2004