Team Rubicon - Why We Do What We Do

Posted By Blackfive

Team Rubicon video below talks about the mission (and yes, the First Lady had nice things to say about us), and how TR fits into the whole scheme of disaster response:

  

TEAM RUBICON 2 min Promo from TEAM RUBICON on Vimeo.

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Team Rubicon - Strangers, Veterans, Rescuers

Posted By Blackfive

TR made today's edition of USAToday (page 3 in print).  Here's a taste:

When Kasey Sands and her family returned home last month a few days after a tornado flattened much of Joplin, Mo., a dozen strangers were removing trees toppled in their yard.

"I asked them who they were, and they said they were veterans," says Sands, 27. "They said they like to help with peace and not just with war."

They were Team Rubicon, a non-profit group of veterans formed after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to help in the immediate aftermaths of disasters...

Read the whole excellent article here.

You can go here to learn about and support Team Rubicon.

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Speaking of Pakistan taking our aid but denying our supply convoys...

Posted By Blackfive

Here's the Executive Summary of Team Rubicon's operation in Pakistan to provide relief in remote areas of Pakistan, the-country-that-is-accepting-our-massive-flood-relief-aid-but-blocking-our-convoys-from-crossing-into-Afghanistan-so-they-will-get-shot-up-by-the-Taliban.  Part of the summary is below:

...On August 28th TR deployed a two-man advance team to conduct a pre-deployment site survey of the southern Punjab region. On arrival the team met with the PMA, secured transportation and lodging, and identified safe routes of travel for the arriving team. Once the main body arrived three days later, TR set out to flood affected areas near the town of Muzzafargarh. Along with a well-trained and motivated group of Pakistani doctors, TR was able to set up daily clinics and treat more than 1,000 people per day...

Read the whole summary here.

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Team Rubicon - Pakistan Update

Posted By Blackfive

Here's the latest update from Team Rubicon's Pakistan Team Leader, William McNulty:

The Team Rubicon Pakistan mission is in many ways a pilot program for American medical professionals who are apprehensive about working in this country. Over the past few days TR has treated over 2,500 patients in various parts of southern Punjab, an area devastated by the floods and resulting water-borne disease. We treated patients for heat stroke, malaria, multi-drug resistant TB, scabies, boils, diarrhea, and severe dehydration. We were able to reach remote villages because we developed a local partner who facilitated our entry, security, and other logistical needs. Dr. Eduardo Dolhun noted that many of his colleagues wanted to travel to Pakistan but were just too scared to commit. Given the barriers to entry, including fear, I think we’ve proved that developing a trusted local partner – in conjunction with local security forces – is a safe way to bring medical relief to the 20 million plus Pakistani people who have lost their homes due to the flooding crisis. God knows they need it.

William McNulty
Team Leader
TR Pakistan

Be sure to check TR's blog with all of the updates (but a warning, as with Haiti, some of the photos are not for the weak hearted).  When you donate to TR, this is what is done with your hard earned money - TR saves lives.

TR members working with/teaching Pakistani children on how to stay healthy during the floods.

Out of scalpels due to the amount of boils TR has seen. Used 14 gauge needle to lance 3 boils on this girls face. “7 year old girl with multiple boils on her head. Very anxious and screaming when she arrived. Premedicated with augmentin and diazepam” says Dr. Dolhun.

With disease, flooding, and of course, extremist elements, TR is doing the best that they can to help the people of Pakistan.  Go here to read more.

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Team Rubicon Headed To Pakistan

Posted By Blackfive Team Rubicon is heading to Pakistan this week.

Dr. Eduardo Dolhun of Stanford reached out to TR to provide security for this mission. The emphasis on security is highlighted by the recent order by the Taliban to attack foreign aid workers. The team is composed of veterans - former Army SF, former Navy Seals, former Army Infantry, and former Marine.

Dr. Dolhun has a proprietary oral rehydration solution (ORS) called Drip Drop that is used to treat cholera, dehydration, and disease. TR is going to remote areas to, not only deliver the ORS solution, but train people how to make it with locally available resources. Indigenizing the solution is the end goal of this mission, so that those that TR trains are less of a burden on the already stretched thin government and NGOs. Dolhun is Mayo Clinic trained and educated, and he deployed with TR in Haiti. He is an expert at treating cholera so TR's mission matches up well with the conditions on the ground. TR is carrying enough solution to treat up to 8,000 refugees. Dolhun wants to identify a solid partner on the ground so more ORS can be shipped in after TR's departure.

I believe that Hugh Hewitt will have an exclusive with Team Rubicon who will be on his show live from Pakistan.

Donations are needed:

http://teamrubiconusa.org/2010/08/28/your-donations-needed-to-bring-oral-rehydration-therapy-to-pakistan/

Here's a video about Dolhoun's Drip Drop working in Haiti.

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Team Rubicon - Mission to the Thai-Burma Border

Posted By Blackfive

As many of you know, I'm an advisor to Team Rubicon.

Here's an interview with Co-Founder and President of TR, Jake Wood, which aired on VH1.

Team Rubicon is conducting a training mission that will help the people of Burma.  Here are the details:

Mission: In August Team Rubicon is sending a group of six highly trained medical personnel to a location near the Burmese border. There they will train approximately 30 Burmese refugees who will in turn return to their refugee camps and provide medical aid to the people being systematically killed and displaced by the Burmese Junta.

Who: Team Rubicon bridges the critical time gap between large disasters and conventional aid response. We provide vanguard medical care by fielding small, self-­‐ sustaining, mobile teams of specially skilled first-­‐responders. In the spirit of preparedness, Team Rubicon deploys medical teams on proactive missions to service regions in need of ongoing medical relief.

Why: The Burmese people are some of the most oppressed on the planet. Burma is ruled by a military Junta, widely known to use violence, rape, kidnapping, economic pressure and other means to institute its policy:

• The Military Junta has been systematically waging a genocidal war against three ethnic groups within its borders.
• The Junta relies heavily on laying landmines throughout its country, and has been accused of using refugee prisoners as "human minesweepers" on multiple occasions. 
• Members of the United Nations and major international human rights organizations have issued repeated and consistent reports of widespread and systematic human rights violations in Burma. The United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly called on the Burmese Military Junta to respect human rights. In November 2009 the General Assembly adopted a resolution "strongly condemning the ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms" 
• Burma spends the lowest percentage of its GDP on healthcare of any country in the world international human rights and humanitarian law."

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Team Rubicon estimates that $15,000 will be needed to conduct this mission. Please make your tax-­‐deductible contribution today! All donors who donate amounts over $500 will receive a free Team Rubicon T-­‐Shirt!

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Team Rubicon - Fundraiser in Chicago May 7th

Posted By Blackfive

Team Rubicon is hosting a fundraiser in Chicago on May 7th. Mrs. BlackFive and I will be there to assist the TR guys. If you're in the area, please consider joining us:

Beer, food, Team Rubicon?? We think so! Team Rubicon, looking to harness the momentum it gained winning the Mobilize.org grant competition in Los Angeles, CA, will be hosting a fundraiser at McFadden’s Saloon in Chicago, IL.

Team Rubicon’s regional leaders are locking themselves in a conference room all weekend to discuss the key initiatives TR will be tackling for the rest of 2010.  However, before that work begins, they want to invite the HEART of Team Rubicon, YOU, out for a meet and greet!  So here are the details:

What: Team Rubicon Fundraiser/ Meet and Greet
When: Friday, May 7th, from 6pm to 9pm (the unofficial end time will be much later!)
Where: McFadden’s Saloon, 1206 N. State Pkwy, Chicago, IL
Who: YOU! Plus TR Regional Leaders, and volunteers from TR Chicago
Why: Because we want you to know who you’re supporting

$30 will get you All You Can Eat and Drink (tap, wine, wells) from 6-9.  Team Rubicon will receive $10 for every ticket sold.  Additionally, TR is working with local businesses and pro sports teams to donate items for a silent auction...

More details here.

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Team Rubicon - On the Move

Posted By Blackfive

A few announcements about Team Rubicon:

1.  Team Rubicon has won 1st place in the “Beyond the Welcome Home” Summit put on by Mobilize.org. William McNulty, Jake Wood and Clay Hunt presented their case which was then voted on by all participants and experts.  Check out the TR Blog for videos of the presentation and the judges comments.  CONGRATS!

2.  TR's After Action Review of the Haiti operation is online.  It's an excellent piece of work.

3.  They secured a somewhat well-known Irish paratrooper for their Advisory Board.

4.  Two of the members of "Team Rubicon - Mission Haiti" will be at the Fifth Annual MilBlog Conference.

There's a lot more as the team is on the move - you should sign up for their email newsletter or find them on Facebook and other social media.

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Team Rubicon - Mission Chile

Posted By Blackfive

Team Rubicon meets Brigadier General Pablo BELMAR LABBE, Chilean Army (ret), at the Ejercito de Chile. General Belmar assisted TR in planning our movement to San Pedro en la manana.

Be sure to read their updates at their blog (this one too) and help support Team Rubicon.

[You can read all of Team Rubicon's updates on Blackfive here]
[You can visit and support the team here.]

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Team Rubicon new mission - Chile

Posted By Blackfive Check out their website for information and donate as Team Rubicon is sending a team into Chile (via Argentina).

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