photo and digital art by maj. william d. ritter, army ... · indian reservation receives needed...

www.usar.army.mil/armedcom

Photo and digital art by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

3

Table Of ContentsWords from the Wise ..................................................4Medical Experts Lend Helping Hand

in Swaziland ............................................................5Medics Lend a Helping Hand ....................................6Global Medic 2009 Ends in Success ........................6AR-MEDCOM Gets New

Commanding General ..........................................7Reserve Medics Train Next to Civilian

Counterparts ..........................................................8Training with Advanced Dummies............................9

Mississippi Community Benefits from New Army Reserve Training Program ..................10

Indian Reservation Receives Needed Medical Aid from Army Reserve............................................11Training Program Provides Needed Care to

Americans; Training for Reserve Soldiers ........................................12 & 13

Reserve Nurse Prepares Service Members to Survive ............................................14

Army & Navy Reserve Train Guard ......................14AR-MEDCOM Holds ACC Event ........................15Knoxville Area Holds Covenant Signing ..............15AR-MEDCOM NCO Feature story #4 ....................

Dual NCO Family Endures More For Army ..............................................................16

Warrior Medics Treat More Than 7,200 Patients in Haiti ....................................................17

Army Reserve Medicine Reaches Out to Rural Ugandans ....................................18 & 19

Nurse Delivers Baby in Uganda ..............................20Butler Competes with Army’s Best ........................21AR-MEDCOM NCO Feature story #5

TRICARE Benefit Helps NCO Survive Cancer to Serve Another Day ............................22

On The Cover:Lt. Col. Ned Hubbard an optometrist from the7203rd MSU performs an eye exam to deter-mine the type of prescription that KennedyBrown, 6, a Clarksdale resident will need.Children’s who were not able to get there pre-scription glasses on site are able to receive themby mail.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Julio Nieves

Do you have a story to tell?The goal of the Army Reserve MedicalCommand’s Public Affairs Officer is to featurestories in this publication that represent unitsfrom all over our command’s region of responsi-bility. We are always seeking stories that wouldbe of interest to our readers. Contributions arewelcome. Story ideas as well as written articlesand photos for consideration should be submit-ted to [email protected]., orcall 1-877-891-3281, extension 3730.

An Army Reserve Medical Command Publication

What’s Your Army Reserve Story? Submissions/Ideas are welcome! Contact us at [email protected]., or call 1-877-891-3281, extensions 3730 or 3962.

OTHER CONTACTS:AR-MEDCOM HQ, General Inquiries (877) 891-3281 [email protected] ARMEDCOM HQ, Emergency OperationsCenter, 727-563-3635/3949 or [email protected] Duty Officer, 727-254-2099

From the New CommandingGeneral...

I want to take amoment to thank allof you for your pastsupport of Maj. Gen.Hasbargen and Col.Kelly-Hoehn. Butwith their departurescomes a new chapterin the history of theArmy Reserve MedicalCommand. A chapterthat will continue to focus on consistentconflict around the globe in which medicalprofessionals such as ours will be needed.

I encourage you to seek out new andinnovative ways to train our Soldiers moreefficiently to get them to the battlefieldquicker. I’d ask that you seek out whattraining options you might have locally inyour region that may benefit you’reSoldiers and our command.

I look forward to meeting you as atravel to battle assemblies throughout thecountry. Talking directly with Soldiers inthe field, at any level, is the best way tounderstand their needs, concerns andideas.

I thank you for your service to ournation and our Army. I also want to thankthe Family members who support you,consistently enabling you to do your ArmyReserve job. Without them supportingyou there would not be any innovativeideas coming in to better train ourSoldiers.

Maj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulke,Commanding General, AR-MEDCOM

From the FormerChief-of-Staff,AR-MEDCOM...

I want to take aminute to thank every-body for their contin-ued support over thelast three plus years Ihave been a chief ofstaff at the ArmyReserve Medical Command. Your out-standing dedication to your job and ourSoldiers have enabled us to provide out-standing care for our military patients,units, and Families.

My job, while challenging at times,was made possible by your assistance andattention to detail. Together we deployedthousands of Soldiers to the Balkans, theMiddle East, Europe, and countless mili-

tary treatment facilities throughout theUnited States. Our medical professionalswere trained, sustained, and maintain byyour hard work and excellent staff coordi-nation. Because of this hundreds, if notthousands, of our fellow military col-leagues owe their health and possibly theirlife to you.

Though my tenure as chief of staff isending, I am comforted knowing that ourSoldiers will still have professionals likeyou looking out for their best interests aswe provide the best medical care possibleto our troops.

It has been a pleasure to serve as yourchief of staff, and as a fellow Soldier withyou, during this vital time in our nation’shistory. I will look back at the history ofthe Army Reserve Medical Command andknow you and I together truly made a dif-ference to our Reserve Soldiers and fellowmilitary colleagues as we fought againstterrorism, defending and our way of life.

Not everybody can truly say their joband life has made a difference in thisworld and to those around them. Theycare we’ve provided through the Soldierswe’ve trained, has positively affectedcountless lives around the world.

I am proud of the work we havedone and of the commitments that eachof you continue to display while you con-tinue to serve into the future.

Thank you again for your assistanceand support. Godspeed in all your futureendeavors.

Col. Deborah A. Kelly-Hoehn,Former Chief-of-StaffAR-MEDCOM

From the CSM...

As the Year ofthe NCO comes to aclose, I want to thankeach NCO out therefor your service. I alsowant you to knowyour contributions arenoted by the highestlevels of command within our military.Below are comments made by theSecretary of Defense regarding the impor-tance of NCO in his life and career.========================= Gates Praises NCO Corps as Army’s‘Steel Spine’By John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - Soon after donning hisAir Force second lieutenant uniform in

1967, Robert M. Gates learned an impor-tant lesson about how the U.S. militaryfunctions.

“It took me all of about a day and ahalf before I figured out who it was thatreally made the military run -- or at least,made we junior officers run: the noncom-missioned officers,” he told an audience atthe annual Association of the U.S. Armyconference here today.

“So I did what my sergeant suggest-ed,” he recalled. “And the two of us didmy job pretty well.”

Gates, now secretary of defense,reflected on how this early insight into the

value of NCOs helped to shape hisview of the military that he would lead asits civilian chief some 40 years later.

Often described as “the backbone ofthe military,” a noncommissioned officer,or NCO, is an enlisted member of anarmed force who has been given authorityby a commissioned officer. The Army’sNCO corps includes corporals and allgrades of sergeant.

“As secretary of defense, I pay everybit as much attention to what NCOs saynow as I did when I was a very green sec-ond lieutenant,” he said. “I always make ita point to meet with and listen to NCOsaround the country and in the theater,where they’re serving with such honor anddistinction.”

Highlighting an exceptional exampleof the kind of courage and leadershipoften associated with NCOs, Gatesinvoked the story of Army Sgt. 1st ClassJared Monti, an NCO who posthumouslyreceived the military’s highest decorationlast month.

“His is a story of true valor, andthere are so many others,” Gates said.“And in fact, it’s hard to believe that onlysix Medals of Honor have been bestowedsince 2001, all posthumously.”

Gates also singled out Sgt. JasonEasom, an Army NCO with two tours inIraq under his belt. Easom, an enlistedaide to the defense secretary, is one of thefirst people Gates sees when he enters hisoffice in the morning, Gates noted.

“As you might expect, he’s almostalways there when I leave, as well,” thesecretary added, underscoring his personalknowledge of the daily contributionsNCOs make.

=========================

Keep up the good work!

Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Schulz,CSM, AR-MEDCOM

4Warrior Medic Magazine - Fall 2009

AR-MEDCOM Public Affairs products are available on the web. Visit: http://www.dvidshub.net/units/AR-MEDCOM. The Army Makes You Strong, We Make It Known!

Words from the Wise

5 An Army Reserve Medical Command Publication

Commander, AR-MEDCOMMaj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulke

Chief of Staff, AR-MEDCOMCol. Jerry J. Cockrell

Command Sgt. Major, AR-MEDCOMCommand Sgt. Maj. Roger B. Schulz

Chief, Public Affairs, AR-MEDCOMMaj. William D. Ritter

WARRIOR MEDIC STAFF:Editor in Chief/Design and Layout/Writer:Maj. William D. RitterNCOIC/Associate Editor/Writer:Master Sgt. Enid Ramos-MandellBroadcast Officer/Video Editor/Writer:1st Lt. Michael MeyerBroadcast Journalist/Writer:Sgt. Kirk BellPhotojournalist/Writer:Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jones

Warrior Medic is an unofficial publication authorized by Army RegulationAR 360-1. This is an authorized publication for members of the Army.Contents of Warrior Medic Magazine are not necessarily the official viewsof, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense,Department of the Army or the Army Reserve Medical Command. It iswritten, edited and published by the Public Affairs Office, Army ReserveMedical Command, 2801 Grand Avenue, Pinellas Park, Fla. 33782; tele-phone number 1-877-891-3281, ext. 3730 or 3962; Fax (727) 563-3625.AR-MEDCOM PAO thanks those writers, photographers and publications listed in the byline credits for their contributions to this publication. Their material is copyrighted to their respectivepublications, and used with permission.

STAFF


MBABANE, Swaziland - U.S.Army Reserve Soldiers, Col.Morgan M. Gray, commanderof the Medical Support Unit-Europe (MSU-E) inMannheim, Germany, andCapt. Charles A. Pastor, a

medical doctor assigned to the MSU-E,took part in an exercise designed to sharethe Army’s medical expertise withSwaziland military leaders and Ministry ofHealth officials, August 2009.

MEDFLAG 09 is a joint and com-bined military exercise led by U.S. ArmyAfrica in support of U.S. Africa Command(AFRICOM) to improve medical disasterpreparedness and humanitarian assistancemanagement.

The three-phase MEDFLAG exercise,in addition to promoting medical andsecurity cooperation between the U.S. andSwaziland militaries, also aimed to improveinteroperability between Swaziland militaryand government ministries and enhancethe Swazi’s capabilities to respond to disas-ters and medical emergencies.

During the first phase, Gray andPastor provided training on the militarydecision-making process and respondingto disasters and pandemics, and demon-strated how inter-ministerial cooperation isessential in disaster response.Representatives from Swaziland’sMinistries of Health, Agriculture, and theUmbutfo Swaziland Defense Force tookpart.

“They were very interested in thepresentation, The Ministry of Health andthe Ministry of Defense worked well dur-ing the pandemic influence table top exer-cise supporting the importance of inter-ministry coordination during disasterresponse,” said Gray.

Swaziland recently created a nationaldisaster pandemic task force, and since thecountry recently experienced a choleraoutbreak, the pandemic exercise was rele-vant and helpful in further developingtheir capacity to manage medical emergen-cies. Swaziland also faces challenges withdiseases such as HIV and tuberculosis,

which are prevalent inthe country.

During phase twoof the exercise, Grayhelped supervise andscript the narration ofthe mass casualty exer-cise conducted bySwaziland military andfirst responders.

“We came up witha script to explain whatall the actions were asthey were occurringduring the [mass casu-alty exercise],” saidGray. “This event wasobserved by many U.S.and Swaziland digni-taries, and they wereimpressed by the rapidresponse and effectivetreatment and evacua-tion performed by theSwaziland first respon-ders.”

In phase three --the humanitarian civicaction phase -- veteri-narians, dentists andother medical person-nel went into each ofSwaziland’s four dis-tricts, setting up clin-ics in schools andtreating animals atvarious sites.

“The Ministry ofHealth is doing atremendous job attempting to improve thehealth of the Swazi’s with the resources ithas and is grateful to the medical andhumanitarian projects such as MEDFLAG09 that provide some very helpful assis-tance,” said Gray.

During the two-week exercise, roughly2,400 medical and dental patients wereseen and treated during visits to the Swazivillages in each of the four regions of thecountry. At veterinary sites, nearly 10,500animals received treatment.

Gray also supervised an outreachproject to the Emmanuel Khayalethuorphanage in Motjane. Exercise partici-pants donated more than $800 worth offood, supplies and toys for the orphanage.

“I guess the most rewarding thing wasto see the children’s faces. It was likeChristmas in the summer time.” Gray said.“I think it was a very productive exercise;all the participants gained from it, both theU.S military and the Swazis.”

Medical Experts Lend Helping Hand in Swaziland

Army Reserve Col. Morgan M. Gray, commander of the Medical Support Unit-Europe (MSU-E) inMannheim, Germany, holds a Swazi orphan during a medical exercise in Mbabane in August 2009.MEDFLAG 09 is a joint and combined military exercise led by U.S. Army Africa in support of U.S.Africa Command to improve medical disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance manage-ment. (Photo by Staff Sergeant Lesley Waters, CJTF-HOA

By Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Pomeroy, 7th Civil Support Command Public Affairs.



FORT HUNTER LIGGETT,Calif. - After an intense gun-fight, a U.S. Soldier lies wound-ed in the dusty landscape. Thecasualty suffers from a gapinggun shot wound, accompaniedby a large exit wound through

the back. To make matters worse, his inter-nal organs are exposed.

The mission is a resounding suc-cess. Although there were a few minor set-backs, the patient will arrive at the hospitalin time and undergo operation.

What took place was a training exer-cise and part of Global Medic 2009, theU.S. Army Reserve Command’s premierejoint training exercise. The patient is actu-ally a mannequin preset to specificationsby Regional Training Site - Medical. Theentire scenario was created by 7305thMedical Training Support Battalion’sobserver-trainers such as Army Staff Sgt.Sean Nikakis and Army Maj. JohnNiedzwiedzki.

The 7305th MTSB is an active partici-pant in the Global Medic exercise takingplace at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., andthe unit’s intention is to present mentor-ship and supervision to medics participat-ing in the event.

“In the exercise, we provide guidance

and information so that they cango forward and improve theirskills to better prepare them fordeployment,” said Master Sgt.Tinamarie Reese, senior noncom-missioned officer of the 7305thMTSB.

Reese, working in tandemwith her officer counterpart,Col. Darryl Burton, to providecommand and control over theobserver-trainer cell of GlobalMedic. The medical unit originates fromSacramento, Calif., with an auxiliarydetachment operating in Camp Parks,Calif. In addition to the main staff of7305th MTSB personnel, nine additionalunits fall under its command to supple-ment the training regimen for GlobalMedic.

According to Reese, the 7305thMTSB frequently synchronizes with RTSMED to devise training schedules andplanning. While the unit constructs a sce-nario in their tactical operations center,RTS MED supplies either a mannequin ora live-role player to play the role of thecasualty. RTS MED then informs theobserver-trainers of the casualty’s location.Subsequently, the observer-trainers providethe mission brief for the medics engaged

in the prospective scenarios. Finally, themission begins, and the observer-trainerswalk the medics through their courses ofaction.

At the conclusion of every trainingmission set, the observer-trainers conductformal after-action reviews of the overallperformance of the medics. The AARsaddress the pros and cons of the exercise,providing a template for Soldiers to basetheir future training missions on.Afterwards, the information gathered fromthe scenarios and AARs are entered intothe database collection situated in the7305th MTSB tactical operations center.

The 7305th MTSB will continue toprovide observer-trainer support until theexercise’s completion, and the lessonslearned will help better prepare the train-ing units for future deployments.

Medics Lend a Helping Hand

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT,Calif. - The U.S. Army Reserveis a safer environment thesedays - due largely to the train-ing that more than 400 medicalSoldiers received during GlobalMedic 2009 June 10 through

15 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.Global Medic 2009 replicated all

aspects of operations on today’s modernbattlefield, allowing the Reserve medicalcommunity to train as the fight. The exer-cise simultaneously took place at threeArmy installations across the United States.

“Global Medic’s main purpose is toprovide the tools and resources to allowunit commanders to evaluate, assess andtrain their units,” said Col. Eric Rodriguez,deputy commander of the Army ReserveMedical Readiness and Training Command.

During the six-day exercise, Soldiersfrom ten different Reserve medical units

worked side by side with some of theiractive duty counterparts, as well as supportrolls filled by the Marine Corps, Air Forceand other key elements of the ArmyReserve.

Rodriguez explained that training thisway helps all units involved because themore each unit knows about the other’sfunctions, the better they will be able towork together in real-world military opera-tions.

“Everyone is looking at this as theiropportunity to exercise their … skills, tovalidate their procedures and techniquesand use it as a tool to retrain if necessaryto maintain the proficiency level requiredto be successful,” said Rodriguez.

Despite the dry weather and thesomewhat rustic living environment,morale of Global Medic’s participantsseemed healthy.

“I was able to talk to the Air Force,

Marines and others and everyone is verysatisfied in what they have seen and theyare willing to come back next year - andthat’s the whole expectation,” saidRodriguez.

For Soldiers like Pvt. Jose Arroyo, anoperating room technician for the 349thCombat Support Hospital and a native ofFontana, Calif., the training he is receivinghere is a rewarding experience.

“The training we’re doing here goeshand and hand with what we will really doin theater,” said Arroyo. “It’s a great feelingto know people will come in, get fixed andsent back home to their Families whenthey are better.”

Operations such as this one have ledto a drastic increase in the real-world sur-vivability rate of patients under U.S. care.The current survivability rate for personnelunder U.S. care is more than 90 percent -the highest in the history of warfare.

Global Medic Ends in Success

Army Staff Sgt. Sean Nikakis monitors as Pfc. Justin Weggie and Spc. HeatherCochran evaluate and treat a mannequin, prepared beforehand by RTS MED. Themannequin casualty simulated a gun shot wound to its chest with an accompanyingexit wound through its back, and also suffered from abdominal evisceration.

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Tim Sander, 345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

Story and photos By Spc. Christopher A. Hernandez, 345th Public Affairs Detachment.



PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - TheArmy Reserve MedicalCommand (AR-MEDCOM),headquartered here, has a newcommanding general.

In a ceremony, hosted byArmy Reserve Chief, Lt. Gen.

Jack C. Stultz, Maj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulkeassumed command from Maj. Gen. JamesA. Hasbargen on Sunday, September 27.

The AR-MEDCOM was establishedin Pinellas Park on October 16, 2005. Ittrains, certifies and deploys medical pro-fessionals around the world to support thehealth needs of our military. The unit con-sists of doctors, nurses, dentists, psycholo-gists, veterinarians and thousands of sup-port personnel. The command hasdeployed over 5,000 Soldiers in support ofoperations Iraqi and Enduring Freedomsince 9-11.

Hasbargen, who relinquished com-mand, retired from the Army Reserve afterserving 32 years in the Army. He was laud-ed by Stultz for his work.

“Jim Hasbargen has been a thorn in

my side,” said Stultz. “But that’s not a badthing. That means he genuinely caresabout his Soldiers, his Families and hewon’t let me rest without doing whatneeds to be done. That’s the sign of agood leader,” he added.

Lt. Gen. Stultz thanked Maj. Gen.Hasbargen for his service and theHasbargen Family for supporting the gen-eral over his entire career.

“We owe Jim and the HasbargenFamily a huge debt of gratitude,” saidStultz. “His Family, for sharing him withus, and letting him do what he did, and forhim giving us the dedication and devotionhe did, volunteering to wear this uniformall those years - All while running a pri-vate practice.”

Hasbargen, a board certified nephrol-ogist, spent 15 of his 32 years in the Armyon active duty. He served the last three asthe commander of the AR-MEDCOM.He is also board certified in internal medi-cine. He is from Illinois.

Stultz, joined at the ceremony byCongressman C.W. Bill Young, also praised

Hasbargen’s replacement.“Bob Kasulke is another great med-

ical leader in our military,” he said. “I’vehad a lot of interface with him at thePentagon on a regular basis. He is the rightman, for the right job, at the right time,”

added Stultz. “I could nothave picked anyone morequalified, or better suited forthis job, at his time to movethe AR-MEDCOM for-ward.”

Maj. Gen. Kasulke wasdirectly commissioned in theMedical Corps in 1980 fol-lowing graduation frommedical school while com-pleting a fellowship in vascu-lar surgery. He has served inthe Army Reserve since thenand held various assignmentsof greater responsibility. Hecomes to the AR-MEDCOMfrom the Office of theSurgeon General, ReserveAffairs.

In his civilian career,Kasulke specializes in themedical and surgical treat-ment of patients who sufferfrom venous disease. He isboard certified in both gen-eral and vascular surgery.He is from N.Y. state.

Story and photo by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

AR-MEDCOM Gets New Commanding General

Maj. Gen. James A. Hasbargen (left) outgoing commander; Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, (center rear), Army Reserve Chief; and Maj. Gen. Robert J. Kasulke (right),outgoing commander, are escorted by Brig. Gen. David Smalley to review the troops during the the Army Reserve Medical Command’s change-of-command ceremony.

Maj. Gen. James A. Hasbargen rolls up his two-star com-mand flag, symbolizing his retirement, during the ArmyReserve Medical Command’s change-of-command ceremo-ny Sunday in Pinellas Park. Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, (rear)Army Reserve Chief, presided over the ceremony.

New CG Takes Reigns of Army Reserve Medical Command



NASHUA, N.H. - A new train-ing program brought ArmyReserve medical Soldiers to theRadisson Nashua ConventionCenter for their combat medicsustainment training.

Held in conjunction with the NationalFederation of Licensed Practical Nurses’(NFLPN) convention, healthcare special-ists (68W) and licensed vocational nurses(LVNs, 68W-M6) gathered to receive partof their mandatory, bi-annual medicaltraining.

The 2009 68W sustainment confer-ence is the second iteration of a new pro-gram to train medics with 28 hours ofcontinuing education units (CEUs) duringtheir four-day event. By condensing thetraining into one conference, commandersget re-certified Soldiers without losingmultiple battle assemble training periods.

“Our main goal is tore-certify as many ArmyReserve medics as wecan,” said Sgt. Maj.Michael Robinson, theevent organizer. “But oneof the added benefits thatwe are providing is time.Time for commanders toutilize their Soldiers forother mission require-ments,” he added.

According to StaffSgt. Joellan Schroeder, theconference is also benefit-ing first line leaders.

“I’m a platoon sergeant, so I have alot of administrative things to do (at battleassemble),” she said. “My time is valuable.This conference is an excellent way for meto get my CEUs done without effectingmy weekend drill time,” she said.

The inaugural 68W sustainment con-ference was held in October 2008. It wasfirst the time Army Reserve medical per-sonnel attended the NFLPN conventionwhile receiving their medical training.

Robinson, part of the Army ReserveMedical Command’s Medical ReadinessTraining Command, organized the confer-ence to coincided NFLPN event.

“Enlisted medical Soldiers never hadtheir own training conference, like officersdo, to pass on information and network,”he said. “This event lets them mingle withtheir fellow medics and their contempo-

raries in the civilian field.”Spc. Barbara Snow, a civilian emer-

gency room medical technician at NellisAir force base in Nevada, personally bene-fited from a joint conference with theNFLPN.

“They (the nurses) are a wealth ofknowledge for us,” she said. They can giveme information on injury trends that Iwouldn’t thinkto look for.”

Combatmedics arerequired 72-hours ofrefresher train-ing bi-annually.The training isa continuingeducationrequirement for

the Emergency Medical Training Basic(EMT-B) course they initially qualified infor the Army.

The Nashua sustainment conferencefeatured training focused on tactical med-ical care, medical education and individualcompetence testing.

Soldiers trained on a wide variety oftasks including bleeding control, tourni-quet application, emergency bandaging,amputation treatment and applying splintsamongst others.

They used Advanced Life Support(ALS) simulators to practice many of thetasks they trained on. These technological-ly advanced mannequins emulate manybody functions vital for realistic training.

The conference attracted others fromthe Army medical community who wantedto mirror its set up.

Mr. Luciano “Lucky” Valero from the

Regional Training Site Medical (RTS-MED), Camp Parks, was one of those inattendance.

“Our goal in the RTS Camp Parks,and all RTS-MED, is to establish a sustain-ment program for the LVNs,” he said.“This is the only conference that I knowof that offers the LVN sustainment train-ing,” he added. “I am excited to witness

this program so I cansee where I can help.”

The conferencealso offered attendeesthe opportunity totest their skills againstone another in com-petition. The 1stannual medical simu-lation warrior compe-tition was set up inthe convention centerparking lot. Plannersutilized the ALS sim-ulators to presentcompetitors with vari-ous medical traumas.

Soldiers were judged on theirexpertise dealing with careunder fire and tactical fieldcare.

“We do not have anycompetitions at the RST,” saidValero. “It is a good moralebooster within the LVN, com-bat medic community to getthe Soldiers more recognition

(amongst their peers),” he added.At the end of the conference, event

winners walked away with trophies andbragging rights among their fellow medics.But the real winners were the medicalcommanders around the country who aregetting their Soldiers back, with half oftheir bi-annual sustainment training com-pleted at no cost to them.

The Human Resource Commandpicked up the tab for Soldiers to attendthe five-day event.

For information on the next confer-ence, contact Sgt. Maj. Michael Robinsonat [email protected] or269-598-5384.

Editor’s Note: Also contributing to this articlewas Sgt. Kirk Bell.

Story and photos by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

Reserve Medics Train Next to Civilian Counterparts

TOP: Master Sgt. Richard Archie, 100thTraining Division, assesses a patient atthe 68W combat medic sustainmenttraining conference in Nashua, N.H.LEFT: Sgt 1st. Class Leon Fletcher (center), 1st Medical Training Brigade,leads the posting of the colors as the68W combat medic sustainment training conference kicks off in Nashua, N.H., inconjunction with the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses convention.


DES MOINES, Iowa -Medical training has reached awhole new level of realism forthe members of the 4224thU.S. Army Hospital (USAH)from Des Moines Iowa.

As a medical unit, they are required tomaintain their skills and certifications intheir various specialties. Due to the intri-cate nature of their duties in the ArmyReserve, live training is not really a possi-bility. With the help from Des MoinesUniversity (DMU) the 4224th USAH’straining has reached a simulation level pre-viously not known to the unit.

During the unit’s July Battle TrainingAssembly (BTA), members underwenttriagetraining atthe IowaSimulationCenter onthe DMUcampus.The cen-ter is partof theDMUmedicalprogram.

Theytrained onsome ofthe mostadvanceddummiesavailable.Thesetechnologi-cal, sophisticated artificial simulators sup-plied responses to the students that theywould expect from human patients.

Their chests rise and fall, sucking airin and producing carbon dioxide uponexhale. They have a pulse through outtheir body, which changes with their con-dition. Their pupils dilate according tocondition or trauma they are emulating orin conjunction with the amount of light inthe triage area. Their eyes also blink andcry.

Additionally, the mannequins have theability to bleed and have a drug adminis-tration system so the dummy reacts to the

injected drug similarly to theirhuman inventors providing appro-priate reactions for the unit totreat.

“It is real training on someonewho won’t really die” said Col.Donna Dolan the 4224th USAHCommander.

July’s BTA was the first in aseries of ten weekends the unit haslined up to train on the DMUcampus. It recently entered in toan agreement with the IowaSimulation Center to utilize thefacility during BTAs over the nextyear. This will provide better andmore effective training for their

Soldiers,enabling themto sustain therealistic trainingover the courseof the entireyear.

The firstday of trainingwas devoted tothe medics inthe unit. Theyhad the oppor-tunity to train intriage proce-dures at the cen-ter.

“The simu-lation lab helpsto enhance ourtraining withmore “hands-

on”, state-of-the-art equipment,”said Col. Dolan. “We were able toget our senior enlisted experienceguiding the training, while thelower enlisted completed it.”

On the second day of train-ing, officers trained for their certi-fication in Advanced Cardiac LifeSupport (ALCS). The ALCS is part of thenecessary training that must be accom-plished annually buy the doctors and nurs-es in the 4224th, and the Army Reserve.

As the weekend came to a close, thelevel of realism experienced by membersof the 4224th left many amazed over the

dummies abilities.“The mannequin patients have

remarkable features and abilities that emu-late human behavior,” said Col. Dolan.“They will provide excellent training toour Soldiers over the next year.”

Reserve Unit Teams With College for Training

Training withAdvanced Dummies

Capts. Erica Johnson and Christie Hunt, members of the 4224th USAH,trained on some of the most advanced dummies available to maintain theirmedical skills and certifications at the Iowa Simulation Center.


Members of the 4224th trained on advanced dummies, such as this one, tomaintain their certifications. The sophisticated artificial simulators sup-plied responses to the students that they would expect from humanpatients. Their chests rise and fall, sucking air in and producing carbondioxide upon exhale. The unit complete the training during a recent BattleAssemble at the Des Moines University.

Story and photos by Sgt. Eric W. Jones, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.



CLARKSDALE, Miss. - Whilethe tough economy continuesto strain many budgets, somecitizens’ are forced to cuthealth care expenses to makeends meet.

Thanks to the ArmyReserve however, resi-dents of this small com-munity were able to keeptheir care, without theburden of the cost.

Reserve medicalprofessionals, part of theArmy Reserve MedicalCommand, providedfree dental and opticalservices to area resi-dents, as part of theInnovative ReadinessTraining (IRT) program,on their two-weeks of annual training.The IRT program provides ReserveSoldiers vital training, and members ofAmerican society needed care.

In previous years, the Army Reserveconducted training programs in harden

medical facilities like hospitals and clinics.This year however, the IRT programexpanded and medical Soldiers startedworking out of mobile treatment trailers;bringing the facilities to those communi-

ties in need.“The impact is

we’re getting on ourSoldiers realistic train-ing in a realistic envi-ronment,” said Maj.Eugene Poindexter,IRT program directorfor the Army Reserve.

Army Reservedentists and staff per-formed examinations,teeth cleanings, toothextractions and somefillings for local resi-dents. Additionally,

Army Reserve optometrists and staff per-formed examinations and provided freeglasses to all children and some adults.

Angela Brown, 36, a Clarkdale resi-dent brought her four children, ranging inage from 6 to14, in for examinations and

new glasses.“Because of my financial situation, I

am not able to buy glasses for my chil-dren,” she said. Brown estimated she savedover a thousand dollars by taking advan-tage of the IRT program.

The IRT program also served thearea’s pet population. Members of the109th Medical Detachment (Veterinarian),out of Orange County, Calif., were able tospade and neuter over 50 dogs and catsfrom a local animal shelter, to help controlthe area’s pet population.

With Clarksdale facing double-digitunemployment rates, the free health careservices provide by the Army Reservewere critical. Yet the value of the IRT pro-gram went beyond the cost savings for thecommunity, as Soldiers received invaluabletraining.

“The idea is to get the best trainingvalue for the units we can,” said Maj.Poindexter. If we can do that and providea need to America in underserved commu-nities; it’s a win-win situation.”

Army leaders have 10 medical engage-ments planned for next year.

Story by Sgt. Kirk Bell, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office. Photos by Staff Sgt. Julio A. Nieves.

Mississippi Community Benefits from New Army Reserve Training Program

Mississippi Community Benefits fromNew Army Reserve Training Program

Spc. Frank Ramirez Jr. from the 109th Medical Detachment out of OrangeCounty, Calif. uses a hand held respirator and stethoscope to ensure that thepatient is stable during the neutering procedure performed by Maj. AndreaMullen.

Maj. Peter Jang from the 380th out of Millington, Tenn.extracts a tooth from Stephanie Clay, 31, a resident ofClarksdale, Miss.

Lt. Col. Peter Jang from the 380th out of Millington, Tenn.conducts a tooth extraction on Stephanie Clay, 31, a residentof Clarksdale, Miss.

Col. David Collins a general dentist with the7231st U.S.Army Hospital lends a hand to Spc. Taquela Dockinsfrom the 380th out of Millington, TN. while she applies adental curing light on Dorothy Mccray, 41, a Clarksdaleresident after having a filling performed.



ROSEBUD, S.D. - TheRosebud Indian Reservation ishome to the Rosebud SiouxTribe. This summer it wasalso home to Reserve Soldiersfrom the Army Reserve

Medical Command (AR-MEDCOM) whosupported the Rosebud ComprehensiveHealth Care Facility, training and augment-ing the staff at the hospital, as part of theInnovative Readiness Training (IRT) pro-gram.

The reservation is located in thesouth-central section of South Dakota justnorth of the Nebraska border. Theremoteness of the reservation makes med-ical care in the area difficult.

Soldiers from the 4005th U.S. ArmyHospital (USAH) from Lubbock, Texas,the 7203rd Medical Support Unit (MSU)from Hubbard Ind. and the 380th MSUfrom Millington, Tenn., all rotated throughRosebud during the summer.

Their mission, entitled OperationWalking Shield, was organized by the AirForce Reserve Command. The AR-MED-COM participated by sending doctors,nurses, dentists, and medical technicians tothe event. Their participation allowed theReservation hospital to see more patientsthan normally possible. Additionally,Soldiers were able to train the hospitalstaff in various procedures, to enhance thefacilities abilities.

This training was also beneficial toReserve Soldiers who do not work in themedical field in their civilian career. Itoffered them opportunities to get vitalexperience to better perform their militarymedical duties.

For Sgt. 1st Class Diane McDonald,4005th USAH, the mission was an oppor-tunity for her to get some quality hands-ontraining in her Military OccupationalSpecialty (MOS) as a surgical technician.

“Being a senior non-commission offi-cer in the Army Reserve, I am in a leader-ship position, all the time; I’m a supervi-sor, a scheduler. As such, I don’t alwaysget a chance to work side-by-side with mytroops during weekend training,” she said.“This mission enabled me to practice myjob skills alongside my Soldiers as I would

perform in a mob situation.”“I don’t do this in my civilian job; I

teach horticulture to mentally challengedadults,” said McDonald. “I wanted to stepback and take this opportunity to actuallywork in my specialty.”

According to Lt. Col Janet Knox,Chief Nurse from the 4005th USAH, theremote location and hilly terrain ofRosebud also provided beneficial trainingto the Reserve Soldiers, as they were ableto diagnosis and treat ailments that are notnormally seen in an urban environment.

“In a deployed environment you haveto adapt to illnesses you are not familiarwith. This mission presented us a goodopportunity for unique training becausewe learned some new illnesses like snakebites; you don’t see that very often inHouston,” she said.

While in Rosebud, the Soldiers had anopportunity to interact with the local pop-ulation outside of the hospital setting.This helped them to establish a good rap-port.

“We were invited to go to a sweat,which is an Indian cultural event,” said Dr.

Alka Cohen from the 380th MedicalCompany. “The people were so nice andappreciative of everything we are doingfor them.”

Soldiers were also invited to partici-pate in a Native American religious cere-mony. Afterwards, they prepared a mealfor their Rosebud hosts.

These gatherings helped form a con-nection between the Soldiers’ and theRosebud community even though they hadculture differences and diversified back-grounds.

The Rosebud Indian Reservationrequested assistance through theDepartment of Health and HumanResources. It was approved due to reserva-tion budget restriction and scarcity of careproviders in the region.

The AR-MEDCOM’s participationwas part of the IRT program that pro-vides realistic training for Reserve Unitswhile aiding American communities.

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jones, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

Outstanding Mission for Outstanding Training

Indian Reservation Receives NeededMedical Aid from Army Reserve

Lt. Col Janet Knox, Chief Nurse from the 4005 USAH prepares the Rosebud Comprehensive Health Care Facility operating room duringher annual training at the Rosebud Indian Reservation.



HAYNEVILLE, Ala. -Medical professionals fromthe Army Reserve’s 4005thU.S. Army Hospital examinedover 600 residents from thissouthern Alabama community,

helping many in this depressed region getthe medical attention, and education, theyneed.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the4005th was here for their two-week annualtraining, organized as part of theInnovative Readiness Training (IRT) pro-gram.

The IRT program allows communitiesthroughout the United States to requestassistance from the government and themilitary. When approved, Army Reserveunits deploy to the geographic regionrequesting support. Reserve Soldiers helpthe community with whatever project orservice their expertise is needed. The pro-gram aids communities, and fellowAmericans, while providing real-world

training to Reserve Soldiers.For the 4005th, their mission was to

provide medical care to the residents,many of whom are affected by the coun-try’s current economic recession.

They arrived in this Bible-belt town,after the town mayor, Helenor T. Bell,requested economic assistance through thefederal government and the Delta Region.

The Reserve Soldiers set up opera-tions at the town hall, providing free med-ical screenings, education and pharmacyneeds to the community. The unit lived,ate, worked - and in the case of a softballgame, played with the community.

The unit had doctors, nurses, medicsand lab technicians on site, and went outinto the community to visit those whocannot get to the town hall. They adver-tised their services on community bulletinboards and by attending church serviceswhen they first arrived.

According to Mayor Bell, theresponse from the community was over-

whelming.“Every time I came into my office (at

the town hall), residents were thanking mefor getting the Army’s services,” she said.“They are overjoyed by the amount oftime and care the Soldiers were givingthem and asked me if they can come backnext year.”

Unit medic, Spc. Megan McKinney,was thrilled with the training she receivedduring this program as well.

“It was great hands on training toimprove our skills,” she said. “We went outinto the community, and learned to dealwith many issues, many people and manypersonalities.”

McKinney believed two individualsowe their life to this program.

“Two people we evaluated had dan-gerously high blood pressure,” she said.“Had they not come to our clinic, theycould have had a stroke in the nearfuture.”

One area resident traveled seven miles

Training Program Provides Needed Care toInnovative Readiness Training Benefits All Involved

Capt. Wendy Hand, a Physician’s Assistant, discusses treatments optiannual training in the community. Hand, part of the 4005th U.S. Armyteam of medical professionals that provided area residents with free ming two weeks in July.

Spec. Kimberly Scanlon, a patient administration specialist, logs in res-idents of Hayneville, Ala. who are awaiting medical screenings.

Capt. Patrice Lewis, a Physician’s Assistant, evaluates Jeffrey Harris’blood pressure during her unit’s annual training in Hayneville, Ala.

Story and photos by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.



o Americans; Training for Reserve Soldiers

into town after hearing of the clinic froma neighbor during an evening chat.

“You can never get enough check-upsto find out what’s wrong with you,” saidSheskie Smith. “I’ve had two heart attacksand two strokes. Thank God I am stillhere. I was glad to see the Soldiers work-ing here. They treated me well and tookthe time to talk with me” he added.

According to Capt. Catherine Garza,nurse with the 4005th, talking was one ofthe unit’s main missions.

“We were trying to educate the resi-dents’ in areas specific to their needs,” shesaid. “If they have high blood pressure,we sat them down and talked to themabout how to improve it through simplethings, like minor diet adjustments,” sheadded.

According to unit records, 98 percentof the patients examined were instructedon some type of life skills to improvetheir health. Additional unit records showthat each patient was seen on average for

two hours.“We took the time needed to get each

patient the care and instruction they need-ed,” said Garz. “We then sent trainingmaterial home with them to help reinforcewhat they need to do. Many came backwith follow-up questions on their educa-tion,” she added.

During the IRT, over 300 prescrip-tions were issued, more than 400 labs wererun on patients and over 200 EKGs werecompleted - all while patients waited andtalked with their doctor.

The unit partnered with local phar-macies to provide on-going prescriptioncare to residents they examined.

According to the unit’s officer-in-charge, Capt. Jerry Webb, on-going care isa challenge for area residents.

“There is a need for continuation ofcare for these residents,” he said. “Manyof the residents we examined do not havea medical file, they do not see the samehealthcare professional each visit to the

local clinics. We started a medical recordfor everyone we examined and sent it withthem. That way they have a starting pointwith our findings,” he added.

The 4005th used a state-of-art med-ical trailer, provided to the militarythrough a contract. It came complete withthree exam rooms, a lab and portableEKG equipment, enabling the unit to pro-vide the services they did.

As the 4005th wrapped up its IRTprogram on July 31, it left feeling fulfilledand challenged. According to Webb, theunit helped many in need, but he felt theycould do even more on future missions.

“This mission was just like a deploy-ment,” he said. “Each one has its specificchallenges based on culture and region.The more research we, or civil affairs, areable to do prior to the mission, the betterwe can customize the care for area’s resi-dents. I look forward to putting these ‘les-sons-learned’ to the test in Afghanistanthis fall,” he added

ions with Shirley Harris, a Hayneville, Ala. resident during her unit’smy Hospital, from Houston, Texas, served as part of a 30-Soldiermedical screenings, treatment and education for medical issues dur-

Spc. Thomas Deleon a lab technician performs a cholesterol test ona patient, during his unit’s two week IRT in Hayneville, Ala.

Sgt. Eduardo Mendez, a pharmacy technician, logs medication intothe unit’s database during their two week IRT in Hayneville, Ala.

Warrior Medic Magazine - Fall 2009


VANCOUVER, Wash. -Wounded Soldiers: That isCapt. Kathy Steele’s involun-tary reaction to the sound of ahelicopter rotor slicing throughthe sky.

The U.S. Army Reservenurse has been back for more than a year,but keeping people alive in Iraq is still abig part of her life.

Steele is a member of the 396thCombat Support Hospital, based atVancouver Barracks.

She is stationed at Fort Lewis nearTacoma and helps people in all branchesof the military prepare to deploy.

Steele’s lessons come from her ownyear in Iraq. She shared some of thoseexperiences recently in Vancouver, whereshe talked about life on “Easy Street.”

That was the address at one of herstops in Iraq, where Steele and a room-mate shared an 8-foot-by-13-foot metalcontainer. It was two blocks away from therest room, but within range of enemymortars.

Her unit treated coalition Soldierswho arrived by ambulance, in armoredvehicles or on medevac helicopters.

“To this day, my heart beats fasterwhen I hear a helicopter,” the operatingroom nurse said during a meeting of theDowntown Vancouver Rotary.

“Typical injuries would be traumaticallyamputated limbs,” she said. But those don’tnecessarily mean the end of a military

career.One of her patients, a Soldier from

Newburg, Ore., was a high-leg amputee.“He was hurt in July, and in January hewas on his snowboard.”

He was back with his unit inAfghanistan 10 months later, and hereturned to Oregon after finishing histour.

Her operating room also welcomedcontractors and the occasional militarydog.

Many patients were Iraqis - enemywounded as well as members of the Iraqiarmy and police force.

The death of one policeman stilllingers, the 45-year-old nurse said. He diedon Mother’s Day.

“I look at Mother’s Day differentlynow,” said Steele, the mother of two sons.

The biggest share of patients wereIraqi civilians, particularly kids.

“In Mosul, the insurgents knew wehad a soft spot for kids,” Steele said.“They would bomb a play area, and thenwait for us” to respond.

Later that day, Steele would be help-ing a surgeon remove ball bearings from atiny patient.

Some patients had been felled bychlorine gas.

“We’re not used to drinking water outof the Tigris or Euphrates River, so wetreat it. Insurgents blew up a tanker truckfilled with chlorine, causing many civiliancasualties.”

At Fort Lewis, Steele helps ReserveSoldiers, National Guard members andactive troops from all branches prepare fortheir own tours in the war zone. A big partof her job is combat lifesaver training.

“It’s advanced first aid,” said Steele.Some people didn’t take the course

seriously, she added, but those reluctantstudents learned that you don’t have to gooverseas to save a comrade’s life.

“There was a training accident nearby,and they wound up applying what theyhad learned at the scene of the accident,”Steele said.

She also works in suicide preventionand offers “battlemind” training.

“That’s helping them get a mentalimage of what to expect,” said Steele, whowill be going back to her civilian job atProvidence Portland Medical Center in thefall.

Not all challenges are physical.“Ten to 15 percent of us who are

married don’t come back that way,” Steeletold the Rotarians.

Some come back dealing with post-traumatic stress.

Not all her students are expectingcombat, by the way. Steele said a memberof an engineering unit assumed his job asa construction worker would keep him outof harm’s way.

“He said, ‘My job is running a roadgrader,’” Steele said. “When we told him hestill could get shot, he was flabbergasted.”

Reserve Nurse PreparesService Members to SurviveArmy Reserve Nurse Passes on Her Experience

Story by Tom Vogt, Columbian Staff Writer, Vancouver, Wash.

RAPID CITY, S.D. - , TheArmy and Navy Reserveteamed up to offer the combatlife saver training course toNational Guard Soldiers, atCamp Rapid, during the annualGolden Coyote exercise in July.

Medics with the 6252th United StatesArmy Hospital joined the Naval ReserveOperational Health Support Unit, Dallas,to help instruct exercise participants fromboth the Army Reserve and the SouthDakota National Guard in the advancedfirst aid techniques required to completethe combat life saver certification.

The training covered various topics

including airway management,how to apply a tourniquet, litterbearing, and the “nine line”report.

According to trainers, the“nine line” evacuation report isa standardized reporting systemthat informs the evacuationteam of the patients’ status onthe ground and condition of thepickup zone. It name is derivedfrom the nine lines of basicinformation required by.

Over 800 Soldiers were cycledthrough the training during theexercise.

South Dakota National Guard Benefit from Training

Army & Navy Reserve Train GuardStory and photo by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jones, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

Naval personnel work with South Dakota National Guard Soldiers during theircombat life saver training course, at Camp Rapid, during the annual GoldenCoyote exercise. Navy Reserve troops joined members of the 6252th United StatesArmy Hospital to conduct the training.

14

Capt. Kathy Steele in action.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - TheCity of Knoxville and KnoxCounty held an ArmyCommunity Covenant signingduring Independence Day cele-brations, on the KnoxvilleSymphony Orchestra Stage on

the South Lawn of World’s Fair Park.Representatives of Knoxville-area

Reserve and National Guard units, as wellas their children, joined U.S. CongressmanJohn J. Duncan Jr., Brig. Gen. Terry M.“Max” Haston, Mayor Bill Haslam, andBrig. Gen. David Smalley, deputy com-manding general of the 807th MedicalCommand, and others on July 4, to signthe Community Covenant.

The document affirms the city andcounty’s support of service members.Knoxville and Knox County will becomethe second and third communities to signCommunity Covenants in Tennessee.

Clarksville, Tenn., with strong ties toneighboring Fort Campbell, Ky., and the101st Airborne Division, is the only otherTennessee city that has hosted a signing.

In addition to the official documentthat was signed on the stage there weretwo banner-sized replicas of the documentsign by attendees of thefestival. Those bannerswere sent to Tennesseeunits deployed to Iraqand Afghanistan.

“We’re very pleasedto have the opportunityto do this,” said MayorBill Haslam. “Practicallyeveryone in Knoxville hasa Family member, afriend, or a neighbor serving in the mili-tary and we wanted them to know that wesupport them and their Families.”

The Secretary of the Army began theCommunity Covenant initiative in 2008. Ithas since evolved into a recognition for allof the armed services and their membersand to date over 100 towns, cities andstates have held ceremonies.

“We are thrilled to take part in thisCommunity Covenant to show our sup-port for those who have made the greatest

sacrifice,” said Mayor Mike Ragsdale.“These men and women leave their homesand lives to make sure that we get to con-

tinue experiencing thefreedoms so many beforethem have fought to pro-vide, and for that weshould all be eternallygrateful. I am so glad ourcommunity has been ableto be a part of such anamazing program.”

John L. Dyess, theU.S. Army Reserve

Ambassador for Tennessee, approachedKnoxville and Knox County about partici-pating in the Community Covenant pro-gram and has worked with the city andcounty to make the holiday signing cere-mony a reality.

More than 6,500 men and womenserve in Knoxville-based and Knoxville-area units of the Tennessee Army NationalGuard, Tennessee Air National Guard,U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Naval Reserve andU.S. Marine Corps Reserve.


PINELLAS PARK, Fla. -Florida State Senators CharlieJustice (D, Dist .16) and MikeFasano (R, Dist. 11) joinedother political and communityleaders fromthe Tampa,

St. Petersburg area, tothank area Soldiers andtheir Families, pledgingcontinued support tothem by signing theArmy CommunityCovenant.

The ArmyCommunity Covenantinitiative is designed tofoster and sustain effec-tive partnerships amongstthe community and mili-tary members, to improvethe quality of life forSoldiers and theirFamilies.

The signing tookplace on Saturday, September 26 at theWestin Tampa Harbour Island Hotel,where the Army Reserve MedicalCommand was holding a commanders

training workshop. Over 300 ArmyReserve Soldiers, their Families, and localveterans attended the signing.

The Covenant ceremony was specifi-cally tailored for the Tampa area. It

brought together keyregional leaders,from state, local andcivic levels. Leaderssigning the covenantare vowing to con-tinue supporting themilitary communityin the future.Together, they arepublically recogniz-ing the importanceof Army ReserveSoldiers and theirFamilies, and thevital role they play inour nation’s defense.

According toStaff Sgt. Eric Jones,Public Affairs NCO

for the Army Reserve Medical Command,the signing, while symbolic, is a moralebooster for the troops.

“The Soldiers in attendance today see

state and local leaders who support them.It’s inspiring for them. They now knowwho they can talk to if they need to pur-sue different avenues for assistance,” hesaid. “The more support they have athome, the less worries they will have over-seas.”

Justice and Fasano were joined byMike O’Meara, President, Veterans LiaisonCouncil of Pinellas Park; Dianne Magee,Florida State President, Associates ofVietnam Veterans of America; NickBrickfield, Pinellas County Commissioner;Jane Harper, President and CEO ofFamily Resources, Inc.; Chuck Jenkins,business leader and veteran and Dan Pash,representing Congressman Gus Bilirakis.

The Army Community Covenantprogram was initiated by the Departmentof Defense in 2008. Since then, over 100American communities, including Tampa/St. Petersburg, have hosted “CommunityCovenant Signing Ceremonies” to demon-strate their support for our nation’s mili-tary and their Families.

For more information on the ArmyCommunity Covenant program go tohttp://www.army.mil/community/

Army Community Covenant Event Brings Community Leaders Together with Local Soldiers

AR-MEDCOM Holds ACC Event

Knoxville Area Holds Covenant Signing


Florida State Senator Mike Fasano (R, Dist. 11) signs theArmy Community Covenant during a ceremony in Tampa.In this photo, Fasano is joined by Chuck Jenkins, businessleader and veteran; Jane Harper, President and CEO ofFamily Resources, Inc.; Mike O’Meara, President, VeteransLiaison Council of Pinellas Park; Dianne Magee, FloridaState President; Associates of Vietnam Veterans ofAmerica and Dan Pash, staff representation forCongressman Gus Bilirakis.


Story by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office. Photo courtesy of Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.

FORT BRAGG, N.C - Manymilitary Families endure hard-ships associated with Armylife. This dual NCO coupletolerates twice the adversity attimes, and so does their chil-

dren. So during this Year of the NCO, 10-year old Tae’lor Lackey wants thePresident to help her out. She wants himto pack more training into each day of herfather’s class, so he can get back home toher and her brother sooner.

Staff Sgt. Terrence Lackey is trainingat Sheppard Air force base, Texas, learninga new military occupational skill to betterhis career opportunities in the Army, andendear him more to the military he loves.He has been there since March and willnot complete his studies until spring 2010.

But unlike most military fathers,Terrence also has a spouse serving theircounty in the Army Reserve. They havedone so for their entire 12 year marriage.

That makes Tae’lor, and her brotherchildren of a dual military couple Family.They must undergo more challenges in lifethen their peers in single parent ArmyFamilies; and unfortunately have done sofor their entire life.

“Since my deployment (to Iraq), theyare fearful that one of us will not comeback,” said Staff Sgt. Tressa Lackey,Terrence wife. “Even though now we areonly in separate states, they do not under-stand the difference,” she added.

In this, the year of the non-commis-sioned officer, we talked with both StaffSergeants Lackey, and their daughterTae’lor to hear about the challenges oftwo non-commissioned officers serving inthe same Family.

It is harder than most to make theirhouse a home. Almost always one, if notboth sergeants are away serving theircountry in some capacity, sometimes forlong periods of time.

“My daughter is past the hurt stageand is more at the angry stage having tobe away from one or the other parent,“said Tressa Lackey. “It’s even worse

when one of us is gone and the other hasto go to a battle assembly or an annualtraining, separating us both from them.That makes her even madder.”

Staff Sgt. TressaLackey joined the Armyalmost 13 years ago.Initially she was aReserve Soldier and fol-lowed her husband,then an active compo-nent Soldier, from postto post.

Over the last fiveyears though, their roleshave changed. Tressabecame an ActiveGuard and Reserve(AGR) Soldier andTerrence became aDepartment of theArmy (DA) civilianworker, and has transi-tioned to a traditionalReserve Soldier career.

Both love servingtheir country, but it ishard on Tae’lor and her6-year old brother.

A recent transferto Fort Bragg was espe-cially stressful onTressa and the kids, as Terrence hadalready reported for his schooling inTexas. She had to do all of the coordina-tion, moving, and house hunting withoutthe aid of her husband.

“I never knew how much I relied onmy husband as a spouse and a partner,until I made this move myself,” she said.

When asked what benefit would haveaided her in the move, Tressa indicatedArmy sponsored child care would havebeen extremely beneficial.

As a member of a dual military cou-ple, she was a single Soldier by defaultwhen Terrence went to school. Back at herformer duty station, they had friends thatcould assist her in watching the childrenduring her battle assembly weekend, annu-

al training, or temporary duty outside ofthe area.

Since she transferred to Fort Bragg,that support system had not yet been

developed.Despite

all of the chal-lenges though,Tressa would-n’t changetheir roles.

“As aNCO, I havelearned tocommunicatemore effective-ly without somuch emo-tion,” she said.“My childrenhave expressedit is more diffi-cult for themand I hate thatpart,” sheadded. “I domanage thehouse better.”

“I am soproud of myFamily. My kidsare troopers,

she said.“The Army is a good steady job with

good benefits, in an unstable economy. Myfull-time status permitted Terrence to goback to school while still having a secureincome to support the Family.”

“I am staying in because it is abouttaking care of the Family, supporting mypartner, my husband just as I know hewould do for me,” she added.

“I am proud of every Soldier andevery Army spouse that commits to followtheir Soldier,” she added.

That kind of dedication makes for agood spouse, parent and NCO. Anddespite the challenges, Tae’lor is proud ofboth her parents.

Dual NCO Family Endures More For Army



AR-MEDCOM NCO Feature story #4

Staff Sgt. Tressa Lackey, Training NCO with the 7236th MedicalSupport Unit, never has her Family and fellow Staff Sergeant (andhusband) Terrence Lackey, far from here thoughts as she works in herFort Bragg office.



JACMEL, Haiti - U.S. ArmySoldiers from throughout theUnited States came togetherunder the direction of ArmySouth to treat more than 7,200patients during a medical

readiness and training exercise in Jacmel,Haiti Sept. 8 to 23.

At the request of the government ofHaiti, ARSOUTH, along with U.S. ArmyReserve Northeast, Medical AreaReadiness Support Group (NE-MARSG)from New York, and the 413th CivilAffairs Battalion from Texas, conductedvarious medical and dental action pro-grams providing focused humanitarianassistance. More than 30 doctors, dentists,ophthalmologists and other medical pro-fessionals provided assistance to atMarigot’s Ecolge Nationiale de Marigotand Cayes- Jacmel’s Medical Clinic.

These missions share best-practicesfor the most effective, economical treat-ments that can be made available byregional medical teams. “We are workingwith Haiti on long-term economic growthand job creation,” said Kenneth Merten,U.S. Ambassador to Haiti. “People’s imme-diate needs are also extremely important.

Americanscare deeplyabout the peo-ple of Haiti,and this mis-sion - peoplehelping peopledirectly - is ademonstrationof the friend-ship betweenour two coun-tries.”

Membersof the medicalreadiness andtraining teamprovided sur-gical and med-ical assistance. Dental and optometryexams were given to more than 2,600patients, with over 600 pairs of glasses dis-pensed. “We wish to thank the Haitiangovernment, especially the Ministry ofHealth, for its collaboration, and also thecommunities of Marigot and Cayes-Jacmelwho welcomed us,” said Col. DonnaHershey, commander of the medical train-ing and readiness mission. “It has been a

very successful mission and one that ourSoldiers will remember for a lifetime.”

In addition to humanitarian assis-tance, this exercise also afforded valuableexperience from Haitian and civilianexperts enhancing rapid response capabili-ties of all branches of the U.S. military.The relationships built and sustained withour partners in Haiti help tremendously inhumanitarian efforts, preserving peace andstability in the region.

Warrior Medics Treat More Than 7,200 Patients in Haiti

US Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten addresses Soldiers from the NE-MARSG, at the closing ceremonySeptember 23, 2009.

Members of NE-MARSG Help Haitians

Left: Col. Donna Dolan and Sgt. Maj. Dennis Dial, 4224th United States Army Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, pose with Gen. George Casey, Chief of Staff ofthe Army and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, as they received the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Gen. Walter T. Kerwin, Jr. readi-ness award. The award recognizes outstanding Guard and Reserve unit readiness. RIGHT: Col. Dolan and Sgt. Maj. Dial pose with Preston and AUSAPresident Gen. (Ret.) Gordon R. Sullivan.

Photos courtesy of AUSA.

Story and photo from Maj. Gerard Heck, 413th Civil Affairs Battalion.

18Warrior Medic Magazine - Summer 2009


KITGUM, Uganda - For thepast week, about 60 ArmyReserve medical personnelassigned to the 629th ForwardSurgical Team of Columbus,Ohio, and the 7225th Medical

Support Unit from Greenville, S.C., havebeen providing medical care to ruralUgandans, seeing about 700 people a day.

“We’re sort of an emergency roomfor anyone who shows up,” said 1st. Lt.Matthew Boyer, a Thornville, Ohio, resi-dent and RN with the 629th FST. “As anurse, it’s great when we can see that manypeople.”

When the two buses of medical per-sonnel arrived at Pajimo Clinic around 8

a.m., there was already a long line at thegate. Some people had traveled from milesaway, including an 11-year-old girl whowalked seven miles by herself to be treatedfor a skinned knee. Many of the peoplehad dressed themselves and their childrenin their finest clothing: colorful dresses,robes, and formal jackets.

The local residents filed in throughthe gate to a triage station, where U.S.,Ugandan and Tanzanian medical profes-sionals inquired about their illness orinjury. Some were given medicine andreleased, while others were referred to oneor more of the other four stations: med-ical, dental, optometry and pharmacy.

“There is a difference in disease pat-

terns and how they present in Africa ascompared to the U.S.,” said Lt. Col.Ronald Januchoski, a physician and com-mander of the 7225th MSU.

“With the tropical disease spectrumhere, you see things you’d never see in theU.S. It’s really helped me grow as a physi-cian.”

Januchoski and Maj. PhillipCummings, a physician from Fayetteville,N.C., also assigned to the 7225th MSU,treated patients at the medical station forsuch complaints as malaria, skin infection,pleurisy, broken bones and minor wounds,such as an infected cut on a little girl whocaught her foot in her bicycle spokes.

“We’re primarily providing Level I

Army Reserve Medicine Reaches Outto Rural Ugandans

Lt. Col. Tom Englehart, commander of the Army Reserve’s629th Forward Surgical Team of Columbus, Ohio, talks to aUgandan woman about her child’s health at Pajimo Clinic’striage station.

Maj. Phillip Cummings, a doctor from Fayetteville, N.C.,deployed with the 7225th Medical Support Unit of Greenville,S.C., listens to the breathing of a Ugandan man who complainedof chest pain.

Col. James Quan, an Army Reserve doctor, refers a young boy tothe medical station at the Pajimo Clinic

Spc. Samantha Greeninger, an Army Reserve medic from Cincinnati,Ohio, assigned to the 629th Forward Surgical Team of Columbus,Ohio, spends time with two Ugandan children at the Pajimo Clinicin rural Uganda.

Story and photos by Maj. Corey Schultz, U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office.

19

care, which is general medical care,” saidCol. William Myers, an orthopedic surgeonassigned to the 7225th MSU. “I did havethe opportunity to examine some X- raysand provide some consultations to thelocal doctors on orthopedic problems.”

U.S. Navy and Ugandan personnelprovided dental services,which included multipleextractions due to lack ofdental hygiene. Patients wereprovided with toothbrushes,toothpaste, and instructionson how to care for theirteeth.

In optometry, Dr.Francisco Cordera, anoptometrist from PuertoRico deployed with the7225th, examined patientswhile other Soldiers conduct-ed vision tests. The visiontests were pieces of paper onwhich was drawn the capitalletter “E,” facing differentways and sized differently asthe rows descended acrossthe paper. Many patientscould not read the Englishalphabet, but this test allowedthem to indicate which direc-tion the “E” was facing.Patients were issued prescrip-tion eyeglasses, some for thefirst time in their lives.

U.S. Navy pharmacist Lt.Cdr. Brett English and U.S.Army Reserve 1st. Lt. Jon Schuller wereassisted in the pharmacy by Morris, aUgandan pharmacist whose guidance wasinstrumental in prescribing the medicines.

“Getting local national input ondesigning formulary is crucial,” saidEnglish. “They know the people. Also, wesee predominantly pediatric patients, but alot of our medicines are adult-strength.”

English explained that the dosing can

be difficult not just in scaling down adultdoses for children, but because somepatients are malnourished, and their diges-tive systems cannot handle a large dosesuch an 800 mg ibuprofen. Morris’ expert-ise was critically important in assigning thecorrect doses. He also knew how to pro-

vide quinine for malaria, a treatment that--though effective--is no longer used in theUnited States.

Patients were not limited to howmany stations they could visit, and theteam worked diligently throughout the dayto treat as many as possible.

The medical personnel also providedfor some unexpected contingencies. Forinstance, though they had not brought

maternity capabilities or equipment, whena 19-year-old woman named Linda wentinto labor at the gate, 1st. Lt. VictoriaLynn Watson, a labor and delivery nurse atAbilene (Texas) Regional Medical Centerin her civilian occupation, rushed in tohelp. Watson, the Pajimo Clinic’s certified

midwife Stella BettyLamono, and Pfc.Kendra Hinds, a medicfrom Lubbock, Texas,worked together to deliv-er a healthy, 5.5 lb. babyboy.

“It’s neat to see theirskills and what they doto deliver a baby as com-pared to what we do inthe states,” Watson said.

By 4:30 p.m., theteam had treated 714patients -715 countingthe newborn. Theyboarded the buses andreturned to the camp toprepare for the next day.

The medical out-reach continued everyday for a week, part of aU.S. Army Africa exer-cise, Natural Fire 10, inwhich the United Statesand five East Africannations (Uganda, Kenya,Tanzania, Rwanda andBurundi) practice disas-ter relief and medical

outreach. The intent was to learn eachother’s skills and procedures so that theywill be able to operate more effectively inthe event of an actual disaster.

“What we’ve started doing in Africawith the different countries we’re workingwith is going to go a long way to stabiliz-ing the region, even when we’re not here,”Boyer said.



Capt. Shawn Shumand, a nurse with the 629th Forward SurgicalTeam of Columbus, Ohio, triages a Ugandan child at the PajimoClinic.

Pfc. Kendra Hinds, a medic from Lubbock, Texas, deployed withthe 7225th Medical Support Unit out of Greenville, S.C., exam-ines a child in the optometry section of Pajimo Clnic.

Capt. Francisco Cordero, an Army Reserve optometrist fromPuerto Rico, deployed with the 7225th Medical Support Unit ofGreenville, S.C., examines a Ugandan woman who suffered fromsevere dry eye.

Ugandan children at the Pajimo Clinic in rural Kitgum district. As part of a U.S. Army Africa exercise, Natural Fire 10,U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 7225th Medical Support Unit, Greenville, S.C., and the 629th Forward SurgicalTeam of Columbus, Ohio, worked side-by-side with Ugandan and Tanzanian providers as well as U.S. Navy dentiststo treat over 700 local residents per day, extracting teeth, providing medications for malaria, parasites and skin infec-tions, and even issuing eyeglasses.



KITGUM, Uganda -- When1st Lt. Victoria Lynn Watsondeployed to Uganda forNatural Fire 10, she neverimagined using her labor anddelivery nursing skills during

the exercise.But when a Ugandan woman, Linda,

arrived in labor at Pajimo medical clinic,where the Army Reserve’s 7225th MedicalSupport Unit was partner-ing with East Africanmedics to offer healthcareto the Kitgum community,Watson sprang intoaction.

She checked herwatch. It was nearly 2:30pm when medics hurriedthe 19-year-old expectantmother from the clinicgates where hundreds hadgathered to receive care.

During the 10-dayexercise, the medics run adaily clinic to treatupwards of 700 Ugandansa day for ailments such asarthritis, minor wounds,skin infections --and den-tal and optometry care.Soldiers from Uganda,Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenyaand Burundi are workingalongside U.S. troops onmedical, dental and engi-neering projects in theKitgum region.Meanwhile, each nation is also taking partin security training and a simulated disasterrelief exercise.

While pregnancy was not a plannedtreatment, the Pajimo clinic staffs a mid-wife and Watson was eager to assist. If theU.S. Army Reserve officer were back homein Abilene, Texas, she would do the same.

“This is what I do. I’m a labor anddelivery nurse in my civilian job,” Watsonsaid, hurrying past Ugandan Familiesclutching medicines and awaiting dentalchecks, “This is what I live for.”

Watson serves with the 7231stMedical Support Unit in Lubbock, Texas,but volunteered to augment the 7225th forUganda.

Once in the clinics maternity ward,

Watson and Pfc. Kendra Hinds, a U.S.Army Reserve medic from Lubbock,Texas, joined Stella, the Ugandan midwife.Stella asked the lieutenant to work withher to deliver the child.

Stella and her Ugandan assistant pre-pared the delivery room. Watson’s exam-ined the woman - nine centimeters andhaving contractions. Her watch read 3 p.m.

Hinds had never helped a woman give

birth. So, Watsontalked her throughthe exam as theyfelt the mother’sstomach to seewhere the baby was.

“You can feel the contractions,”Watson said to Hines. “Her sides and bellyget hard. Feel here...that’s the head. It’s inthe right place, that’s good. The baby isaligned right.”

The midwife, Stella Betty Lamono -who goes by Stella, produced a PinnardHorn - a wooden listening device notoften seen in America that is used to hearthe baby’s heartbeat. Watson and Hindstook turns listening.

Then Stella posed a question.

“You are delivering,” Stella said. “Youshould name the baby.”

“OK, I’ll name the baby,” Watsonsaid, in a light-hearted way. “How about,let’s see...Gracie for a girl? Yes, I likeGracie.”

“And a boy?” asked Stella.“Okay, for a boy...Cage. I like Cage.”Stella translated. The mother smiled,

amused despite her obvious discomfort. Itwas nearly 3:30 p.m., the baby was comingbut the delivery team still had things to do.They tried to start an intravenous drip.

There was a problem, they couldn’tfind a vein. They spoke with the motherand found she had not eaten anything fortwo days.

“She’s dehydrated, she needs some-thing with sugar,” Watson said.

Soldiers offered sweet powdered drinkpack from their daily rations - MRE’s, suchas lemon-flavored ice tea and a lemon-limeelectrolyte drinks.

Watson stirred each drink in a greenplastic cup andgave it to themother, who drankthirstily.

The team thenfound a vein for anIV, the mothertried to relax.From time to time,she would lift apink curtain andgaze through thewindow into thedusty yard. Thingsquieted.

Meanwhile,her sister arrangedswaddling clotheson the receiving

table at the other side of the room.“How many weeks is she?” Hinds

asked.“Thirty-eight,” Stella said, confidently.Ugandan midwives determine the

duration of the pregnancy by feeling thestomach for the size of the baby’s headversus the height of the fundus -- howhigh the uterus has pressed upwards intothe diaphragm.

“This is amazing,” Watson said. “Inthe States, doctors run a sonogram overthe belly, ask for the date of the last men-

Nurse Delivers Babyin Uganda

Top: Pfc. Kendra Hines, an Army Reserve medic fromLubbock, Texas, currently deployed with the 7225thMedical Support Unit (MSU) in northern Uganda, handsa newborn to his mother. The 19-year-old expectant moth-er arrived at the Pajimo Clinic in an advanced state oflabor, and Hines was called upon to assist. The mothergave birth to a healthy, 5.5 lb. baby boy about 90 minuteslater.

Right: 1st Lt. Victoria Lynn Watson, a nurse assigned tothe Army Reserve’s 7225th Medical Support Unit (MSU),uses a Pinnard Horn - a wooden listening device not oftenseen in America that is used to hear the baby’s heartbeat

Story and photos by Maj. Corey Schultz, U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office.

strual period, and go from there. We learnthe ‘old school’ way, but we never actuallydo it like Stella has.”

Certified Ugandan midwifes attend athree-year school, Stella said, herself amidwife with seven years experience whodelivers up to 28 babies each month --often in rural clinics.

The contractions continued. Themother remained stoic despite the lack ofany pain medicine. Sweat beaded on herface, veins throbbed along her neck. Shewould lay calm for more moments, thenmoan softly and slap the nearby wall.Hinds grabbed a cloth and patted her faceand held her hands through contractions.

“Most girls in the States would beyelling and hollering by now,” Watson said.

Unlike in the States, the clinic had nomonitors, electrical gadgetry or air condi-tioning. It did have clean water, sterilized

equipment and a trained midwife, plus herU.S. counterparts.

It was around 4 p.m., when the moth-er groaned and slapped the wall again.

“She’s in second stage,” Watson said.“All she has to do now is push.”

A few minutes passed, the motherbegan to push - Hinds held her hand andcontinued to comfort her. Then came aloud cry from a healthy baby boy. It was4:30 p.m.

Watson wiped him down. He wavedhis tiny hands and stared around the roomwith large, alert eyes. Stella tied up thestump of the umbilical cord

“You delivered the baby, what namedid you pick for a baby boy,” Stella said,reminding Watson.

“Cage,” Watson replied. “But I can’tname her baby. It’s her baby!”

Hinds placed the infant into his

mother’s arms. The new mom smiled.“What is she going to name him?”

Watson asked. Stella translated. The moth-er answered --and Stella began to laugh.

“What did she say?” Watson asked.“She decided she liked the name you

picked,” Stella said. “She named her littleboy ‘Cage’.”

Outside, U.S. and East African medicswere closing up for the day, handing outthe final doses of vitamins and routinemedications, when they learned the goodnews. An officer took out the recordsreflecting the number of people treated,changing 714 to 715, to add Cage -Kitgum’s newest resident.

“It’s pretty amazing there’s a little oneout here that I named and that I helpedbring into this world,” Watson said.“Pretty amazing.”



Butler Competes with Army’s Best

21

FORT LEE, Va. - A four-vehicle column of Humveesrolls down the dusty street.Local villagers hold up fruit,clothes even hubcaps as thecolumn rolls by.

Suddenly, gunfire rings out from adja-cent buildings. Then, a deafening explo-sion rocks the convoy which shuddered toa sudden stop.

As the locals flee, Staff Sgt. AaronButler, an Army Reserve Citizen-Soldier,emerges from the front vehicle and rapidlytakes control of the chaos, directing returnfire and tending to the wounded.

This wasn’t a scene fromIraq or Afghanistan. It was justone scenario that played outduring the week-longDepartment of the Army BestWarrior Competition held atFort Lee, Va., Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, amember of the Army ReserveMedical Command’s 4225thMedical Hospital in Helena,Mont., joined Spc. ShilohBecher, as the Army ReserveNCO and Soldier of the Year,competing against 11 othermajor Army commands to determine whothe ‘best of the best’ were for the entireArmy.

Despite not claiming the overall top

prize, Butler showed the rest of the com-petition field that he had what it took tokeep up with thepack.

“It was anamazing experi-ence,” Butlersaid. “It was atremendousopportunity tocome here tocompete againstthe best theArmy had tooffer.”

The week-long competition startedwith a Command Sergeants Major appear-ance board chaired by the Sgt. Maj. of theArmy, Kenneth O. Preston. Upon exiting

his NCO board, Butler exclaimed, “thatwas the best board I’ve been on this year”

but quickly added, “I’vebeen through 12 boardsthis year!”

Next came the phys-ical events of the compe-tition included an ArmyPhysical Fitness Test, dayand night UrbanWarfighter Orienteering,Warrior Tasks and BattleDrills, day and night M4rifle qualification, an M4stress fire event and fol-lowed up by a MysteryEvent and an ArmyCombatives tournament.

The Mystery Eventconsisted of Butler con-ducting Class A’s andACUs uniform inspec-tions and the HumveeEgress Assistance Trainer

(HEAT) where they hadto exit the vehicle upsidedown within 17 seconds,assault a village searchingfor terrorists, and evaluate

a casualty.Both Butler and Becher said “it was

an honor to represent the Army Reserve”and they would consider competing again,but may wait awhile before doing so.

AR-MEDCOM Soldier Competes for Title of NCO of the Year

Story and photos by Timothy L. Hale, Army Reserve Public Affairs Office.

Top: Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, the Army ReserveSoldier of the Year, practices reflexive fire.

Left: Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, the Army ReserveNCO of the Year, packs his equipment at theDepartment of the Army Best WarriorCompetition

PINELLAS PARK - Fla. - ThisNCO knows what commit-ment means. His desire toserve his country has led himto persevere, despite manymedical challenges. He has sur-vived cancer; a kidney removal;

and eight hernia operations. Yet through itall, Sgt. Eric W. Jones has continued hismilitary career, out of sheer determina-tion.

As a kid growing up in Bountiful,Utah, Jones wanted to be a Soldier. Hewanted to experience the world outside ofUtah, and serve the country he loved.

“I kind of wanted to get out of theroutine I was used to,” said Jones, “I want-ed to see what else was out there.”

Initially, Jones chose to enlist in theArmy Reserve in1986. But, after enjoy-ing his time as aReserve Soldier somuch, he transferredto the ActiveComponent in 1988.

There, he got thetravel he desired, serv-ing as a track vehiclemechanic in Germany.

While stationedin Europe, Jones methis wife Della, who isEnglish, while she wasvisiting Family inGermany. They married shortly thereafterin Denmark and had a child before return-ing to the states in 1992.

He moved back to Utah to attendWeber State University in Ogden, Utah.There he earned a bachelor’s degree inPolitical Science, using his MontgomeryGI Bill benefits to pay for his education.

While attending Weber State, Jonescontinued to serve in the Army, joiningthe Utah National Guard’s 211th AviationBattalion, where he worked in flight opera-tions.

In 1997, upon completing his degree,Jones and his Family moved to theOrlando, Fla. area to be near Family hiswife had living in the states.

But, shortly thereafter, Jones’ medicalproblems began.

In 1998, he discovered a lump on hisneck and visited the doctor. There he wasgiven an antibiotic and told to return in 10

days if the lump did not dissolve. It didn’t.In fact, Jones discovered another

unusual bulge on his abdomen.He inquired about it, and was told he

needed tests. Upon checking in to a localhospital, a CT scan was done. He wasdiagnosed with stage-4 Extra GonadalTesticular Cancer.

The doctors’ theory was that Jones’cancer originated in the testes and spreadto various sections of his body--specifical-ly infecting the lymph nodes and a kidney.

The lumped Jones felt in his abdomenwas a cancerous mass surrounding one ofhis kidneys. It had grown so large aroundhis kidney it pushed it out of its normalposition towards his skin.

Though shaken, Jones was not totallysurprised as cancer runs in his Family.

His first reactionwas that of concern forhow his wife would han-dle the news.

Jones beganchemotherapy immedi-ately alternating threeweeks on, two weeks offfor recovery.

The chemotherapyshrunk the tumor, butdid not destroy it.Following five of thesecycles, he went to theUniversity ofIndianapolis for the first

of his three major surgeries.His first surgery was to remove the

cancerous mass surrounding his kidney. Itlasted 16 hours and was considered a par-tial success. The majority of the cancermass was removed, but it cost Jones oneof his kidneys. It had to be extracted alongwith the cancer.

After some recovery time, a secondsurgery was scheduled to remove theremainder of the cancer.

The disease was taking its toll though,as Jones weighed around 100 pounds andwas not expected to live due to the effectsof his cancer and his weakened physicalcondition.

During this time, Jones benefited fromthe TRICARE Reserve Select programoffered to Reserve Soldiers. This premium-based health plan is available to allNational Guard and Reserve members ifyou elect to purchase its coverage. Jones

did.“The TRICARE program helped me

tremendously, as it accepts patients regard-less of pre-existing conditions,” he said.“My wife and I were not chained to a jobor a geographic area just to keep our civil-ian health insurance. We could travel toany area knowing my TRICARE coveragewould go with me,” he added.

Because of his surgeries and subse-quent loss of weight, Jones’ body canni-balized a great deal of muscle mass in hisabdomen area. This weakened musclemass has caused eight hernias, each requir-ing surgery, over the last ten years. To thisday he still has a piece of plastic meshbetween his sternum and hip for support.

Through all of this Jones stayed inthe Army Reserve program.

“I’m lucky to be alive in manyways…I do realize that,” said Jones.When classifying his current medical sta-tus, Jones generally uses the term “no evi-dence of disease.”

He said of his battle with cancer,“Has been a rough road.”

Today, TRICARE select continues toaid him. His cancer is considered a reoc-curring one and he needs blood testingevery six months, and a yearly CT scan tocheck for abnormalities. The ReserveSelect program helps him pay for thosetest.

“I recommend every Reserve Soldierlook into the TRICARE program,” hesaid. “The economy has cost me my job,but having the TRICARE programensures my Family that I can continue toget the annual and bi-annual tests I needto check for any cancer relapses.”

Today, Jones has rebounded from thatsickly 100 pound cancer patient to adeployable Reserve Soldier serving theArmy Reserve Medical Command.

He has been in remission since 2000and completed a tour to Iraq with the467th Engineer Battalion, serving as a sig-nal support systems specialist.

His sheer determination and the assis-tance from the TRICARE Reserve Selectprogram have enabled him to endure hismedical trials to continuing serving thecountry he loves.

Editors Note: Also contributing to the story was Cadet AndrewRedcay, University of South Florida ROTC, Intern, ArmyReserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

TRICARE Benefit Helps NCO Survive Cancer to Serve Another Day

Story by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office; Photo by Cadet Andrew Redcay.

AR-MEDCOM NCO Feature story #5





Photo by Cadet Andrew Redcay, Intern, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office, Digital art by Maj. William D. Ritter, Army Reserve Medical Command Public Affairs Office.

Department Of The ArmyHQ, Army Reserve Medical CommandPublic Affairs Office2801 Grand AvenuePinellas Park, Fla. 33782

AR-MEDCOMRecruiting,Retention,Transition

727-563-3653

photo and digital art by maj. william d. ritter, army ... · indian reservation receives needed...

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