Vol. 30, No. 16
August 9, 2013
Frederick Keys Military Appreciation Night
On Wednesday, July 31, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick commander Col. Steven P. Middlecamp threw in the first pitch at Detrick Night at the Frederick Keys baseball game. Although the Keys lost, the night was fun for the Fort Detrick community, their families and the local fans. Photo by Lanessa Hill, USAG public affairs
ACS Celebrates 48 Years of Support ALEXIS UNDERWOOD
SPECIAL TO THE STANDARD
The Army Community Service hosted a birthday celebration outside of Building 1520 to celebrate its many years of service June 25. This “aloha-style” event commemorated the ACS’ 48 years of military assistance with snow cones, cupcakes, and a moon bounce. This family friendly event was held to recognize the efforts that the ACS has made to support members of the military community and its success at Fort Detrick. “Our main purpose is to help soldiers and their families through stressful times,” said Michelle Hewitt, Exceptional Family Member Program manager. “We try to improve their lives though our programs.” ACS has various programs that target any problem a soldier’s family may encounter. These programs serve to promote self-reliance, resiliency, and stability during war and peace. “Always go to ACS first with a problem,” said Command Sgt. Major Kevin Sharkey of the Atlantic Region (Fort Sam Houston, Texas) as he described his experience as a non-commissioned officer of 31 years. “I take care of my soldiers by taking them to ASC. There is always someone to help; you won’t go wrong with them.”
The many programs that ACS has to offer benefit the core of the Army community: the family. As U.S. Army Chief of Staff Raymond T. Odierno once said, “The strength of our Nation is our Army; the strength of the Army is our Soldiers; the strength of our Soldiers is our Families.” The celebration was hosted by the ACS to acknowledge not only the success that its programs have achieved within individual families, but the impact they have made on the Army community as well. “At ACS, we take pressures off so they can carry on daily lives,” said Army Emergency Relief Spc. Thomas Withrow. “It is enriching to see the smiles on their faces and to be able to give families what they need. That is when we know we have done our job.”
NewUSAGCommandSgt.Maj. PlacesPeopleatFrontoftheFormation BY NICK MINECCI
USAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Jessup leans back in his chair, a check-to-cheek smile spread across his face as he discusses his 26 years serving in the U.S. Army. His voice is soft, tinged with the accent from his native Winston-Salem N.C., giving a musical-like cadence as he speaks. The topic at the moment is why he joined the Army. “Remember that photo, the one with Uncle Sam where he’s pointing at you and he is pointing his finger at you? Yeah, that and the ‘Be All You Can Be’ slogan really got me,” he says, a gentle laugh following the memory. Jessup, who began his tenure as the new
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick Command Sgt. Maj. July 26, said when he went to see the recruiter in 1987 he was 24 years old and working doing auto body repair, but he felt the pull of something bigger and wanted to join the Army. “I walked out of the recruiter the first time I saw him because he was trying to get me to sign up for construction engineer. I said, ‘No way’ because I knew I wanted to be in logistics. So I finally signed as a [MOS] 76V, which now is 92A [Automated Logistical Specialist]. I took a pay cut to join the Army,” he says with a laugh. Arriving to Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Jessup was one of the oldest men in his platoon, and says the experience
One of the earliest lessons Jessup says he learned about being a Noncommissioned Officer was during his time at the 32nd ADCON. Leaning forward and folding his hands on the table in front of him, Jessup’s face turns serious as he remembers the incident. “My first squad leader was a bad squad leader. I went to an NCO I knew and I said, ‘This guy looks good, his boots are shining and his [Battle Dress Uniform] looks good, but he doesn’t take care of his Soldiers.’ I asked her what to do. She said for me to find someone who did take care of Soldiers and emulate them, to watch how that NCO did business, and to learn from them. So that’s what I did.” See USAG, continued on page 9
What’s Inside
Social Media Find Garrison on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr! www.facebook.com/DetrickUSAG www.twitter.com/DetrickUSAG www.flickr.com/DetrickUSAG Find MRMC on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr too! www.facebook.com/USAMRMC www.twitter.com/USAMRMC www.flickr.com/people/usamrmc
was probably easier for him than the younger men in his platoon because of his age. “I turned 25 while I was in Basic, and I was more of a coach to the younger Soldiers, you know, telling them, ‘You’ve got this man, don’t worry. You can tough this out.’ I also knew the drill sergeants would smoke us to help us be ready to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test, so I took it all in stride.” Following Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va., Jessup was assigned to the 32nd Air Defense Command in Wurzburg, West Germany. “That’s where I learned to be a Loggie,” he says, using the shorthand term for a logistics Soldier.
Commissary Scholarship Winners, page 4
Anatomy and Art Collide at NMHM, page 6
21st Signal Brigade Holds Forum, page 7
FURLOUGH, continued from page 6
now like having birthday parties at home instead of going out, so I wanted to give them ideas that are free they can take part in. Frederick really has a lot going one if you get out and look around,” she said. In June, Yontz sent out what she calls her introductory issue by sending an email to coworkers in DHR. The reaction from her coworkers was positive, and Yontz said she started getting requests from people in other offices to be included in distribution when she did her next edition.
“It was really nice to see that people were interested and were using the ideas,” she said. “People seem to appreciate the effort and the ideas on how to save money,” she added. Yontz said if people are interested in being added to the distribution list in the future, or want to send suggestions and ideas for areas they find challenging during the furlough, they can email her at: vicki.l.yontz. civ@mail.mil. “This is all about helping one another through tough times, and if we all help and support each other we can make it as a team,” she said.
SALE! The Thrift Shop at Fort Detrick will be holding their annual sale of Spring and Summer clothing. All thrift shop property clothing, shoes, purses, and hats will be .50 cents. All non-clothing items that are thrift shop property will be 50% off. The sale will end on Friday, August 30. The Thrift Shop is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and is located at 11 Porter Street.
SOLDIER, continued from page 4
Spc. Stephen Holmes representing USAISR, located at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Holmes is a 68K, Medical Laboratory Technician with USAISR, and he has been in the Army for three years and is currently at his first duty assignment. A native of Machias, Maine, Holmes is married with three children and is currently pursuing a master’s DONATION, continued from page 8
an M-79 grenade and a thermometer bearing the words “Made in USSR.” He said he chose to give his items to NMHM because he believed they would find a good home at the Museum. “Since my service in the Republic of South Vietnam (1965-1966), I have been dedicated to putting all of our items from the 2nd Surgical Hospital (MA) Museum into the National Museum of Health and Medicine as originally communicated to and with then Brig. Gen. Joel Blumberg as Director of the AFIP,” Rich said. Alan Hawk, collections manager for NMHM’s Historical Collections, said Rich’s KIDS’ DAY, continued from page 3
For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,
visit www.dcmilitary.com.
agencies located at Fort Detrick, specifically include USAMARIID, USASEAR and USDA, volunteered their time at the event by acting as escorts and staffing the moon bounce and other activities. The agencies also participated by bringing their own activities and sponsoring programs for the children. Each year’s activities feature a range of science, fun, and learning to make the event a worthwhile experience for the kids. Parents often bring their children back each
degree in Professional Counseling. His interests are in outdoor recreation, and his short-term goals are to earn the rank of sergeant. His long-term goals are to finish his master’s degree and become an officer in the Army. Sgt. Swayze and Spc. Holmes will go on to represent the command at the U.S. Army Medical Command’s Best Warrior event, which is scheduled for later this month. collection and his establishment of a medical museum in Vietnam is similar to the Army Medical Museum’s own founding. “Dr. Rich’s collection is in the tradition of the Army Medical Museum during the Civil War, preserving the wounding agents of war to inform contemporary and future military surgeons,” Hawk said. “It is a very important collection, and we are glad to have it and be able to preserve it.” NMHM is located at 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call 301-319-3303. Information about NMHM, including directions and parking, can be found at http://www.medicalmuseum.mil. year to partake in activities they may have missed the prior year. “It’s been really great to be a part of kids’ day year in and year out, especially now that my own kids can come and enjoy all the hard work we’ve done. It really makes it worthwhile,” said Julie Hartman, a member of the TYCTWD Planning Committee. Every July, NCI at Frederick and Fort Detrick host TYCTWD. For more information, visit http://ncifrederick.cancer.gov/Events/ ChildrensDay/Default.aspx.
Rockville
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Fort Detrick Standard August 9, 2013
Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
Fort Detrick Standard August 9, 2013
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Fort Detrick Standard August 9, 2013
Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
Commentary: Growing up in North Carolina, I was the son of a state worker and an educator who believed in hard work and discipline. With strict parents, joining the Army was an easy transition because order and authority I understood. I never thought about doing anything else. While stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., I was promoted to Sergeant and learned to take care of Soldiers. It was then I quickly knew there was nothing else I would rather do. As I sit here as the Fort Detrick Command Sergeant Major, I want to be an executive of the NCO corps. I heard great stories about the significant contributions of Fort Detrick to this Nation, the people who work here, and the incredibly supportive community. I am really excited about being here, and I am looking forward to my time here. As I learn more about Fort Detrick and the surrounding communities, I want to be a part of making this the best community in the Army. The garrison affects the quality of life for all Soldiers, family members and Department of Army
civilians, who live, work and play here on the installation and in the community. I need all leaders to help us get there. Together we must find a way to support our community by promoting and participating in events and programs such as National Night Out, Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers and the reaffirmation of our community covenant with the city and county. This is a great example of community support. It is symbolic of the partnerships and dedication among everyone to provide services and support for the military, their families and our civilian workforce. We need the strength of the community beside us, and this is a formal opportunity and signing to which we are committed. I look forward to visiting Forest Glenn and our team supports to the Army and their community every day. I am proud to be your Garrison Command Sergeant Major, I am proud to be your partner and I am proud to be team Detrick HOOAH!!!
Special Event Security Planning As hosting an event takes much planning and coordination, you must always remember one very important step: coordinate with your organization’s Antiterrorism Officer. The Antiterrorism Office has a Special Events Matrix that can help ensure that all necessary steps are taken for your event planning. There are many factors to consider, and your organization’s ATO will be able to help you with all requirements for special events consideration, from antiterrorism regulations to installation requirements. If you need assistance with the Special Events Matrix, please contact the Fort Detrick Antiterrorism Officers, Richard King at 301-619-3446, or George E. Roper at 301-619-0329.
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Richard D. Jessup Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick, Maryland
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ment of DoD. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit characteristic of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is prepared and edited by the Fort Detrick Public Affairs Office, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Md. 21702-5000. Editorial Offices are in Bldg. 810, Suite 004, telephone 301-619-2018; e-mail: usarmy.detrick.usag.mbx. pao@mail.mil.
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Fort Detrick Standard August 9, 2013
Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
Command Staff
Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr. Commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick
Col. Steven P. Middlecamp U.S. Army Garrison commander
Editorial Staff USAG PAO Staff
August is National Immunization Awareness Month BY COL. MITCHELL BREW COMMANDER, BARQUIST ARMY HEALTH CLINIC
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of immunizations. While immunizations have significantly reduced the incidence of many serious infectious diseases, vaccination rates for some diseases, sometimes deadly, are not meeting national public health goals. Immunizations aren’t just for children -- they are needed throughout our lifetime. Protection against some serious diseases begins when a mother is pregnant, and then continues into infancy. Vaccines give parents the safe, proven power to protect their children against 14 serious diseases before they turn 2 years old. Every dose of vaccine is important to protect against infectious diseases like the flu, measles and whooping cough (pertussis), which can be life-threatening for newborns and young babies. When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for disease and can spread disease to others in their classroom and community - including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. Schools are highly susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Children ages 4 to 6 are due for boosters of four vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and polio. Older children - such as preteens and teens - need Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), MCV (meningococcal conjugate virus) and HPV (human papilloma virus). A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older. Vaccines are not just for children though. Immunizations are needed throughout adult life to help you stay healthy. This is because immunity from childhood diseases may wear off over time, and one may also be at risk for other vaccine-preventable diseases. Getting ready for college means making sure you are up to date on all doses of the recommended vaccines - to protect both yourself and others around you. Because some diseases can spread quickly in settings like college dorms and classrooms, many colleges and universities have vaccination entry requirements. Even healthy young adults need to get vaccinated against diseases like the flu, whooping cough and HPV. Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for students who will be living in dorms. Your need for other vaccines depends on factors such as your childhood vaccination history, travel plans, and your personal health status and risks. Many adults don’t realize they still
need protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. But vaccines are not just for kids and young adults. Adults still need certain vaccines, to protect both themselves and their loved ones. Even healthy adults can become seriously ill, and can pass illness on to others. Immunization is especially important for older adults, and for those who have a chronic condition such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes or heart disease. Immunization is also important for anyone who is in close contact with the very young, the very old, people with weakened immune systems, and those who cannot be vaccinated. The vaccines adults need will change as they grow older. Everyone age 6 months and older should have a flu shot every year. Also, every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once, to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), and then a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster every 10 years. Other vaccines for adults - shingles, pneumococcal, hepatitis, HPV - depend on one’s age, occupation, travel, risk factors and health status. Consult with your primary care provider to whether you may need to update your vaccines. You can also go to http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines to view recommended immunizations for all age groups.
Are you Ready for Back to School? BY INSTALLATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT OFFICE
Just yesterday, the bells were ringing and kids singing, “schools out, summer time fun!” In a few short weeks, though, our kids will be returning for the 2013-2014 school year. Just as you have prepared them academically, physically and mentally by reading through the summer, trying new activities, and making new friends in summer camp, also prepare your children to have a safe school year as well. Take time to discuss these tips with your children before the start of the school year and see if they have any tips of their own. This is a great time for open discussion on safety and ensuring your children are aware of the importance of following established rules. While shopping for school: - Be aware of your surroundings and shop during the day. If it’s dark outside, ask for an escort to your car.
- Avoid impairing your vision or movements by properly carrying your packages or placing them in a cart. - Shop in pairs, and when approaching your car, have keys in hand. If you experience an unsettled or unsafe feeling, don’t go to your car. At the Bus Stop: - Always walk to the bus stop, never run. Arrive five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. - Be sure to cross the street in approved crosswalks and never dart out in front of any vehicles. - Be sure to tell a parent if a stranger approaches you. On the Bus: - Talk quietly, so the driver will not be distracted. - Never throw things on the bus or out the windows. - Never play with the emergency exits. For some families, this will be the first year your child will have the opportunity to drive instead of walking or
riding the bus to school. Prior to them getting on the road, review safe driving tips, discuss rules and driving privileges, and encourage feedback from them on how they can be safe. Here are some additional tips for teenage drivers: - Meet with the parents and friends of those who may ride with your child to school. Discuss driving expectations, accountability measures, and how horse playing while in the car can impact the lives of everyone. - Map the route to school and ride with your child prior to the first day, so they will have an idea of what to expect. - Create an atmosphere for your child to feel comfortable speaking with you concerning any safety issues or questions. For additional information, visit www. safekids.org or www.distraction.gov.
Camaraderie Apparent at Right Arm Night BY FMWR Over 120 people attended the baseball-themed Right Arm Night held at the Community Activities Center on July 25. Right Arm Night is an old Army tradition promoting camaraderie. Leaders to come together with those standing to their right and left - the ones helping them get through daily
missions. It is meant to build relationships while mixing and mingling with other leaders who have brought their battle buddies with them. The event offered stadium music, a personal appearance from Keyote the Frederick Keys Baseball mascot, a baseball trivia contest, an audience “Shake Your Keys” contest, and free appetizers for all.
Contest winners included The Fort Detrick Child and Youth Services Division, who took home the Spirit Award, and the 21st Signal Brigade, who won the “Shake Your Keys” contest, winning valuable tickets to the J Bar W Ranch Bull Riding program. Sam’s Club provided free Cracker Jacks, peanuts and candy.
302nd Signal Battalion Hosting Back to School Drive 302nd Signal Battalion is hosting a drive to collect back to school items for children ages 6-18. The drive will go through Aug. 16. Items can be dropped off in the boxes located as soon as you enter the Battalion on the left. Items will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County. For more information, please call 301-619-3929.
Kids’ Day Brings Smiles, Laughs, and Cheers Despite the Heat BY ANDREA FRYDL
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, PACRS MEMBER
On July 17, more than 200 children attended the National Cancer Institute at Frederick and Fort Detrick 17th annual Take Your Child Work Day, informally coined “Kids’ Day” by campus employees. This year’s event had more than 40 different activities for kids to participate in-from writing their names in Braille, to hearing whether Goldilocks was guilty of breaking and entering in mock court, to learning how to make goo in a lab. Kids raved about seeing a protein in 3D imagery and learning how to unlock the mysteries of the brain in a neuroscience research activity. Near the registration tents, children could pet various animals including alpacas, horses, and dogs. Fort Detrick firefighters also made an appearance to show kids what the inside of a fire truck looked like. The day’s activities began at 8 a.m. with registration: children and their parents picked up name badges and other materials. The day ended at 3 p.m. when kids made their way through the 95-degree weather back to their parents’ cars or workplaces to cool off. “We were really happy to see a successful event this year. We made sure we were prepared for the heat by having lots of water available and the cooling station-compliments of the Fort Detrick Fire Department,” said Melissa Porter, chair of the TYCTWD Planning Committee. “We’re really grateful for all the people who helped out to make this a great day for everyone involved. We couldn’t make this happen without the help of all our great volunteers.” A cooling station with free water was placed at the Hub. In Building 549, Rita’s Italian Ice was available, and an episode of “The Magic School Bus” played on loop in the auditorium in case kids (or their parents) needed a rest from running around in the heat. Children attending TYCTWD were between the ages of 6 and 13. They were chaperoned by employees of NCI at Frederick and Fort Detrick. Additionally, partners from several
Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
See KIDS’ DAY, continued on page 10 Fort Detrick Standard August 9, 2013
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Commissary Scholarship Winners USAMRMC Names NCO
and Soldier of the Year
Recently the Fort Detrick Commissary awarded three local high school students with scholarships towards their college education. Pictured is Caroline Strite and Erinn Gales. Absent is Keegan Ottoson. All received a $1,500 scholarship.
BY CHELSEA BAUCKMAN USAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command hosted the first Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year virtual oral board July 17. This board was the culmination of the annual NCO and Soldier of the Year competition. Twelve competitors participated for the honor of the title of Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year. They were responsible for answering questions ranging from twenty-six different areas of evaluation from the most senior enlisted leaders throughout the USAMRMC. Nine of the USAMRMC’s senior enlisted leaders facilitated the oral competition. Additionally, as part of the competition, each Soldier was also evaluated on a written exam, written essay, mystery event, weapons qualification, and a physical fitness test. At the end of the competition, two Soldiers stood out as NCO and Soldier of the Year, respectively. The USAMRMC NCO of the Year is Sgt. Stacey Swayze representing the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Swayze serves as a 68K P9 for USAMRICD. Swayze has been in the Army for seven years and has served in numerous assignments to include a Biological Sciences Research Technician at both USAMRICD and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. Swayze has earned her certification as a medical laboratory technician from the American Medical Technologists, as a medical technologist from AMT, and is Level 1 Combatives certified. A native of West Mifflin, Pa., she is married to Wesley Swayze and has one son named Cameron. She enjoys reading and watching movies, and her goals include earning a master’s degree and scoring a 300 on her APFT. The USAMRMC Soldier of the Year is
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See SOLDIER, continued on page 10
Sgt. Stacey Swayze, USAMRMC NCO of the Year
Spc. Stephen Holmes, USAMRMC Soldier of the Year
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USAMRIID Welcomes New Leadership BY CAREE VANDER LINDEN USAMRIID PAO
Col. Erin P. Edgar took command of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases during a July 30 ceremony at Fort Detrick, Md. He replaces Col. Bernard L. DeKoning, who had led the Institute since September 2011. Members of the Frederick and Fort Detrick community gathered on the Blue and Gray Field to mark “the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another,” as noted by Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr., commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick. “Under Col. DeKoning’s command, USAMRIID flourished as a key national asset and a cornerstone for medical biological defense,” Caravalho said. He also thanked DeKoning for his 28 years of Army service by adding, “I know I speak for many in Army medicine when I say you and your family will be missed dearly.” DeKoning, who will retire from active duty later this year, praised the USAMRIID workforce for its passion, dedication and professionalism, and paid special tribute to his wife, Dr. Sonia DeKoning. “About two years ago I stood in front of this formation knowing very little about biodefense,” he noted. “But over the past two years, I have gotten the opportunity to work with over 900 of the greatest Americans that Sonia and I have ever met.” He added that his multiple military assignments have given his family the oppor-
tunity to make “friendships that [they] will cherish for a lifetime.” “Next to joining the Army, marrying Sonia was the best decision I ever made,” he quipped, to much laughter and applause. Edgar, who most recently served as Command Surgeon, U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., thanked the Army and the Army Medical Department for giving him another chance to command. “I’m very happy and very proud to be here,” Edgar said, noting the “warm welcome” that he has received from the community. He also thanked his wife and daughter for their support during his Army career. Edgar received his Regular Army Commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1988. He earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 1992. He completed his family practice internship and residency at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C. His previous assignments include serving as Brigade Surgeon, Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; Flight Surgeon, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, Fort Bragg; Officer in Charge, Monroe Troop and Family Clinic, MEDDAC, Fort Hood, Texas; Division Surgeon, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; Coalition Task Force 82nd Surgeon, Iraq and Afghanistan; Director of Combat Medic Training, Army Medical Department Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Commander, 264th Medical Battalion, Fort
Col. Erin Edgar gives his welcome address to USAMRMC leadership and employees at the UDAMRIID change of command. Photo by VI Sam Houston; Commander, 28th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Bragg and Med Task Force 28, OIF 2006-08; and Commander, 18th MEDCOM (DS), Fort Shafter, Hawaii. “Col. Edgar, we are delighted to welcome you to the MRMC team,” said Caravalho. “I know you come fully prepared for the challenge at hand.” USAMRIID’s mission is to protect the warfighter from biological threats and to
Whether it’s making an interception,
be prepared to investigate disease outbreaks or threats to public health. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions-vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information-that benefit both military personnel and civilians. The Institute plays a critical role in the Department of Defense’s Chemical and Biological Defense Research Program, and is a subordinate laboratory of the USAMRMC.
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Anatomy and Art Collide at NMHM’s Finding Hidden GEMS Anatomy of Sports Program in the Classroom
BY MELISSA BRACHFELD
BY JEFFREY SOARES
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Play a sport? Stay off the sidelines by learning how your body works at the National Museum of Health and Medicine’s Anatomy of Sports program. This free event will be held 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 on NMHM’s front lawn. Attendees will learn about key muscle groups to improve performance while preventing injuries. Participants will watch as medical illustrators paint on the bodies of athletes in order to show the key muscles and bone structures used to play their sports. While this is happening, physical therapists will explain how these muscles and bones allow the athlete to run, jump, throw, etc. They will also discuss common sports injuries and ways these can be prevented. The final activity will be an anatomical art demonstration that will literally illustrate how the bodies of both a horse and its rider must work together to achieve maximum performance. This year, former NFL linebacker Chris Draft, who played for the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills, will take part in Anatomy of Sports. Draft will represent the Chris Draft Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to help families lead healthier lives through exercise and wellness. Other participating athletes will include a swimmer, cyclist, volleyball player, and more. Andrea Schierkolk, NMHM’s public programs manager, said the Museum
USAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS
A medical illustrator paints the muscles and bones that a swimmer uses onto a former competitive swimmer’s shoulder, arm, back and neck. This activity took place at the National Museum of Health and Medicine’s 2012 Anatomy of Sports program. Photo courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine
is looking forward to presenting Anatomy of Sports for a second year. “We are excited to host this unique opportunity for visitors to learn about anatomy in a dynamic and visual way,” said Schierkolk. Participants will include the University of Maryland’s Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science as well as medical illustrators representing the
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the Association of Medical Illustrators. Anatomy of Sports is open to the public, and no RSVP is required. NMHM is located at 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call 301-3193303. Information about NMHM, including directions and parking, can be found at http://www.medicalmuseum.mil.
Garrison Employee Shares Knowledge to Help Ease Financial Strain During Furlough BY NICK MINECCI
USAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Growing up as one of six children and a self-described military brat with a father in the Air Force, Vicki Yontz said she learned early how to stretch a dollar. She said the knowledge was also passed from her grandmother, who had 18 children. “My family had a wealth of knowledge of thrift. They kind of had to be,” she said with a laugh. As Chief of Administrative Services Division, Directorate of Human Resources, Yontz has worked on Fort Detrick for 27 years, and when the furlough was announced she began thinking
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of ways to help people and share information on cost saving ideas. “I was talking with some people and we were discussing the best way to stage finances during the furlough. We were saying that when you say 20 percent it doesn’t automatically sound like a lot, then when you look at the actual numbers it can really hit you what you are missing,” she said. “When I had to pass the furlough notices out it broke my heart, that was when I thought about putting some kind of newsletter together,” Yontz said. Trying to do more with
less was not a new idea for Yontz, who said she spent most of her life living weekto-week to make ends meet, including some very rocky times when her first husband died. “That was a really challenging time and there were nights when there was literally no food. I don’t want to see anyone in that situation,” she said. After doing research Yontz said she found a wealth of items to share, including free community events families can enjoy that people may have overlooked in the past. “People are doing things
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For the ninth consecutive summer, elementary, middle and high school students from across the fourstate region and beyond are gathering at Hood College in Frederick, Md., to participate in the U.S. Army’s Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science program, sponsored locally by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick. During the six-week session between June 22 and August 16, the GEMS program offers nearly 400 “student interns” the opportunity to investigate and engage the world of science through four-day courses tailored to the interests of today’s youth. “The best thing about the GEMS program is that it gets students excited about careers in the sciences,” said Lauren Beeson, GEMS lab coordinator and head of curriculum development for the Fort Detrick program. “The student interns can choose classes that interest them personally, and all of the work is definitely ‘handson.’ For instance, we offer a biology class where the kids can catch and work with bugs to investigate bacteria using digital microscopes, but we also offer robotics courses that let them build battlebots and mini tractors that they use for challenges and competitions.” Sound fun? Well, having seen the students in action throughout the various classes, fun is definitely part of the equation that has led to the success of the GEMS program over the years. As part of the Army Educational Outreach Program, which is comprised of Army-sponsored research, education, competitions, internships and practical experiences designed to engage and guide students and teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education, the GEMS program reaches out to young students with the hope of guiding some down the road to science and technology careers. And this early introduction for the student interns is certainly appreciated by Paige Eckard, who is serving as a first-time near-peer mentor in the program. Eckard, a Virginia Tech junior majoring in Material Science and Engineering, wishes she had attended a program such as this while she was in high school.
Paige Eckard (left), a Virginia Tech junior serving as a near-peer mentor for the USAMRMC Fort Detrick GEMS program at Hood College, guides students during a robotics class featuring a mini tractor-pull experiment in which students must determine proper gear ratios to pull various amounts of weight with their motorized units. Sam Childress (center) and Lucy Friednan, both entering their sophomore year at Oakdale High School, collaborate on building their competitive mini tractor.
Photo by Jeffrey Soares, USAMRMC public affairs
“I like the GEMS program because it gives the students a basic introduction to engineering,” said Eckard. “It gives kids a good idea of future opportunities in the engineering field, to show them there are many different areas within the field. I didn’t even know I wanted to be an engineer until I got to college, so I am glad the kids have this chance to see if they like it.” This year, 11 collegelevel students are serving as near-peer mentors, helping to provide instruction and guidance in the classroom along with three resource teachers. Prior to the session start, the mentors attend a two-week training course led by subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and the U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research, both located at Fort Detrick, to ensure that each is well prepared to train and provide a positive impact on the student interns. Aside from the curriculum designed to engage the students, one must also consider the state-of-the-art facility in which the classes are held. At the center of the Hood College campus sits the Hodson Science and Technology Center, which houses various labs and classrooms equipped with some of the most current technology. Students spend the majority of their day in this building, which certainly isn’t a bad thing given its resources. While touring the classrooms, Beeson led me into an advanced biology class in which 9th- and 10th-graders were conducting “gummi bear dissection.” “We have the students dissect the gummi bears first, before we move on to
Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
pig dissection,” said Beeson. “But they are allowed to eat some of the gummi bears during the exercise, as an added bonus.” The combination of fun science and gummi bear treats certainly makes for a very enjoyable experience, and it is very clear to see that the students are having a great time while the teachers and mentors slip in a little education, here and there. Well, perhaps a lot of education. And best of all, the entire program is free of charge for the students. In fact, students may receive a $100 stipend to offset lunch and transportation costs in order to ensure that boys and girls accepted into the program can attend regardless of economic hardships. It’s clear to see that the USAMRMC Fort Detrick GEMS program is helping our younger generation learn more about the future of, and perhaps their future in, the world of science. Perhaps one day, these children who have been collecting bugs and building robots this summer may grow up to be adults who collect bugs and build robots in one of the many research labs throughout the nation. And that wouldn’t be a bad thing. The GEMS program is open each year to students in grades 4 through 11, and applications may be submitted online. For information regarding the program and/ or applications for the 2014 summer session, please visit www.stem.amed.army.mil or email USArmy.Detrick. MEDCOM-USAMRMC.Other.Educational-Outreach@ mail.mil to be added to the educational outreach notification list.
21st Signal Brigade Holds Professional Development Forum
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 21st Signal Brigade stand as the Color Guard march off during the conclusion of the NCO Induction Ceremony held on July 25. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Dwight Chaney Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Brooks, 7th Signal Command (Theater), guest speaker of the 21st Signal Brigade-sponsored NCO Induction Ceremony addresses the Soldiers and civilians during a speech on July 25 at the Marine Reserve Complex in Fort Detrick, Md. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Dwight Chaney
Col. Mark Baxter, commander of 21st Signal Brigade, and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Daniel Jr., Command Sgt Maj. of 21st Signal Brigade, lead the NCOs on a return march after a 3.5 mile Brigade run in Fort Detrick, Md., on July 23 to kick off the Brigade-sponsored Professional Development Forum. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Dwight Chaney
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Daniel Jr. addresses the Soldiers and civilians as 21st Signal Brigade hosted the NCO Induction Ceremony on July 25. U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Dwight Chaney
Sgt. Maj. Kevin McCrary, the CIO-G6 Senior Enlisted Advisor, gives the NCOs a CAPE: The Army Profession brief during the 21st Signal Brigade-sponsored Professional Development Forum on July 23 in the Community Activities Center, Fort Detrick, Md. U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Phil Kernisan
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Renowned Vascular Surgeon Finalizes Donation of Vietnam War Medical Collection to NMHM BY MELISSA BRACHFELD NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Ranging from a display board featuring bullets and fragments from explosive devices once embedded in the limbs of service members, to a Vietnamese pharmaceutical kit, Dr. Norman M. Rich, a retired Army colonel and renowned vascular surgeon, is in the process of donating the last of his impressive collection of Vietnam War-era medical items to the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, Md. Rich, the recipient of many awards and the namesake of a surgical department at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, set up a small medical museum within the 2nd Surgical Hospital (Mobile Army) in An Khe, Vietnam, while serving as chief of its department of surgery during the Vietnam War. The idea to create the museum occurred to Rich while reading “Wound Ballistics,” a World War II and Korean War review of ballistics and wounding power, on a ship heading for Vietnam in the fall of 1965. After he finished reading the book, Rich decided he would collect similar information for surgeons treating wounded service members in Vietnam. Upon arriving at the hospital in Vietnam, Rich began asking for donations of bullets and other objects retrieved during surgery. When word spread of the project, Rich soon had enough items to begin compiling his medical museum. All branches of the American military services contributed, he said,
and each item was saved, identified and catalogued. Reports were also made with a detailed description of the wound and the origin of the wounding object. “As my college professors at Stanford University said, you should collect everything you can, and analyze and document it, and then see what you can do with that information to treat patients in a better way,” said Rich, a graduate of Stanford University. Rich’s collection also includes several punji sticks- a type of wooden stake made of sharpened bamboo and primarily used in booby traps. He noted that he saw more than 200 punji stick wounds while serving at the 2nd Surgical Hospital. After completing his tour of duty, Rich arranged for many of the items he collected in Vietnam to be shipped to the National Museum of Health and Medicine, which at that time was called the Armed Forces Medical Museum and was an element of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C., so that the objects could be viewed by the public. A soldier’s boot that was punctured by a punji stick is on display today in an exhibit commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Army Medical Museum (today’s NMHM). Rich went on to become the first fellow in vascular surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), and shortly after assumed the position as chief of vascular surgery and director of the fellowship from 1967 to 1978. He also created the vascular surgery registry, an outcome study of vascu-
COME SEE OUR
Adrianne Noe, Ph.D., director of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, stands with Dr. Norman M. Rich (center) and Alan Hawk, NMHM Historical Collections Manager, next to some of the Vietnam War-era objects Rich donated to the NMHM.
National Museum of Health and Medicine
lar surgery performed in theater during the Vietnam War. Upon retirement from the Army, Rich became a professor of surgery at USUHS and later was awarded the Leonard Heaton and David Packard Professorship, which is named for two USUHS founders. In 2002, the USUHS department of surgery was named in his honor; Rich served as that department’s chairman from 1977 to 2002. Recently, Rich, who continues to teach at USUHS, visited NMHM to donate more artifacts, such as a mortar base, two flechettes,
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See DONATION, continued on page 10
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Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development
A display board featuring bullets and fragments from explosive devices once embedded in the limbs of service members who served during the Vietnam War is one of the many items that Dr. Norman M. Rich has donated to the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The board was on display at a small medical museum Rich established within the 2nd Surgical Hospital (Mobile Army) in An Khe, Vietnam, while Rich served as chief of that hospital’s surgical department during the Vietnam War. Photo by National Museum of Health and Medicine
USAG, continued from page 1
Leaning back in his chair, Jessup looks at the ceiling and reflects back to the lessons he learned as a new Soldier. “I learned how to take care of Soldiers and that’s what I still try my best to do every day, take care of the Soldier, their family members and our [Department of the Army] civilians,” he say with a smile. The lessons he learned would stay with him as he changed assignments, with a mixture of units that helped expand his knowledge of the Army. “I served in some really good units, 249th Supply Company at Fort Bragg; the 40th Combat Engineer Battalion (Mechanized) in Baumholder, Germany; at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., and in several different commands in Korea. I’ve seen a lot of the Army and I love it,” he says. One person who had a major influence on Jessup’s career was former commander of the 1st Corps Support Command, now called the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), then Brig. Gen. James M. Wright. Several times during his career Jessup would work for Wright, and the general would always place the NCO in a position where he could excel. “He was all right, a good man. I was the last Soldier he reenlisted before he died,” Jessup adds with sadness in his voice. Wright died Feb. 6, 2000. As the conversation turns Soldiers, Jessup’s eyes light up as he compares the difference from the Cold War, from when he joined, to the Soldiers of today’s expeditionary Army. “It’s funny, if you asked the NCOs who were around when I joined, the guys who
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had been in Vietnam, they said the Soldiers joining in the 80s had more technical skills, with computers and things like that, then they did. Now today, the Soldiers joining are smarter and more technologically proficient. The Soldiers today are current and up on all the advancements in technology, and they advance as far as that takes them. But if they live the Army values, technology will run its course, but the Soldiers help make it a better product for commanders,” he says. “The key thing to remember is, Soldiers today don’t have to join to be successful. They can make more money in a lot of cases on the outside doing what they do, but they join because they love it and they have a calling to a higher purpose,” he says. Taking over as the USAG Fort Detrick Command Sgt. Maj. means dealing with a workforce that is 99 percent civilian, but Jessup says he does not approach his job or the people differently. “Right now we are in the situation where our DA civilians have the furlough, and it’s my job to find ways to motivate [them] to continue on with the mission, because what we do is critical. At the end of the day, we have Soldiers who are depending on us who are deployed and in harm’s way. We have to protect and support our most precious commodity, the Soldier. We do that by giving them the tools to be successful,” he says. As he looks toward the future and the challenges waiting for the Garrison, Jessup leans forward and smiles, his voice is quiet but strong. “I am truly very excited to be here at Fort Detrick, I truly am. I cannot wait to support the Soldiers, families and civilians we have here in what is already a strong team,” he says.
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