Heal the Warrior! - Minnesota National Guard

Heal the Warrior! - Minnesota National Guard

Volume III, Issue X
May 2010
Heal the Warrior!
204th Area Support Medical Company
Commander’s Comments
Greetings 204th ASMC Family & Friends,
Resiliency is an important trait for everyone to have. When life’s little “bumps” get you
down, it is important to bounce back and move on. You are familiar with phrases like
“when the going gets tough, the tough get going” and “when life gives you lemons, make
lemonade”. Resiliency is defined as the ability to bounce back from life developments
that may feel totally overwhelming at first. Being resilient is not as easy as following a
catchy phrase; it requires preparation, training and following proven techniques. The
Army created the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program to address the mental,
physical and spiritual aspects of Soldiers, families and Army civilians in order to enhance
performance and build resilience. There are 5 key factors to improve one’s resiliency
and preparation to conquer unexpected challenges:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Regular Exercise: A positive “stress” that builds strength and endurance
Eat Right: Healthy foods sustain steady energy levels
Plenty of Rest: 7-8 hours of continuous, consistent sleep is recommended
Improve Communication: It is a good skill and needs to be practiced
Decompress: Take time to take it easy—make sure you take some “me time”
Knowledge and belief that the sacrifices family, friends and Soldiers make actually
DOES make a difference is also very important. I may be a little biased as a Medical
Company Commander, however, there is NO job more important than the medical support our Soldiers provide to everyone that passes through our medical facilities, especially those that fight and protect the many freedoms we enjoy as US citizens. I hope
everyone had a good Memorial day and had a chance to honor those who have fought
so hard for this great nation. Take care.
Heal the Warrior, Victory!
MAJ Paul Peterson.
Heal the Warrior!
Page 2
1SG Comments
Greetings Friends and Family of the 204th,
The end of our tour is rapidly approaching. The soldiers are busily finishing various
administrative tasks, identifying what personal items to mail home, and preparing their
military equipment for its disposition. As each day passes the list of tasks grows. Invariably we will start to wish we had more time in country to finish all the work we have before
us. This may seem strange, spending 9 months wanting for nothing else but to be home,
only to spend the last month wishing for more time here.
Over the next month our soldiers will continue their daily missions, train those who
will assume their responsibilities, and at the same time begin re-establishing their lives
back home. I assure you that the soldiers of the 204th will continue to serve together with
honor and support each other as we transition through these last several weeks.
1SG Pederson
FRG Comments
Dear 204th ASMC Family and Friends,
“Save the Date(s)” for the 204th ASMC 30 and 60-Day Reintegration Training,
scheduled for the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel on July 31 and August 28th respectively.
Your Soldier have all the details and should be talking to the people that they want to attend. These events are much like the Family Prep Academies we had prior to deployment
except the focus will be preparing for life after a deployment. This is also a great opportunity for Soldiers to look the “battle-buddy” in the eye and ask them how they are doing?
The 90-Day Reintegration event will be October 1-3 and be more Soldier-focus,
with mandatory training and redeployment tasks that need to be accomplished. There are,
however, a couple of very important Family-focused events; the Freedom Salute where
your Soldier will have the opportunity to honor those who have been so much support
while deployed and the Informal Dining-Out, where Soldiers, families and friends will have
a chance to socialize and enjoy each others’ company in a fun, festive atmosphere.
Again, please discuss these events between Soldiers and families about your expectations and then let your chain of command know who will be attending these events.
If you have questions, contact your Soldier or Teresa Evensen at 612-382-2716 or
[email protected] We look forward to having you all home soon.
Sincerely,
Teresa Evensen 204th ASMC FRSA
Paul Baumtrog 204th ASMC FRG Leader
Heal the Warrior!
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Health, Well Being, and Readiness
SPC Paul Reese, Bucca Detachment
It’s been nine months of this deployment now, and the 204th ASMC Camp Bucca Detachment continues to make their mark on FOB Bucca. There have been many individuals taking the
initiative for improving the overall health, well being and readiness of all personnel on FOB Bucca.
Step aerobics class is one of the activities that two individuals from the 204 th ASMC are
helping lead. SPC Georgina Velasquez and SPC Jenna
Stenger lead class every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at
1800. They have been a part of leading this exercise class for
almost 6 months, and average over 35 participants every night
class is held! The FOB commander COL Lund has also became an everyday participant as well. The 204th’s soldiers
were some of the everyday participants initially, but the class
became more and more popular as the 204th set the example
for the rest of the FOB to follow.
SPC Gina Velasquez and SPC Jenna
Another activity that two 204th soldiers recently took
Stenger, step aerobics instructors.
on is abs class. 1LT Richard Pierzina and SPC Paul Reese
have come up with a variety of routines for their weeknight class, held Monday through Friday, for
the FOB to join in on. Prior to the 204th’s soldiers taking over the class, FOB participation was at
an extreme low. However, after a few short weeks the class has grown into an average of about a
dozen participants, with hopes of continued growth.
Besides the 204th promoting health through exercise,
they have also promoted health by participating in FOB safety
fairs. The safety fair was held in mid-April and representatives included the TMC, Behavioral Health, and Dental sections along with contractors promoting electrical safety and
the FOB Bucca Fire Department. The TMC encouraged all
personnel to get their blood pressure checked right then and
there, and behavioral health educated attendants about tobacco use and ways to quit as well as redeployment information. The overall goal of the fair was to promote safety and
healthy habits through different avenues.
With just these few things the 204th has done to pro- SPC Kasey Mai working at the safety
fair. SPC Mai checked attendants’
mote health, wellness and readiness in their off-duty hours, a
blood pressure.
difference can be seen. The 204th has been giving new units
moving in a good impression by leading through example. They always take pride in what they do
and how they carry themselves. As the time winds down for them in country, 204th Soldiers plan
on carrying those habits and examples back home to friends and family members!
Heal the Warrior!
Page 4
Improving the Foxhole
SPC Renee Mackedanz, Bucca Detachment
The sound of birds chirping, the color of green returning, the snow melting and the
temperature rising are all indicators that Spring is upon us. Here in Iraq, with the exception of the temperature rising back into the one-hundreds, indicators that Spring is presenting itself are the improvements the 204th ASMC is making at the Camp Bucca TMC for
our replacements’ benefit.
When the 204th detachment arrived at Camp Bucca, we made several changes to
the TMC, given the drastic change in mission. The Level III CSH would no longer be
open, which meant the TMC would need to be re-designed for the new mission the 204th
Bucca Detachment was accepting. The beginning of the deployment was spent getting the clinic ready for the 204 th’s utilization. Now, as spring is upon us and thoughts about returning home are on our minds, we are also thinking of how to
make the TMC better for the next group of Soldiers to occupy.
Throughout the year the team has changed locations of offices, the layout of the building, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). The goal is to leave the TMC, aka the foxhole,
better than when they arrived and took over. Some things the
TMC is doing specifically for the new
SPC Vanessa Prebish and unit this spring includes deep cleanSGT Michael Haas making ing (wiping down walls and floorimprovements to the OIC/ boards), making the building a highNCOIC office.
quality place to work, making sure
SOPs are easy to understand, establishing continuity books, and
ensuring that the new unit has everything possible to succeed at
their mission.
Upon taking over the mission this past fall, many shortfalls
were identified and have since been corrected. Medical supplies
were ordered to give the new unit a “buffer” (extra supplies to
hold them over while they are settling into their new area of operation.) All medical equipment has recently gone through the
annual maintenance required; leaving the new unit with equipment that is operational and dependable. Different sections are
creating continuity books, which are books that include SOPs, CPT Jamie Kedinger and
paperwork and forms, as well as contact information. These PFC Heidi Goodnature
books serve as a guide into what worked well previously and the giving the TMC a fresh
resources to obtain the same results. The goal is to give the re- sweeping to keep it looking clean and profesplacing unit tools to make the Bucca TMC a better place on their
sional.
own accord.
Heal the Warrior!
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204th Soldiers honored with John R. Teal Award
By SSG James Brewer
An All Army Action (ALARACT) message announced that Major
Paul R. Peterson and Sergeant First Class Patrick M. Nietfeld are the
2010 Army National Guard recipients of the John R. Teal Award.
Captain John R. Teal (pictured left), a Medical Service Corps
(MSC) Officer for the 4th Infantry Division, died from injuries he sustained on October 23, 2003 near Baqubah, Iraq after an Improvised
Explosive Device (IED) detonated near his convoy. CPT Teal was the
32nd causality of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first MSC Officer lost
in a combat operation. Upon his death, the Army Medical Command
established the John R. Teal Award, which annually recognizes an
“officer and noncommissioned officer (NCO) who have made significant contributions to the medical community and displayed exceptional
soldiering skills. Soldiers must demonstrate characteristics of CPT Teal's leadership, professionalism, and qualities that go far beyond expectations”.
The John R. Teal award is a prestigious honor extended to the Army’s finest medical
planners in the three branches of service; Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves. There
is separate recognition for Officers and NCOs. Past recipients include many distinguished
Soldiers from the most elite organizations in the military. This year marks the 7th time the
award has been presented and the recipients are closer to home that we all could have
imagined.
This honor usually includes a trip to either the Pentagon in Washington DC or Ft.
Sam Houston in San Antonio TX, home of the Army Medical Command and presentation by
the Secretary of the Army and The Surgeon General. SFC Nietfeld and MAJ Peterson, currently serving in the Iraqi theater of operations, traveled to the Al Faw Palace, USF-I headquarters at Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, Iraq where they received their awards from
The Surgeon General, LTG Schoomaker. This is truly an honor for medical operations professionals. The next time you see these two individuals, shake their hands as they are now
members in a small group of elite Medical Planners and Operations professionals.
MAJ Paul Peterson (left) and SFC Patrick Nietfeld (right) receive the John R. Teal Award
from the US Army Surgeon General, LTG Schoomaker, on May 6th, 2010.
Heal the Warrior
Publishing the Newsletter - A Look Back in Time
Page 6
By 1LT Mathew Keller
As this deployment winds down, let’s look back in time to see how both the unit and the newsletter has evolved. The 204th began pre-mob training back at Camp Ripley MN early last summer,
but individual soldiers were training well before then at Medical Mobilization Training, Combat Casualty Care Course, flight surgeon school, and a variety of other courses. Post-mob training was at Ft.
Lewis WA where we validated or training through a Medical Readiness Exercise and received a
change of mission. A short stop at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, and then on to our new “homes” at either
Camp Bucca or COB Basrah.
The 204th has been through a lot since we began this adventure last summer; from splitbased operations, to medical emergencies, to changes in higher headquarters. Individual soldiers
have also faced a multitude of trials and tribulations in addition to the normal heartache that comes
with being away from our (real) homes for so long. As a result of these challenges, we have grown
as individuals and as a company...indeed, we have grown together as well; all while performing our
jobs admirably and having some fun along the way.
The Heal the Warrior Newsletter has done its best to cover all aspects of this deployment
from the beginning, and the staff has performed superbly. We were put together as a bunch of disorganized amateurs during pre-mobilization training at Camp Ripley, and have since grown into a coherent group who publish a pretty decent monthly newsletter. The transformation from the first newsletter we published to the product we now dish out is astounding, and it has truly been a labor of love.
While some were less-than-excited with being tasked to help with the newsletter, most eventually
came around.
SPC Breusehoff
SPC Reding
1LT Keller
SGT Lubben
SPC Botanel
SPC Reding has waivered at times, however, his sense of duty always got the best of him,
and he has been a “rock” of a writer whom I can always count on to get the job done (despite his humorous protestations). SPC Mackadenz has had her name misspelt in her own newsletter more often
than I care to admit. She begrudgingly took on the job as editor in chief while SGT Lubben and I were
away on leave, and has tackled more than her fair share of articles down at Camp Bucca; however,
she has done it all with a positive attitude, a witty comment, and a laugh or two. SPC Botanel volunteered himself to do the lions-share of newsletter formatting with his savvy computer skills. He has
also taken on many other responsibilities, including the unit historian report, various slide shows and
designing and painting our T-Wall. SPC Brueshoff and SGT Doheny were late additions to the staff,
but their contributions have been many, and they brought a breath of fresh air to the newsletter. I always look forward to seeing what article SGT Doheny has concocted for any given month.
Above and through it all was the effort, initiative, and hard work put into the newsletter by its
very foundation, SGT Lubben. She coordinated the efforts of all the various newsletter pieces, wrote
many articles, and had the thankless job of ensuring deadlines were met by staff, guest writers, the
FRG, and unit leadership. To her, the staff, and all the other individuals who made Heal the Warrior
work, thank you. You have performed a very necessary task for the soldiers, families, friends and the
history books. You have done it all with a smile on your face, through the good times and the bad.
Bravo! You have done a fantastic job.
Heal the Warrior
Page 7
Bucca Soldier of the Month: SSG Brian Kaphing
SSG Brain Kaphing was named Camp Bucca’s Soldier of the Month for his hard work, not
only as the
detachment’s supply sergeant (to include mail carrier), but also for his willingness to
jump in and help in the TMC and his MWR coaching abilities. SSG Kaphing most recently ensured
that our connexes (big, metal box) and everything required to be sent back to the U.S. has been
taken care of. He has traveled throughout the country to do so.
HTW: What is your job with the 204th ASMC?
SSG Kaphing: I am the Unit Movement Operations Noncommissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC),
Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) NCOIC, Supply NCO for the Bucca detachment, Postal Officer, assistant platoon sergeant, and 1st squad leader.
HTW: Wow, that’s a lot! I hear you are a movie buff, how many movies do you own?
SSG Kaphing: 500ish
HTW: Wow, that’s a lot! What is your favorite?
SSG Kaphing: A Walk To Remember. I take great pride in my love for “chick flicks.”
HTW: I’ve heard… err, actually seen, you cry during several movies. Would you like to comment on that?
SSG Kaphing: Who doesn’t??
HTW: No comment… Is it true that you were deployed by the US Army solely for your softball
skills?
SSG Kaphing: Some may think that, but I’m also highly skilled in football, basketball, and volleyball.
I have extreme athletic ability in all fields.
HTW: Hmm.. I see you certainly have confidence in your abilities. How is the softball team
doing?
SSG Kaphing: The softball team is superb in many ways, excellent defense and offense, thus making us the team to beat. We currently are undefeated and have won two Camp Bucca Tournaments
(nice trophies too!).
HTW: Impressive. If you were to guess, how many times during the deployment do you think
you have had fish at the chow hall?
SSG Kaphing: At least 75% of the days at least one meal is fish.
HTW: Wow, that is a lot of fish. Do you eat fish at home?
SSG Kaphing: Very rarely.
HTW: Our time here is quickly coming to a close, any plans when you get home?
SSG Kaphing: Vacation and nursing school. Going to Jamaica.
HTW: Nurse Kaphing, it certainly has a ring to it. Thanks for your time, SSG Kaphing.
Nurse Kaphing: Word.
Heal the Warrior
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Basrah Soldier of the Month: SPC William Watkins
SPC William Watkins was chosen for soldier of the month due to
his always cheerful demeanor, hard work, and kindness towards patients
in patient hold as well as his fellow unit members.
HTW: SPC Watkins, first off, congratulations on being this month’s
soldier of the month!
SPC Watkins: Thank you very much!
HTW: So lets get right to it. What’s an average night in Patient Hold
like for you?
SPC WATKINS: I start by prepping and getting set up for the night. Then
I wait for patients to come down to patient hold if there aren’t any already.
A big part of being in patient hold is staying flexible and rolling with the
punches. We in patient hold have a great relationship and good communication with the doctors and patient admin, so that makes my job go
smoother. We all get along very well as a team in patient hold and we’ve
adapted to whatever the TMC can throw at us. I think what has helped us
adapt and overcome problems is that we discuss things and nip problems
in the bud before they turn into something bigger.
HTW: That’s really great to hear, SPC Watkins. So, that’s your deployment employment, but if I remember correctly, you are a masseuse civilian side, right?
SPC WATKINS: That is correct!
HTW: Do you like it?
SPC WATKINS: I love it. You meet all kinds of different people and you set your own hours so you’re kind of your own
boss, even if you work for someone.
HTW: How did you get into it?
SPC WATKINS: Well I was doing massage for 10 years casually on the side while doing other work and then one night I
was working really late. It was about 2 or 3 in the morning and one of those late night ads came on TV. The advertisement asked if you were looking for a job change, which I, in fact was. I didn’t waste any time, I got on the phone immediately and within a week, I was in a 13-month massage therapy program.
HTW: How long have you been doing it since?
SPC WATKINS: For 10 years, so I’ve been practicing massage therapy for a total of about 20 years. I’m very good at it
and I enjoy it very much.
HTW: Sounds like you’ve found your calling! What has been your strangest client?
SPC WATKINS: I had a semi-pro football player who didn’t believe someone could give him enough pressure in a massage, but I found pressure points and made him scream like a little girl.
HTW: I take it you made a believer out of him!
SPC WATKINS: Yeah, it was pretty funny.
HTW: I believe it. So SPC Watkins, you’re not originally from MN, right?
SPC WATKINS: Right. I moved to MN from Gary, IN.
HTW; What brought you to MN?
SPC WATKINS: Work. I moved to MN and started working the very same day.
HTW: Wow, the move was a smart decision then?
SPC WATKINS: Oh yes, I love MN.
HTW: Any big plans when you go home?
SPC WATKINS: Of course a big party. Then I intend to round up some more clients and try to start my own massage
business. It’s very good money.
HTW: Good luck! Anything else you’d like to add?
SPC WATKINS: I have noticed, and I’ve been told by other people, that this unit works very well together. We have our
differences but we all pull together and get the job done. Also, I would like to add that this unit and leadership has been
very supportive of me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be here at first but they stuck with me and opened my eyes. They
really helped me get my act together and I appreciate that very much.
Heal the Warrior
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