Army Medical Department

Saturday was the birthday ball for the North Atlantic Regional Command at Ft. Belvoir.  The guest of honor for the ball was Major General Czerw.  You can see from COL Pannes' posting that he is a busy guy trying to support the Corps.

At the ball were several other current and retired general officer's as well as current American Dental Association president Dr. Ron Tankersley.  With it's location in the national capital region, there were many attendees from other services that came out to support.

We were also able to have many HPSP students (dental students on Army scholarships) that were able to attend.  The students came from as far away as VCU on the south and Tufts on the North with many others represented in between.  Hopefully they had a fun time and look forward to coming on active duty.

This was the receiving line prior to the ball beginning.  Starting on the right.  COL Priscilla Hamilton was the mistress of ceremonies (current regional commander - incoming DENCOM Commander). Next to her was MG Czerw, and COL Ted Wong (outgoing DENCOM Commander).

My wife had to attend a function for my son, so my daughter became my date.  Standing in front of the windows in the ballroom with the Potomac in the background.

Standing in front of the birthday cake.

Dr. Ron Tankersley current ADA president with retired Major General Bill Lefler.

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I'm sure by now if you are in any way involved with the Army be it an officer, NCO, enlisted, future soldier, cadet, warrant officer, whatever you may be you know what LDRSHIP stands for. The Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage. We also all know what a leader is, both good and bad. I would like to give my perspective as a PFC to anyone who would like to listen.

As I said last week, I had drill this weekend and was sure I was going to have stories to tell. Many things happened over the weekend that are worth noting, but due to OPSEC, I'll try to stick to generalities. Ready? The primary focus of this weekend for my company was land navigation as part of our pre-deployment checklist. Yes, that scary word no one wants to say, deployment. Anyway, land nav is probably one of the easiest parts of being a soldier provided the right tools and a little common sense. However, missing either one of these makes things VERY interesting.

This is where the different forms of leadership come in to play. My company is fortunate to have multiple NCO's who have been on one or more deployments with each other and other companies, allowing each of them to bring unique experiences and life lessons to the table each drill. I believe this is what makes a good NCO from an enlisted point-of-view, someone who is confident but not cocky, self-aware, not afraid to admit when they are wrong, I could go on all day. Pretty much all good soldier skills, some confidence, some leadership experience, and of course common sense. The best example of leadership this weekend I saw was an E6 squad leader who after he sent his two teams on the course rounded up the pre-basic soldiers that were there to learn and get a jump start on soldiering before basic training and walked them through pace counts and actually accompanied them on the course teaching them about the landscape, shooting an azthmus, and just general terrain association. It was enlightening for me to see an NCO putting forth all this extra effort for a few kids who weren't even officially in the Army yet. He could have left them in the rear or just stood around with them, instead he took it as an opportunity to learn. That is good leadership if I have ever seen it.

So where does LDRSHIP fall into place? Being medic on-site gave me an opportunity to watch all three platoons go through the course and watch the way the different line leaders approached the situations, and some of it suprised me. I watched enlisted soldiers who knew what was going on more then their team and squad leaders- all corporals and above- get ignored because the NCO's were so determined to do it their way and I watched enlisted members who had no clue get left out to dry because they either didn't speak up or tried to speak up and were ignored.

Now in no way am I bashing anyone in my company, I believe my company is one of the best around with one of the best company commanders and first sergeants around. I am however trying to highlight one of the greatest faults there seems to be among the lower ranks. Now back to LDRSHIP. Each letter could easily have fallen into play this weekend on the course if it would have been given the opportunity. Loyalty to each member of your team and/or squad ensuring not only they knew what they were doing but could keep up physically as well, Duty for the same reasons, Respect for all members of the company utilizing an opportunity to train up the pre-basic soldiers and refresh the memories of some of the soldiers who haven't done this type of thing in awhile, Selfless Service for all the reasons listed above plus just regular desire to serve, Honor to the system, our fellow soldiers, and the country, Integrity is another good example I'll highlight in a minute, and the Personal Courage of the NCO's to admit that they were a little rusty and of the enlisted that knew what they were doing to speak up. Each of these did make or would have made the land navigation experience one everyone could have and did benefit from.

Integrity- Former Infantry Corporal getting ready to reclass to MP swore up and down he didn't need anyone's help on anything because he "did this all the time." Needless to say he and his team emerged from the woods about 30 minutes after everyone started on their courses completely lost because he read the map wrong. Even though he knew he had been to cocky and made a fool of himself he was not too cocky to admit he was wrong and promptly take his team back to the starting point to start again.

I guess if I had to sum up the above paragraphs in as few words as possible, they would run something along the line of "NCO's and all line leaders are to be respected and learned from. However if you know you have something to contribute and are afraid to speak up because your enlisted, IT DOESN'T MATTER! SPEAK UP! trust me, your team will thank you for it when you aren't the last team wandering in the woods."

Until next week, be strong, be safe, and be smart.

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Another great reason for looking at the Army as a "long-term" career plan has been implemented within the last couple of years.  In 2007 Congress implemented a loan forgiveness program that individuals can use if they are employed in public service for 10 years.  The military qualifies for this loan forgiveness.

This program combined with the Post 9-11 GI Bill that allows you to transfer educational benefits to family are great enticements for a career in the Army.

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Thursday was great.  We have several dentists that are/will be gone for training.  Because of that things will shift a little at the clinic.

Thursday I was able to treat one of the tallest patients I have seen. He is completing training in AIT and will be graduating this summer and going on to play college ball.  He was 6"7".  Not sure why he wasn't smiling - he was happy both before and after the picture :)

In the morning I was on exams, and we did 16 exams.  In the afternoon we did: pulp testing and placed desensitizing material on two teeth, extracted 2 teeth, delivered 1 crown, 6 fillings on 3 patients. 

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We celebrated the Army Dental Corps’ 99th birthday this week on 03 March! This is the best Army Ball that I’ve been to – and we’ve been to quite a few. The highlight of the week and the Ball was our guest speaker and Corps Chief, MG Czerw. We also had dentists visiting from Canada and New Zealand to teach at our annual Forensics Course. COL Trengrove is the Senior Staff Officer Health for all military medical services in New Zealand (first dentist ever to hold this prestigious position!!) and has extensive Forensics experience with the military and the police. I first met him at a conference in Singapore 2 years ago and we started talking about an exchange program for Army dentists. It is amazing that we’ve gotten it off the ground! His contribution to our Forensics Course was monumental. And I can’t wait to go to New Zealand :) MAJ Les Campbell is a Detachment Commander in Canada. I first met him at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas where we were both serving as Mock Board Examiners for the ABGD Board Exam. We instantly hit it off with our common interest in dental continuing education. We have continued to cross paths at the annual Academy of General Dentistry Meeting and Les will be a speaker for me at the meeting this year in July. I recently sent him an email requesting materials due and received an “out of office” reply saying he was in Haiti in response to the recent earthquake. I immediately thought how valuable his experience there would be to our Forensics Course and contacted his Commander to see if we could get Les to Hawaii after he returned from Haiti. MAJ Campbell had one day notice to go to Haiti and not much more to come to Hawaii. This week he has delivered the most moving presentations of his work identifying Canadians that perished in Haiti. His work could not be more current or applicable and has been invaluable to everyone this week. He has even been able to bring his wife and daughter to Hawaii and is getting important “reconnecting” time with them. I cannot thank COL Trengrove or MAJ Campbell enough!

This also goes to show the incredible networking that is possible in the Army. The most casual conversations and interactions turn in to amazing events for so many people.

MG Czerw, MAJ Les Campbell (Canada), COL P, COL Hugh Trengrove (New Zealand), COL Lavin, COL Bachand

I’m always SO proud of our residents! The Ball was at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach. The residents and their spouses looked outstanding and we couldn’t have had a more incredible setting.
 

MAJ Chun Chan (2nd year), COL P, Mary Rondeau, CPT Alex Smith (2nd year), CPT John King (1st year), MAJ Ken Jo (1st year), Jihyun Park, COL Mark Kuba (1st year), Young Kuba, CPT Tin Le (2nd year), COL Dan Lavin (Director). (We missed CPT Le’s and MAJ Chan’s wives this year)

A bonus to the evening was being able to renew my wedding vows with my husband. We actually do this every year…we’ve both been married before and we agreed at the beginning of our marriage to dedicate all the time and energy we could into keeping it strong. It’s easy to lose focus but renewing our vows every year helps keep us from losing perspective. It’s a little thing but it works for us and has become a fun and special tradition. We were actually married on 29 February 2000 (the last day it was legal for Officers and NCOs to marry) and since the Army Dental Corps Birthday Ball is always so close we often perform the ceremony at the B-Day Ball. Other locations have included Santorini, Greece (the best!), Key West, KoleKole Pass/Hawaii, and Ko Olina/Hawaii. This year is number ten!!

My husband even arranged for a rainbow to shine over Diamond Head :)

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I had a chance last week to go down to Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Tx to speak to students there.  SFC Edward Gall invited me down to speak.  We had a great turn out , and 1 lucky student even won a snowboard.

I even had a chance to visit with one of my oral surgery mentors who retired from the Army and is teaching at Baylor.

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  Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to be a soldier.  My Grandfather was in WW2 in General Pattons' prestigious 4th Armored Division.  I remember sitting on his lap entranced by the stories of his time in Germany during the War.  He was my hero, always was and always will be.

  I enlisted into the Army's Delayed Entry program the minute I turned 18.  I remember telling my folks that I was going in the Army, and they were not to thrilled at the idea.  My Dad wanted me to join the Air Force because it was "safer".  I knew in my heart of hearts that the Army was were I belonged.  I knew that ever since I sat on Poppas lap and listened to his stories, saw the tears in his eyes.

  When I took the ASVAB, I had no clue as to what I wanted to do in the Army, I never really thought about it.  I just KNEW that the Army was for me.  Once my scores came back and I sat down with my Recruiter to pick out a job, only one of those jobs really stood out to me: 91B-Medical Specialist, (Now 68W-Healthcare Specialist).  My Recruiter was a grizzled old Infantryman and he said that Medic was the best job in the Army according to him.  He told me of all the great things his Medics did during Desert Storm, how they are some of the bravest soldiers he had ever seen.  I knew at that moment that this was the job that would make my Poppa proud.  MEDIC!

 After a glorious 8 weeks at FT. Leonard Wood MO., I went to FT. Sam Houston for training.  10 weeks of shots, IV's, practicing bandaging, Emergency Medical Technician training, etc.  I found the training easy, and it just reinforced my thoughts that this was the career I was destined for.

  My first Permanent duty station was the 514th Medical Company, Ground Ambulance, at FT. Lewis Washington.  I was expecting, HOPING that I would be sent to and Infantry Battalion, where "Doc" was the man, the guy that was always there to help. Patching up bullet holes, stitching up bar fight injuries on a Saturday Night.  Definitely not the case!  I was assigned as an Ambulance driver, and did a lot of Range covereage, medical coverage for the Washington Special Olympics, Cobra Gold in Thailand, etc.  It wasnt what I was expecting, but I still loved my job and thought I was making a difference.  Me making the decision to enlist and serve my Country was the first step.

Stay tuned for part 2!

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In the clinic on Thursday I had something come across that I hadn't seen before.  A patient that I was doing a comprehensive periodontal exam and some cool radiographs.  He had had orthognathic surgery thorugh the Army in the past (jaw surgery).  That is what all the white things are that look like they are from an erector set.  In addition he had had transcortical implants placed.  An implant that goes from one part of the jaw almost through the other side.  You can see how long they are - not much chance that he will loose them.  Current implants are generally much shorter.  Suprisingly enough he said he did not have any type of numbness or nerve damage on that side.

By the end of the day (including 2 failed appointments) we had done: 4 exams, 4 fillings on 2 patients, 2 extractions on 1 patient, 2 temporary dentures on 1 patient.

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Being a medic can be one of the most demanding and rewarding jobs all at once. The official term for my primary MOS is Healthcare Specialist, but to everyone in the military we are simply combat medics or medics or even just Doc. I don't pretend to know all the aspects of the job, I have only been in the Army for two years and haven't even been deployed yet. However if there is one thing I have learned it's that being a medic even stateside can get very demanding.

If there is one thing that my senior medic taught me that I try to keep in mind all the time it is that every single soldier is my responsibility. Even the ones that outrank me-which is honestly at least half my company- is my job. It is my job to watch them and get to know their habits, so I can tell when someone isn't up to par, either because they're sick, dehydrated, or injured. See for some reason a lot of my fellow soldiers don't like coming to the medics when they are sick or hurt. I don't know if it's a pride issue or a habit ingrained from avoiding sick call for so long through Basic Training and AIT. I don't know but typically I either sneak around and practice my ninja skills when no one knows I'm there to see if they are putting up a front or just sit back and people watch. I believe in practicing preventative medicine and taking care of issues while they are manageable rather then waiting until it becomes a full scale medical problem that is detrimental to the health of that soldier and the effectiveness of the whole unit.

Being one of two medics in a company of about 200 soldiers is the exhausting part. There are constantly headaches, old injuries that always seem to flair up during drill and the cold or cough that by the end of the weekend is the full-blown flu. I'm not complaining though, I am at my best when I am running around in circles from person to person tending aches pains and sickness. Being the female medic opens up even more situations to me that my senior medic doesn't even get involved in, same with him and the males in my unit. For some reason my unit is incredibly accident-prone, usually ending up in at least one trip to the hospital for something every battle assembly. It can get very tiring doing all the driving back and forth and especially the paperwork. I hate paperwork.

I know this sounds like me complaining but this is me trying to give a sneak-peek into what goes on behind the scenes in the day to day life of an Army reserve medic in an MP unit. Each week I plan on trying to pass on a lesson I've learned or a story of something that has happened to me, because as corny as it sounds, knowledge is power. I'd like to think and even dream that maybe something I pass on to the readers here may come in handy in the future, either as a lesson learned or just simple advice.

I don't know yet what lesson or story I might have next week but I have drill Friday Saturday and Sunday of this week and we are in the field doing mounted and dismounted land nav so you can bet I'll have something. Until then, stay safe, drink water, and don't be afraid of your medics. We usually don't bite.

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My parents have been attending the Olympics (Summer and Winter) since 1976. I’ve been fortunate to accompany them 3 times now. This was my husband’s first Olympic experience. Now he’s ready for London and Russia and Rio!!

Vancouver is doing a particularly impressive job! The people are amazing! The public transportation is faultless! The streets are clean enough to eat off of! And the scenery is breathtaking! Kudos to Canada!!

Storybook Whistler Village…GREAT place to hang out, meet super folks from other countries, meet and greet some athletes… No, my mittens don’t match my outfit…but they are the hottest commodity in Vancouver right now. The shops cannot keep them in stock. One girl bought 40 pairs for friends looking for them. My mother bought 10 pairs for grandchildren, gifts, etc. And you just can’t help but love the Canadians – so I sported them, too!

I might be cold…who am I kidding – I am always cold!?! But I love my mittens :)

Dave, me, Mom. We’re here at the luge to see American Erin Hamlin. She is from Remsen, NY, near my hometown and my parents are friends with hers. The Hamlin family is really fun to hang out with. They are camped out here with us and the Sweeney fans and a lot of other fun people. The Utica Club Brewery is near our hometowns and sent their good wishes as well as some Utica Club beer to Vancouver! How’s that for Hometown support!!

Here we’re at the ski jump portion of the Nordic Combined. American Johnny Spillane delivered a spectacular performance and earned the Silver! We really enjoyed his race.

Dave and Dad. Apolo Ohno was the highlight of this evening of Short Track Speed Skating.

Vancouver is a gorgeous city. Here we walked downtown and through Stanley Park.

I’m really happy now because I’m toasty warm in the sun. The wine helps, too :)

Our lodging arrangements were also very interesting. We had our event tickets and our airline tickets a LONG time ago (my mother starts working on event tickets years before the events.) We had a really hard time finding lodging, though. My father even wanted to consider cancelling the trip. So I got creative (and brave!?!) and arranged a Home Exchange with someone in Vancouver. My husband was nervous and reluctant but was a great sport and went along with it. We were soooo fortunate to trade for a great apartment in North Vancouver! It couldn’t have been nicer or in a better location. And our exchange family enjoyed our place and couldn’t have taken better care of it. Thank you SJ!!

We obviously had a fabulous experience. Can’t wait to do it again!!

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