2012 Family Day-HHC; Willow Grove,PA

As the summer sun continued to heat up across the nation, with temperatures breaking into triple-digit the 338^th Medical Brigade, HHC was hosting their annual July Family Day event. Twice each year, many Army Reserve units will host a Family Day so that we may bring our family members out to meet our fellow soldiers, gain valuable information on services provided to military families and enjoy a day of fun-filled activities.

While each Family Day takes large amounts of coordination from our military members and the Family Care office, it is often a great success as a result of donations and discounts from our many military supporters within the community. This year we received donations from local businesses including bakeries, amusement parks and movie theatres.

While many military families often receive vast amounts of info on military-only services, the Family Care Office was able to bring in several companies that greatly assist military families. The Navy-Federal Credit Union was on hand to discuss rates and special features, while the USO was providing Jelly-Belly Jelly Beans and free movies. There were several other companies providing information on Tricare and Housing loans to service members, often information that may not be as readily available to our reserve members of the military.

However, the ultimate draw of the day is the vast quantity of food and fun activities scheduled. As a result of 20 soldiers running & assisting with the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia, PA the Family Care Office was able to provide the funding to have DJ equipment as well as a dunk tank. For many of the children, the dunk tank was amazing fun as service members had the opportunity of seeing their child dunk their fellow soldiers. This event raised a vast amount as several of our soldiers collected a pot to encourage CSM Grandy and COL Doumont to take a shift in the dunk tank.

After several attempts at not getting soaked, COL Doumont succumbed to the strong arms of our children and called for a truce. Following this, awards were presented to our soldiers for their efforts during ECT 2012 at Fort McCoy, WI. Before departing for home, the Family Care Office raffled off several prizes including baked goods, tickets to amusement parks and movie tickets. While the temperatures remained high well into the evening, they failed to break the morale of our service members and their families, as the general consensus was a fantastic day of events.

For more information, please contact Cadet Francis Burghart at francis.p.burghart@us.army.mil

2012 ECT Red Dragon-Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin

During the dog days of summer, while many were enjoying their Bar-BQ’s, baseball and salty beaches soldiers of the 338^th Medical Brigade ventured out to Fort McCoy Wisconsin to participate in ECT Red Dragon 2012. As the main body departed on the 29MAY12, severe weather patterns disrupted several flights, forcing extended layovers and canceled flights. As a result, upon full arrival, many soldiers were exhausted and stiff but happy to be serving towards training for reactions to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks (CBRN).

As the full exercise began, various components were assigned taskings based on their role within the training exercise. HHC was tasked as supervisor and overseer for majority of personnel actions as well as event documentation, while the

While the exercise was being conducted as full 24-hour operation, majority of the staff were given rest during the night. However, as many of the soldiers were brought on as assistance to the training exercise there was ample time for additional mandatory training. This training would come to include drivers training on HMWV, LMTV and school busses. Towards the end of the operation, soldiers had the opportunity to qualify on both M16A2 and the 9mm sidearm. Many of the medics received updated training and several of our non-68W soldiers were given the opportunity to train on Heartsaver CPR & AED usage.

After departing from the field training, soldiers were quartered in billets and shortly after began discovering the many offerings of the Fort McCoy area. During off hours, many soldiers found themselves spending hours at the local fitness center as well as the MWR facility and making daily trips to the PX. Due to vast coordination from MSG Howard and CPT Marquez, soldiers who were in need of assistance participated in Operation Life Fitness, a program oriented to further assist soldiers in building a daily fitness regimen and education of healthy life decisions.

On the final days at Fort McCoy, soldiers from the 338^th Medical Brigade joined together at the MWR facility for an extensive cook-out of hamburgers, hot dogs and steak, as well as a vast selection of side dishes. While at this facility, soldiers were able to use the facility for playing video games and engaging in friendly games of volleyball, pool and cards. Before the end of the day however, the Brigade (BDE) Commander, COL Doumont and the Command Sergeant Major (CSM), CSM Grandy delivered awards to all of those soldiers who worked diligently to ensure a successful operation while at Fort McCoy.

As everyone began to pack their bags and say their farewells, the BDE participated in one final training event, a moral boosting BDE Run over the course of roughly 1 mile within the surrounding are of both the male and female barracks. Then everyone began their journey home.

For further information please contact Cadet Francis Burghart: francis.p.burghart@us.army.mil

2012 ECT Facilities Inspections

During the 2012 Red Dragon exercise in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin soldiers form the 422^nd Medical Detachment-Veterinary Services, Rockville, MD assisted the installation in soldier care by preventing the accidental or intentional contamination of food and water.  This time allowed the six soldiers to train more in depth on the hazards and reactions to chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. In coordination with Active Duty soldiers from the Fort McCoy Section of Great Lakes Branch of Public Health Command, they were able to complete the regular mandatory facility inspection servicing the vast majority of soldiers stationed within Fort McCoy.

The training and inspections that pertained most directly with Operation Red Dragon were actually the real world inspections that were conducted on 6 June 2012.  These mandatory facility inspections require vehicle inspections of those that deliver the Utilized Group Rations –A (UGR-A’s) and the Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s). Further inspections of the temperature logs and storage of the rations, as well as  a destructive open package inspection (DOPI) which was conducted on the MREs.

A DOPI on MRE’s consists of opening all of the components and using your senses of sight, smell, and taste to determine servability and consumability.   UGR-A’s and MRE’s were the two main sources of subsistence rationed to the soldiers on COL Liberty, COL Freedom, and Fort McCoy.  The soldiers of the 422^nd MDVS further conducted inspections of the Dining Facilities on both COLs, as well as the main post to ensure low food hazard risks and proper food storage procedures. 

The 422^nd soldiers took the opportunity while at Red Dragon to not only learn how to react to a nuclear attack, but sought out training that would assist them if they were ever called up to deploy. Should these soldier s ever be called upon they are now more effective towards their overall mission of soldier moral and welfare.

 For further information, please contact SGT Courtney Kreft: Courtney.kreft@us.army.mil