HHC, 62nd Medical Brigade Family Readiness Group

August 2013

62nd Med BDE Commander: COL Theresa M. Schneider

I grew up in New Jersey. Folks there referred to August as the “Dog Days of Summer”. Not sure where that expression came from, but August in Bagram reminds me of the Dog Days of Summer - it’s hazy, hot, and humid. Although we are looking forward to Labor Day, it signals the end of summer and less daylight (the sun sets at 6:30 PM), as well as back to school for some of you and an increased focus for us here in Af-ghanistan on the retrograde. Imagine being assigned overseas for 12 years, and now it is time to prepare for a PCS move back to the states. You’ve got a lot of stuff to organize and take care of before you move. That’s kind of what it’s like for us over here. In addition to ensuring Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have got the healthcare they need, the Soldiers of HHC, 62nd Medical Brigade are focusing on packing up medical supplies and equip-ment that won’t be needed after December 2014. Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day Weekend. We are going to enjoy an Olympic Sports Competition followed by a barbeque.

62nd MED BDE CSM: CSM David M. Rogers

Communication with loved ones during de-ployment used to be challenging. During Desert Storm (Google it …) we relied on snail mail and AT&T; we would wait for hours just to make a five minute phone call. By the end of OIF I, a lot of us had weekly access to email. Now most of us have daily access to email, Facebook, Skype, Facetime, Mes-senger, SnapChat or iMessage, just to name a few of the more popular forms of Internet communication. We went from hearing from our families once or twice a month to having the opportunity to talk to them weekly or even daily. So, is all this a good thing …? I say yes and no; it depends on how you use these resources! The Positive: With better contact, family members on both sides of the world don’t feel as alone or abandoned. Deployed Soldiers keep up with daily affairs, talk to/text with family members, and answer questions on finances, etc. almost immedi-ately. Family members are assured that their Soldier is healthy and gain a better understanding of what the Soldier endures daily. The Negative: Some conversations can add more stress. Text messages can be easily misinter-preted. Soldiers are still too far away to personally take care of issues for the family, and this leads to frustrations. And don’t get me started on some of the stuff that is posted on Facebook! The wrong post, or an email message sent in anger at the spur of the moment, could needlessly send a family member or Soldier into a panic. And of course there are some issues that take place in theater that should not be sent out via Social Media. Communication is a good thing, and used properly, all of these new forms of communication can help maintain and strengthen a relationship. Re-member to use them wisely and avoid careless posts or email messages.

Our Flag CPT Jenniffer B. Goulet

Over our heads, in the hot Afghan breeze, high in the sky, day in and day out, flies a now dusty 62nd Medical Brigade flag. This flag represents us, the 62nd Medical Brigade as the Headquarters for Task Force Medical-Afghanistan. This flag can be seen from every direction, standing 30 feet high, and of course, one foot taller than that 10th Mountain flag close by. CW2 Trujillo, our token Engineer, erected this masterpiece on 17 July 2013 with the help of his fellow officers.

Proud and Steadfast; America’s Medics!

SPC Gamboa’s Reenlistment SPC Amanda J. Donatelli

The dust, sand and breeze mingle to devise the perfect cocktail of an Afghanistan afternoon. High above, the sun, persistent in its main endeavor to exude an obstinate heat, has preformed this task to the greatest capacity. Fortuitously there is a wooden barrier between us and the toasty afternoon. As Soldiers ascend the rickety staircase, honor and pride radiate in conversation and demeanor. Today, 29 July 2013, SPC Gamboa will take her reenlistment oath. We have congre-gated to witness this marvelous event with awe and support. Off into the horizon, the moun-tains display a rugged backdrop of earthly intrigue. The American flag, proud and steadfast, is held by SPC Washington and SSG Neal. Under the gazebo, amidst the ample support of spectators, SPC Gamboa repeated her oath with the leadership of CPT Sumner, our HHC Commander. Congratulations on this momentous occasion, and thank you for continuing to serve our great nation!

The Three B’s CH James P. Hall

The most famous group of Beatitudes we often use to describe

the way we should live our lives is taken from Matthew 5 and 6. I always think of the Beatitudes as “attitudes” that people should “be”. (By the way, I am intentionally using awkwardness in the English to make a point.) The first attitude we should be is available (Matt 5:14-16). Our attitude needs to be one where we take the time and the opportunity to show others why we love them. It is our duty to take that opportunity no matter what is going on. Remember, the enemy wants to steal our oppor-tunity to care and love by temping us to care for ourselves only. The second attitude to be, is open. The Bible tells us the story of Saul of Tarsus. On the road to Damascus, he had a very ominous experi-ence. Like Paul, our openness to change in our lives is crucial to a fulfilling the calling we have. Openness is an attitude that we be in order for God to do in our lives. We must be open to living wherever the Lord calls us, or working with whomever God puts in our path. Most of us are afraid of working outside our paradigm. Like the rich young ruler, change could mean a lifestyle in which we are not willing to move. Finally, we must have the attitude to be who God created us to be. The grass is often greener on the other side for most of today’s Amer-ica. We have the technology today to change just about everything about our personal appearance. No matter how much we change or what job we pursue, or how big of a house we move into, we can’t change what God created us to be, or not to be. God made us beautiful and wonderful. He called us for a special purpose. Some of us run from that special purpose to satisfy societal needs instead of spiritual needs. This reaction to our created purpose causes stress and internal conflict. “Growing where we’re planted”, however, gives us harmony and spiritual peace. Be who God created you to be. In closing, we find that the Bible lays forth many beatitudes. If I may give a summary, it is our duty to be available, be open, and be what God designed us to be in order to love ourselves and then show love to the world.

Happy Birthday to ALL our August Babies!

-Rear- SPC Adams– 1 August MSG Herring– 6 August SPC Lopez– 10 August SGT Daily– 15 August SGT Barber– 28 August

-FWD- SFC Turner– 1 August CH Hall– 8 August CPT Goulet– 27 August

Soldiers from the S1 shop decorated CPT Goulet’s office for her birthday!

5K Ruck March for Sexual Assault Awareness SPC Amanda J. Donatelli

We are exuberant; enthusiasm is radiating from all the Soldiers about to participate in the Bagram Ruck March for Sexual Assault Awareness. It’s a beau-tiful Afghanistan morning. The sun is hidden behind the clouds that have strate-gically dispersed themselves to lessen the harsh deliverance of rays. The wind, usually quiet, has decided to join in with the festivities. Soldiers from all around Bagram, Korean and Egyptian included, have gathered to show support in com-bating Sexual Assault with the participation in a ruck march. We have four teams comprised of various Soldiers from the 62nd MED BDE. The camaraderie and healthy competition can be heard with the small ban-ter from Soldier to Soldier. No matter what team one signed up for, every partici-pant cheered one another on to completion. The ruck march was a 3.1 mile feat through dirt, dust, sand, road and the inevitable pesky rocks that align the majority of ground here in Bagram. Not to mention, by 0630, the temperature is well above 90 degrees. It was a wonder-ful way to jumpstart the weekend! Thank you to the following Soldiers who par-ticipated in helping to combat Sexual Assault and support its awareness: TEAM 1: CSM Rogers, SGM Thomas, SGM Romero, 1SG Miles TEAM 2: MSG Swinton, SPC Washington, SPC Gamboa, SPC Donatelli TEAM 3: MAJ Arroyo, CPT Sumner, SGT Joachin, SPC Breznicki TEAM 4: MSG Rucker, SGT Kaneakalau, SGT Cortez, MWO MacDonald

62nd Med BDE- Spotlight Soldier MSG Das’Chara Champ

MSG Das’chara C. Champ is the Brigade Senior NCO in the medical regulating section. The Medical Regulating NCO is responsible for coordinating, planning, and executing medical evacuation and tactical evacuation missions. MSG Champ has demonstrated her ability to effectively coordinate medical evacuation mission, to such a degree, that she was selected to serve as the International Security Assistance Forces-Joint Command (IJC) MRO. Her appointment to IJC has relocated her to Kabul, Afghanistan to work in the IJC Joint Operations Center (JOC). She continues to make the Brigade proud by cooperatively working in an operational environment made up of 48 different nations to support the Combined Joint Operation Area-Afghanistan. Working on the JOC floor can be hectic on the most pleasant of days, how-ever the nature of MSG Champ’s duties can be make that even more stressful.

From her desk she monitors all injured Soldiers from within the theatre, and tracks their movement through the healthcare continuum. Most Soldiers would consider this work, however MSG Champ believes it is her duty and in-forms the JOC director of these movements. This informa-tion is documented and presented to the NATO Command-ing General. Her sense of duty is grounded in the fact that her husband, Michael Kevin Champ II was injured as a result of combat action in Iraq. He received the Purple Heart in 2008, and is currently being medically retired as a result of his injuries. MSG Champ’s strength as a Soldier does not stop as she performs her duties. She is a deployed mother of four children; her Son, Wysdom is 12; her three daughters, two of whom are twins, Tyrnadi & Destyni 10, and Lidiyah 3. Her career in the military started 14 and half years ago when she enlisted in the Army and went to Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri for basic training. She quickly moved through the ranks and was recently promoted to MSG on August 1st of this year. Her motivation is a delicate balance of life and service, but she still finds time to watch soap operas; Young & The Rest-less, as well as The Bold and The Beautiful.

Congratulations MSG Champ!! She was promoted on 1 August 2013!!

62nd Med BDE– FRG Spotlight Mrs. Casey Adams

Casey and her husband, SPC Austin Adams originally from

the Bay Area of California found themselves stationed at Joint Base Lewis –McChord as their first duty station. They joined the 62nd Medical Brigade family in October 2010. Casey states, “I’ve always felt welcomed by the Soldiers and Families, and am amazed with how quickly the faces change, but the strong relationships that the Soldiers form in such a short time is indescribable!”

Casey acts as the Rear-D FRG point of contact for HHC, 62nd Medical Brigade. She and her husband attend the weekly FRG updates while the forward element is deployed. Through these weekly updates they have learned what amazing opportunities Washington State has to offer. We are thankful for Casey’s unwaver-ing and devoted volunteer work with the FRG. Thank you for all that you do!!