journal 071013

Vol. 25 No. 26 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ July 11, 2013

By David A. Dickinson andBernard S. Little

WRNMMC Journal staff writers

Air Force nurses and staff at Wal-ter Reed National Military MedicalCenter celebrated the 64th birth-day of the United States Air ForceNurse Corps July 1.

During the celebratory programheld in their honor, Walter ReedBethesda Commander, Rear Adm.Alton L. Stocks, and Deputy Com-mander for Nursing, Navy Capt.Patrice Bibeau, praised nurses forwhat they do at the Nation’s Medi-cal Center, caring for wounded war-riors and their families.

Keynote speaker at the program,Air Force Col. Marla Buckles, the779th Medical Group chief nurse atJoint Base Andrew’s Malcolm GrowMedical Clinic, explained the evolu-tion of the Air Force Nurse Corps.She said Capt. Lillian Kinkella Keilwas the most decorated woman inAmerican military history. An AirForce flight nurse pioneer, Keil wasa stewardess when the U.S. enteredWar World II. She joined the U.S.Army Air Forces (USAAF) and by1943, was serving in England treat-ing the wounded. Keil also flew on425 combat evacuation missions,took part in 11 major campaigns,including the D-Day invasion ofFrance, the Battle of the Bulge inWorld War II and the Battle of Cho-sin Reservoir in Korea. Awarded19 medals for her heroism duringWorld War II including pullingwounded and frostbitten crewmenout of B-17s returning from bomb-ing raids over Europe and creditedwith tending to 10,000 woundedservice members, Keil’s experienceswere used as the basis for a 1954Hollywood movie, “Flight Nurse.”

Buckles explained the originalAir Force Nurse Corps emergedfrom the Army Nurse Corps in 1949when 1,199 nurses were transferredover to the newly-formed Air Forcebranch. The Air Force Nurse Corps’first chief was Col.

Verena Marie Zeller, who served

Air Force Nurses Celebrate Corps’ 64th Birthday

U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Moore

Captains Brian Santos and John Plott, 79th Medical Wing nurses in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit(PACU), set up a patient’s cardiac monitor while Capt. Thomas Borsari, a staff anesthesiologist, per-forms a thorough patient assessment during the Capital Shield 11 Exercise at Andrews Air Force Base,Md. The PACU evaluates patients before and after they are taken to the operating room for surgery.See CORPS page 8

2 Thursday, July 11, 2013 The Journal

Published by offset every Thurs-day by Comprint Military Publi-cations, 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, a pri-vate firm in no way connectedwith the U.S. Navy, under ex-clusive written contract with theWalter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center, Bethesda, Md.This commercial enterprise news-paper is an authorized publication formembers of the military services. Contentsof The Journal are not necessarily the of-ficial views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S.Government, the Department of Defense,or the Department of Navy. The appearanceof advertising in this publication, includinginserts or supplements, does not constituteendorsement by the Department of De-fense or Comprint, Inc., of the products orservices advertised. Everything advertisedin this publication shall be made availablefor purchase, use or patronage without re-

gard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age, maritalstatus, physical handicap,political affiliation, or anyother non-merit factor of thepurchaser, user, or patron.Editorial content is edited,prepared and provided bythe Public Affairs Office, Naval

Support Activity Bethesda, Md.News copy should be submitted to

the Public Affairs Office, Building 11, lowerlevel, Room 41, by noon one week pre-ceding the desired publication date. Newsitems are welcomed from all installationsources. Inquiries about news copy will beanswered by calling 301-295-1803. Com-mercial advertising should be placed withthe publisher by telephoning 301-921-2800.Publisher’s advertising offices are locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md.20877. Classified ads can be placed by call-ing 301-670-1700.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) BethesdaCommanding Officer: Capt. Frederick (Fritz) Kass

Public Affairs Officer NSAB: Joseph MacriPublic Affairs Office NSAB: 301-295-1803

Journal StaffStaff Writers MC3BrandonWilliams-Church

Sarah MarshallSharon Renee TaylorCat DeBinderDavid A. DickinsonMASNApril Beazer

Managing Editor MC2 Nathan Parde

NSAB Editor MC2 John HamiltonWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little

Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations 301-295-5727Fleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087

WRNMMC OmbudsmanJulie Bondar 443-854-5167NSAB OmbudsmanJojo Lim Hector 703-901-6730Michelle Herrera 240-370-5421

SARC Hotline 301-442-2053

Visit us on Facebook:Naval Support Activity Bethesda page:https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda

Walter Reed National Medical Center page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sci-ences page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uni-formed-Services-University-of-the-Health-Sciences/96338890888?fref=ts

Pharmacy HoursThe Walter Reed National Military Medical

CenterPharmacies areno longer open onSaturdays.The Arrowhead Pharmacy’s hours are Mondaythrough Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the AmericaPharmacy’s hours are Monday through Friday, 7a.m. to 6 p.m. The Drive-thru Refill Pickup Point isopen Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ThePharmacy will continue to provide 24/7 supportfor the Emergency Room and for all hospitalizedpatients. For questions about Pharmacy Services,call the Pharmacy Call Center at 301-295-2123.

Prostate Cancer Support GroupThe Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at

Walter Reed National Military Medical Centerthe third Thursday of every month for discussionsabout prostate cancer. The next meeting will beJuly 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in theAmerica Building, River Conference Room (next tothe Prostate Center), on the third floor. Spousesand partners are invited. Military ID is requiredfor base access. For those who don’t have a mili-tary ID, call Prostate Center at 301-319-2900, 48hours prior to event for base access. For more in-formation, contact retired Col. Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or jane.l.hudak.ctr(at)health.mil, or VinMcDonald at 703-643-2658 or [email protected].

DAISY ceremonyThe next quarterly DAISY ceremony will be

Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. in Memorial Auditorium andnominations for the award honoring Walter ReedBethesda’s extraordinary nursing team membersare due no later than July 19. For more informa-tion, call Christina Ferguson at 301-319-4148 orJoan Loepker-Duncan at 301-319-4617.

Ask Your LeadershipAsk Your Leadership is a new staff communica-

tion tool for you to view and post questions or com-ments for official responses from the Walter ReedBethesda (WRB) command leadership. The toolis on the WRB Intranet page. Click on the TownHall/Leadership Forum icon, and then click on AskYour Leadership.

Bethesda Notebook

Being CO of an in-stallation like thispresents me with someunique opportunitiesthat I often find myselfthrilled and humbledto be able to be a partof. This past weekendI had the chance to“give away” the brideat a wedding betweentwo of our Building 62residents. That was myonly “CO duty” over theFourth of July week-end, the rest of the timeI spent with my family. The wedding,combined with all of the one on onetime I got to spend with my girls overthe holiday has me reflecting on theimportance of family.If I were to ask you what the most

important thing in your life is, manyof you would say family. It may be thefamily you’re born into, one you mar-ry into or one you create in a varietyof ways. And if I were to press furtherand ask “what would you do for yourfamily,” you’d probably answer thatyou’d do anything. We would givethem anything. Yet we often don’tgive them the one thing they oftenwant/need more than anything else- time. I mean that in both the “timespent” sense and equally important,in the life expectancy sense. Makingyourself as well as possible throughthe right diet and exercise can helpyou be there for your family for manyyears to come. In the military we’relucky enough to have the tools to dothis at our disposal (fitness centers,dieticians, health care providers) yetwe frequently don’t take advantageof this. If we all know this and wewould do “anything” for our family,why is that one so hard?Physical health is important, but

so is mental health.When talking aboutgiving time back toyour family, it’s im-portant that it’s qual-ity time. Marriage andparenting are stressful.Compound that withmilitary life and it’seasy to find yourselfnot at your best whenyou’re home. But thisis another area wherewe have more resourc-es available than a lotof our civilian counter-

parts. Fleet and family offer a vari-ety of programs and services to helpalleviate some of the stress in yourlife. If you’d do “anything” for yourfamily, why not sit through a stressmanagement, marriage or parentingclass? What’s the worst that couldhappen?Let me close by saying I hope this

doesn’t come off as too preachy. Weall have areas where we could im-prove and I don’t think there’s aparent out there who hasn’t lookedat their kids and thought “I’ll neverbe able to give them as much as I’dlike to.” And when we’re thinkingthat it’s often not about materialthings but about giving them mean-ingful interaction. We often thinkabout all the “anythings” we’d do forour families but don’t often thinkabout the “somethings” that we cangive ourselves that make time moremeaningful to them. Commit to do-ing something this week, even some-thing that makes it clear to yourfamily you love them.All Ahead Full,Capt. Frederick (Fritz) KassNaval Support ActivityBethesdaCommanding Officer

Commander’s Column

The Journal Thursday, July 11, 2013 3

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 3rd Class Brandon

Williams-ChurchNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

On June 28, Navy Medicine Profes-sional Development Center (NMPDC)held a Family Fun Day in honor ofits staff members and their families.The fun day is an annual event thatbrings together the command’s staffmembers and their families to enjoysome free time.“Family Fun Day is one of the main

days we look forward to each year,”said Command Master Chief Clint A.Garrett. “We could not do what wedo each day without the support ofour families. Families come in fromthroughout the DC, Maryland, andVirginia areas ... we work hard andon this day we play and enjoy.”The commands volunteer recre-

ation commitee planned activitiesfor everyone assigned to NMPDCand their children.“They had a disk jockey who played

music, a couple of bounce houses forthe kids, face painting, a barbequepicnic and tons of games for the chil-dren,” said Fred Sherris, relocationcoordinator for Fleet and Family Sup-port Center (FFSC). “They had a bas-ketball three-on-three and one-on-onetournaments. It was a time to have alittle bit of entertainment and exer-cise, camaraderie and friendship.Thiswas NMPDC taking the opportunityto share with their staff members andfamilies. It’s a way of showing familymembers how important they are tothe team. It’s also an opportunity toget out good information by FFSC forthe spouses.”FFSC showed support of NMPDC

by letting people know of the servic-es they offer said Lori Passmore, lifeskills education services facilitatorfor FFSC.“In order to have the staff member

most effective and at their best theirfamilies have to be taken care of too,”

said Passmore.“It was great to have FFSC staff

join us,” said Garrett. “The supportFFSC provides is absolutely criticalto family readiness and the overallquality of life of our active duty aswell.”The love and support commands

show their staff members and theirfamilies is critical to mission readi-ness said Sherris.“It builds morale, spirit accord

and teamwork,” said Sherris. “A lotof times the family members feel likethey are on their own. This lets themknow they are not and that’s whythey have these functions.”

NMPDC Hosts Family Fun Day for Staff Members and Their Families

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Williams-Church

Children of staff members assigned to NMPDC participate in a sack race in the Building 17 gymnasiumat the Family Fun Day.

Staff members assigned to NMPDC enjoy food fresh off the grillwith family members at the Family Fun Day. 01040160


By Cat DeBinderWRNMMC Journal staff writer

Kevin Ceckowski, a social workerin the Nephrology Transplant Clinicat Walter Reed Bethesda, has beenselected as the 2013 National Kid-ney Foundation (NKF) Renal SocialWorker of the Year for the NationalCapital Area.

Nominations for this award arereviewed by a panel of NKF staff,which looks at whether the socialworker was nominated by patientsor staff members, the number ofnominations received, and the sub-stance of each nomination, NKF of-ficials explained.

Ceckowski, a practicing socialworker since 1991, began workingwith transplant patients in the Ne-phrology Transplant Clinic in 1997at the former Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center before it integratedwith National Naval Medical Centerto form Walter Reed National Mili-tary Medical Center (WRNMMC) in2011. In addition to his work withkidney transplant patients, Ceck-owski also provides assistance tothose who undergo dialysis.

Ceckowski said he “had to do adouble take,” as he “could not believehis ears” when he received the con-

gratulatory phone call from the NKF.“I am truly grateful for the honor to

serve as one of the NKF’s ‘best’ in theregion and to represent this institu-tion in the process,” Ceckowski said.

The social worker added, “It’s trulyan amazing experience to have a jobfor so long in one place [at WRAMCand WRNMMC]. I’ve seen folks comein as interns who are now full birds.”

Dr. Christine Yuan, who nomi-nated Ceckowski for the award, saidhis routine duties are “heavy andnumerous. Along with other respon-sibilities, he supports the needs of 25to 30 chronic dialysis patients, ar-ranges follow-up care for inpatientsrequiring dialysis, assists with end-stage renal benefit planning andperforms psychosocial evaluation ofpotential kidney transplant donors.

“I nominated Mr. Ceckowski be-cause of his professionalism, kind-ness, imagination, and commitmentto excellence in patient care andphysician training,” Yuan said. “Weare all grateful to him!”

Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocks,WRNMMC commander, echoed thosesentiments in an email to staff. “Thisis a great honor, and richly deserved!Thank you, Mr. Ceckowski, for allyou do for our patients,” the admiralstated.

National Kidney Foundation Honors Walter Reed Bethesda Social Worker

Photo by Cat DeBinder

Kevin Ceckowski, a social worker at Walter Reed Bethesda, wasrecently selected 2013 National Kidney Foundation Renal SocialWorker of the Year for the National Capital Area.

01040137


By Master-at-Arms Seaman April BeazerNSAB Public Affairs staff writer

What Did You DoThis 4th of July?

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Justin Purnell,Main Operating Room

“My favorite part of the holiday was getting out of town and see-ing some family. It was my Niece’s birthday, so we had a birthdayparty/Fourth of July cookout and instead of going to see fireworks,we went over to a neighbor’s house and we took turns doing our

own fireworks show.”

Chief Legalman Ronald Ratliff, Legal Office“For the holiday, I drove home to Tennessee and spent the weekend

with my folks. We had a barbeque and my family came up to visit. Weate a lot of food and laughed a lot.”

Sgt. Keith Evans, Fort Meade“My favorite part was that I didn’t have to worry about getting up. It

was just a little relaxation, getting away from the phone calls, paper-work, whatever day-to-day activities that go on at work. On the Fourthof July I went out and hung out with some friends.”

Walter Reed Bethesda Frocks Sailors

Photo by Bernard S. Little

Walter Reed Bethesda Chief of Staff Army Col. Ramona Fiorey(bottom row left) and Command Master Chief Terry Prince (toprow center) join the more than 70 newly promoted E-4 throughE-6 Sailors at Walter Reed Bethesda celebrating their advance-ment during a frocking ceremony last month in the MemorialAuditorium.

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.

01040162


By Spc. Danielle Gregory

A newArmy Combat Uniform withspecial consideration to the femaleform is now at Fort Sill, Okla., and itis being issued to new Soldiers goingthrough Basic Combat Training.The new uniform, several years in

the making, was initially consideredas being the first female-only uni-form, but instead is now approvedfor both sexes and is being calledACU-A for Army Combat Uniform-Alternate.“We started issuing them slowly

in April, and we’ve since been is-suing them more frequently as ourfitters get more comfortable placingSoldiers in them,” said Trevor Whit-

worth, Central Initial Issue Point(CIIP) project manager, where newSoldiers are first issued their uni-forms.“They were initially designed for

female Soldiers, but we were toldif we find male Soldiers that thesewould fit better than the ACUs thenwe can issue it to them as well,”Whitworth said. “It’s more about thefit and the body type.”The new uniform trousers feature:

wider areas at the hips, waist andbackside; elastic around the waist-band instead of a pull string; adjust-ed pockets and knee-pad inserts; anda shortened crotch length.In the jackets, changes include:

adjusted rank and nametape posi-

tioning; adjusted pockets and elbow-pad inserts; slimmer shoulders; athinner and more fitted waist; and alonger and wider ACU coat bottom.Also, buttons are replacing the Vel-cro pockets.“If it makes you more comfort-

able in wearing that, then I thinkit’s well worth it,” Whitworth said.“When you’re low crawling or doinga lot of physical training it’s nice tohave a pair of trousers that have alittle give-and-take in them. I thinkhaving made uniforms for a femalebody type, will make a big differencefor female Soldiers.”Compared to the original ACUs,

which were designed principally bymales for males, the new ACU-As

were created to fit a wider range ofbody types; so there are also a lotmore sizes to choose from 13 sizes inboth the jacket and trouser.“The old uniform was meant to be

one size fits five sizes; these are moretailored,” Whitworth said.First Lt. Beatriz George, Reynolds

Army Community Hospital dietitian,said she thinks it’s great to havemore sizes to choose from. She addedwhen Fort Sill gets the uniforms atthe Military Clothing Sales store shewill try them on and consider buyinga pair.“With our uniforms now, its like

it’s either too tight or too big; it

ACU-Alternate uniform offers more fit options

See ACU page 10

Source Army.mil


By C. Todd Lopez

Beginning Aug. 1, 2013,every Soldier who electsto transfer their Post-9/11GI Bill benefits to a familymember will incur an addi-tional four years in the Army,without regard to their timein service.The policy already applies

to nearly every Soldier in theArmy — and has since thebeginning of transferabilityin 2009. Until now, Soldierswho were nearing retirementwere eligible for certain ex-emptions from the policy.That will no longer be the

case. This policy change af-fects them.“This policy was drafted in

2009 and takes effect Aug. 1,2013. It is important that weinform Soldiers of this exist-ing policy regarding the Post9/11 GI Bill benefits,” saidLt. Col. Mark Viney, chiefof the Enlisted ProfessionalDevelopment Branch, ArmyG-1.That news comes in a mes-

sage to military personnel,dated April 15, 2013.The rule largely affects

senior officers and enlistedSoldiers who are retirement-eligible. As of now, these Sol-diers may be able to transferbenefits to their loved oneswith anywhere from zero tothree years of additional ser-vice.Soldiers who are not re-

tirement eligible, electingto transfer their GI Billbenefits to a family membermeans committing for anadditional four years.Beginning Aug. 1 that

rule will apply to all Sol-diers, whether they are re-tirement-eligible or not.“The Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Soldiers are entitled to the

benefit for their own use,but to transfer to depen-dents: that is used as a re-cruiting and retention tool,”said Lt. Col. Mark Viney,chief of the Enlisted Profes-sional Development Branch,Army G-1.Viney also serves as the

policy proponent for theArmy’s Post-9/11 GI BillTransfer of Education Ben-efits Program.“We want Soldiers to be

informed of the impact ofthis policy,” Viney said.“This is going to impact

their decisions and their

families, and whether or notthey are going to have thismoney available to fundtheir dependent’s educa-tion.”Veterans Affairs, or VA,

also has eligibility require-ments for transferability. ASoldier must have six yearsof active duty in order totransfer his GI Bill benefits.In some cases, if a Sol-

dier has incurred additionaltime in service in order totransfer GI Bill benefits to afamily member, and is after-ward unable to serve thatadditional time in service,

he or she may be required topay back those benefits.Viney said that as the

Army draws down, someSoldiers will be involun-tarily separated underforce-shaping initiatives.Soldiers who are separatedearly under such circum-stances and who had pre-viously transferred theirPost-9/11 GI Bill educationbenefits to their dependentsmay retain the transferredbenefits, without needing torepay them to the VA.Soldiers who were retire-

ment eligible after August

1, 2009 and before August 1,2012 and who are consider-ing transferring their ben-efits to their dependentsshould review their serviceobligation before doing so.All Soldiers will incur afour-year service obligationafter Aug. 1, 2013 if theytransfer their benefits totheir dependents.Soldiers with questions

about transferring theirPost-9/11 GI Bill educationbenefits to their dependentsshould contact their approv-ing official.

New Army Post-9/11 GI Bill transfer policy to take effect Aug. 1

Source Army.mil

Beginning Aug. 1, 2013, every Soldier who elects to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a family mem-ber will incur an additional four years in the Army, without regard to their time in service.

By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces

Press Service

As the Department ofDefense (DOD) enters thefurlough period, the de-partment will concentrateon the core mission of de-fending the United Statesand its interests, PentagonPress Secretary George Lit-tle said Monday.“That’s where our center

of gravity is during this fur-

lough period,” Little said.Because of sequestration,

Defense Secretary ChuckHagel made the difficultdecision to furlough about85 percent of DOD civilianemployees one day a weekthrough the end of the fis-cal year, a total of 11 days,the press secretary said.“My assumption is the vastmajority of that populationis on furlough at least oneday this week,” Little said.Little estimated the ac-

tion will save the depart-

ment $1.8 billion by the endof September.Some missions in the de-

partment will be impacted,he said. “We’re very clearwith our own staff thatthere will be some impact,and we expect other officesto have similar impacts,”the press secretary said.What happens in fiscal

2014 remains up in the air,Little said in response to areporter’s question aboutthe possibility of future lay-offs. “We’re getting ahead

of ourselves talking aboutlayoffs at this stage,” hesaid. “Right now we’re inthe furlough period and nodecisions have been reachedabout what may happen go-ing forward.”Much of what will hap-

pen depends on the govern-ment’s ability to move be-yond sequestration, Littlesaid. “[Hagel] has been clearthat he would like for thereto be a deal on sequestra-tion, so we can lift this bur-den off of all our employees

in the department,” Littlesaid.Sequestration “was an

unfortunate mechanism de-signed to avoid unfortunateconsequences. We’re seeingsome of those consequencesalready in regards to mili-tary training and readi-ness,” the press secretarysaid.“It’s unfortunate we’re in

this period but we’re goingto muscle through it best wecan,” he added.

Defense Department Will Muscle Through Furlough Period


By Bernard LittleWRNMMC Journal

staff writer

In a ceremony held at WalterReed National Military Medi-cal Center on July 2, Army Maj.Gen. Steve Jones relinquishedhis command of the Joint TaskForce National Capital RegionMedical (JTF CapMed ) to NavyRear Adm. Raquel Bono. Joneswill take command of the ArmyMedical Department Center andSchool at Fort Sam Houston, Tex-as.Special guest speaker at the

ceremony, Dr. Karen Guice, prin-cipal deputy assistant secretaryof defense for Health Affairs,passed the JTF CapMed colorsfrom Jones to Bono, signifyingthe change in leadership.Prior to assuming command of

JTF CapMed, Bono was the com-mand surgeon, U.S. Pacific Com-mand, Camp H.M. Smith, Ha-waii. She was also deputy direc-tor, Medical Resources, Plans andPolicy, Chief of Naval Operations.

Additionally, she served as thechief of staff, deputy director Tri-care Management Activity of theOffice of the Assistant Secretaryof Defense, Health Affairs, com-manding officer of Naval Hospi-tal Jacksonville, Fla., and wasalso the executive assistant tothe 35th Navy Surgeon Generaland Chief, Bureau of Medicineand Surgery.In September 2007, JTF

CapMed was established as a ful-ly functional standing task forceat Walter Reed Bethesda and re-ports directly to the Secretary ofDefense through the Deputy Sec-retary of Defense. JTF CapMed ischarged with leading the way forthe effective and efficient consol-idation and realignment of mili-tary health care in the NationalCapital Region, according to theJTF CapMed officials Navy ViceAdm. John Mateczun, initiallyappointed to lead the mission, re-tired in March 2012, and Jones,then the deputy commander ofJTF CapMed, assumed its com-mand.

Bono Assumes Command of JTF CapMed

Photo by Katrina Skinner, Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical

Navy Rear Adm. Raquel Bono (left) accepts the flag and commandof Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical from Dr. KarenGuice, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for HealthAffairs, during a ceremony in Walter Reed Bethesda’s Memorial Au-ditorium on July 2. Army Maj. Gen. Steve Jones (right) relinquishedcommand of the JTF CapMed, which he had led since March 2012,during the ceremony and will take command of the Army MedicalDepartment Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

in the position from 1949 to 1956.In 1955, the Air Force Nurse Corpsfirst accepted male nurses as Re-serve officers, and six years later,males were commissioned as activeduty nurses in the Air Force.In 1970, Ethel Ann Hoefly, a pio-

neer in flight nursing, was the firstAir Force Nurse Corps chief pro-moted to brigadier general. Maj.Gen. Barbara Brannon became thefirst two-star general to lead theAir Force Nurse Corps in 2003,Buckles continued.Maj. Gen. Kimberly A. Sinscalchi

has led the Air Force Nurse Corpssince 2008, and she also serves asAssistant Air Force Surgeon Gen-eral, Medical Force Development.She leads a Total Nursing Force inthe Air Force of more than 18,000members including active duty, AirNational Guard, Air Force Reserve,

civilians and contractors, accordingto Air Force officials.“Nursing is a profession vital to

the success of our health care sys-tem,” Sinscalchi said before theU.S. Senate in 2009. “Our top pri-orities include, first and foremost,delivering the highest quality ofnursing while concurrently stag-ing for joint operations today andtomorrow. Our warriors and theirfamilies deserve nothing less thanskilled and educated nurses andtechnicians who have mastered theart of caring. It is the medic’s touch,compassion, and commitment thatoften wills the patients to recoveryand diminishes the pain.”The Walter Reed Bethesda cel-

ebration concluded with the tra-ditional birthday cake cutting bythe youngest and longest servingmembers of corps in attendance.After Buckles and 1st Lt. AmandaHigdon cut the cake, they shared apiece, symbolizing the passing ofknowledge from one generation toanother.

CORPSContinued from 1

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.01040161


Army Surgeon General Visit

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist John K. Hamilton

Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho (left) visitsmembers of the Warrior Transition Brigade to congratulate themon a job well done for their perilous efforts in support of WoundedWarriors.

1033821 1038517


doesn’t feel right as they are now,”George said. Although interested inthe new uniforms, she said if theywere created to be noticeably dif-ferent, she wouldn’t want to wearthem.“What’s great about the military

is that everyone is equal, and it’sone of the few professions wheremen and women are paid the same,but if you can’t tell, and they areunisex, then I’m OK with it,”George said.Program Executive Office (PEO)

Soldier, the program that developsand improves military uniforms andequipment, developed the new uni-forms by letting male and femaleSoldiers wear the uniform and pro-vide feedback. This came about aftera 2008 focus group of female Soldiersshowed PEO Soldier that ACUs havea non-female friendly fit.Many females in the focus group

reported that the knee-pad insertsfell on their shins, that they didn’thave as much mobility because ofthe poor fit, and that they felt theyhad an overall unprofessional ap-pearance.Maj. Sequana Robinson, who

was one of many that tested thenew uniform, said in a PEO Soldierpress release that she was veryskeptical when first hearing of theuniforms; she didn’t think women

needed a uniform more fitted totheir bodies, but after trying it onthe first time, she was very pleasedwith the fit.PEO Soldier is also in the pro-

cess of developing a female bodyarmor and female flight suit, whichare still in development stages.New black and yellow PT uni-

forms are also in the developmentstages, and a new improved dufflebag, which includes a zipper, hasjust been released and is being is-sued to basic training Soldiers.ACU-As are now available for

all Soldiers at posts including: FortHood, Texas; Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Bel-voir, Va.; and Fort Eustis, Va., butFort Sill’s Military Clothing SalesStore does not carry them yet.“Clothing Sales at Fort Sill wont

have the uniforms available untilsometime near the end of the year,”said Henrietta Haughton, a manag-er at the Fort Sill Military ClothingSales Store.Although the ACU-A is not yet

available for purchase brand newat Fort Sill, Whitworth recom-mends that Soldiers start comingto the reclamation sales they holdevery month. The reclamation sellis where Soldiers can buy uniformslightly used by trainees who do notcomplete Basic Combat Training.Because the CIIP here just start-

ed issuing the new ACU-As in April,Soldiers might start to see a few ofthese uniforms at reclamation salesstarting in August, Whitworth said.He urged Soldiers to get to the saleearly, because uniforms go fast.

ACUContinued from 6

By David Vergun

Over the last 12 years, many Sol-diers have returned from Iraq andAfghanistan with wounds, somevisible and some not, said a leaderin Army Medicine.“The invisible wounds - post-

traumatic stress disorder and trau-matic brain injury - are just asdamaging as the visible ones. Theyimpact the families as well as theSoldiers,” said Brig. Gen. John M.Cho, a doctor, and deputy chief ofstaff for operations with Army Med-ical Command.An Iraq war veteran himself, Cho

spoke June 22 outside the CapitolBuilding in Washington, D.C., aspart of National Post-TraumaticStress Disorder Day.This year’s theme was “Visible

Honor for Invisible Wounds.”Post-traumatic stress disorder,

known as PTSD, and traumaticbrain injury, or TBI, are not justmilitary-specific issues, Cho said.“They deserve a national discus-sion.”A big part of that discussion, he

said, needs to focus on reducing

the stigma associated with mentalhealth issues.Besides a national discussion,

Cho said agencies need to come to-gether, both inside and outside themilitary, to learn more about iden-tifying and treating PTSD and TBI,as well as preventing it in the firstplace.Cho said a PTSD diagnosis is

particularly challenging, as “youcan’t simply get a lab test or takean X-ray to find it.”As part of its collaborative ef-

fort, the Army is participating in a$60 million research study for TBI,sponsored by the National FootballLeague, General Electric and Un-der Armour, he said.Also, $700 million has been al-

located toward both PTSD and TBIas the result of an Aug. 31, 2012,White House executive order to goafter the problem with renewed ef-fort in a collaborative manner withthe Department of Veterans Affairsand other organizations.Additionally, the Army has set up

seven “restorative centers” in Af-ghanistan, where TBI can be iden-tified and treated, often allowing

Soldiers to stay in theater as theyimprove, he said.He explained that PTSD often,

but not always, occurs with TBI,and that relationship too is beingresearched.“We’re nowhere near where we

want to be, however, when it comesto researching PTSD and TBI,” hesaid, “a lot more needs to be done.”Cho said PTSD impacted him per-

sonally when his brother, who alsois a U.S. Military Academy gradu-ate, returned from Afghanistan. Hisbrother was suffering from PTSD.He sought treatment and is bet-

ter now, Cho said, adding that hisbrother is telling his story to otherSoldiers in an effort to get them toseek care.“We know treatment helps,” Cho

said. “We can help them get betterand they can continue to serve inour Army with honor and distinc-tion.”As a result of his brother’s expe-

rience, Cho said he’s a big believerin group therapy, particularly cog-nitive processing psychotherapy.

Army Initiating Collaborative Effort to Address TBI, PTSD

Source Army.mil

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) John M. Cho,deputy chief of staff for Opera-tions (G-3/5/7), Army MedicalCommand, addresses the issueof post-traumatic stress disor-der and traumatic brain injury,on Capitol Hill, June 22.

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