LRMC team tops race

The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Army ten-miler team presents Col. Michael Weber, commander, LRMC, and Command Sgt. Maj. Thurman Reynolds, command sergeant major, LRMC, with the team trophy from a recent Army ten-miler qualification race, July 12. The team consists of (from left) 1st Lts. Paige Runco, William McCray, Pfc. Ruben Ferreira, and Spcs. Fenny Descuatan and Mark Kogo. (U.S. Army photo by Gia Oney)

By Marcy Sanchez Public Affairs Specialist

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

Soldiers across Europe competed to represent U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) during a ten-mile race, held in Grafenwöhr, Germany, June 22. The race pitted Soldiers against one another to determine the top six male and female Soldiers to represent Team USAREUR in the U.S. Army Ten-Miler race, in Washington D.C., Oct. 13.

Five Soldiers from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center earned top honors as the only team to complete the run, with one member qualifying for Team USAREUR.

“I ran this (qualifier) last year,” said Spc. Mark Kogo, an operating room specialist at LRMC. “I submitted a team roster (of LRMC Soldiers) and as individuals. Soldiers run by themselves but at the end of the race, they total times as a team.”

In an attempt to put a team together, Kogo reached out to fellow LRMC Soldiers and trained with them leading up to the race. However, sporadic work schedules made training as a team difficult, with some Soldiers working second and third shifts. For 1st Lts. William McCray and Paige Runco, both medical-surgical nurses, an overnight shift preceded the qualifier.

Regardless, the Soldiers all agree the tiring sprint was worth the missed hours of sleep.

“We get to represent something bigger than ourselves,” said Runco.

“LRMC is such a small base in Germany,” said Kogo. “You’re (at the qualifier) with all the participants and representing the whole hospital. I think it’s cool and really awesome.”

Finishing sixth overall, McCray was the only member of the team to earn a spot on Team USAREUR, with an estimated finishing time of 1 hour, 4 minutes.

“You’re chasing the dream. I don’t know what pace that’s at, but I’m trying to catch that,” said McCray.

Running between inpatient call lights is how he gets his training in, McCray lightheartedly added.

Although not all team members will travel to Washington this fall, the Soldiers believe the experience not only improved their physical fitness, but also enhanced camaraderie as well.

“It’s a cool way to get to go and do something and there’s a lot of camaraderie when you actually get there,” said Runco.

“I took (the qualifier) as a challenge,” said Pfc. Ruben Ferreira, an operating room specialist at LRMC. “You feel proud of yourself. You’re actually doing something, getting out of your comfort zone, and just going out there and just doing it, despite the results.”

The 35th anniversary of the race will start and finish at the Pentagon and celebrates the spirt of sport and the spirit of a Nation with over 35,000 participants.

1st. Lt. William McCray, medical-surgical nurse, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, prepares for a run. McCray recently qualified to represent Team USAREUR during the 35th Annual U.S. Army Ten Miler in Washington D.C.

just know that in my first few months as the commander, I am in awe of everything you do for our patients, each other and our nation. Continue to put forth 100 percent effort in all you do.

Switching gears, as we wind down the summer break for our kids and prepare for a new school year at the

Staff members at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and outlying Army Health Clinics may have received phone calls, emails, text messages or a combination of all three during an initial test of the Army’s newest mass warning notification system (MWNS) called Alert! All users of the previous version of the MWNS, AtHoc, who designated the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, U.S. Army Garrison BENELUX or U.S. Army Garrison Italy as a location in their client profiles were seamlessly transferred to the Alert! system (if their registration in AtHoc was completed).

LRMC staff members, including employees in the Army Health Clinics in Belgium and Italy, who did not receive a phone call, email or text end of the month, LRMC will hold a school and sports physicals drive on Saturday, Aug. 24. While we want parents to continue to schedule available appointments, this event will afford those parents who find it difficult to leave work during the week a convenient, last minute opportunity to stay current on their children’s school and sports requirements. More details will be available message with the initial notification can register for Alert! online at https:// alert.csd.disa.mil. Once logged in, users will need to accept the warning banner before proceeding to the client page. On the Alert! homepage, users can make updates to their profile, including changing phone numbers and addresses. Users can also add family members to their profiles.

Near the bottom of the client page, users will see a section titled Associations. To receive notifications for your military community, click on “Add Military Location” and complete the drop-down menus to add your respective installation. In the “subinstallation” drop-down menu, users can select specific kasernes in the garrison if they wish. after this issue of THE LEGACY has already gone to press, so I encourage you to check the MEDSHARE for more information to share with your patients and neighbors.

Keep doing what you’re doing, Team LRMC!

One Team. One Purpose. Selfless

Service.

Returning back to the client page, users can also add LRMC to their profiles by clicking on “Add Command Structure.” This will enable you to receive important notifications specific to our organization.

Alert! notifies Services Members, Army civilians and their families during a crisis. MWNS operators, for example, can issue alerts in the event of an active shooter, inclement weather or any other event requiring immediate notification.

As the transition continues across the Army enterprise, we will update you on any further actions required. (Information provided courtesy of the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Public Affairs Office)