Eagle BELVOIR
Twilight Tattoo Season closes soon, page A4
www.belvoireagleonline.com
July 18, 2019
Belvoir Warrior Transition Brigade Soldier Regional Health Command-Atlantic flourishes DoD Warrior Games witnesses at promotion, change of leader By Mary Therese Griffin By Margaret Steele Army Warrior Care and Transition Copy Editor gt. 1st Class Jay Martin, a n a series of time-honored, Army trumpet player in the Army’s traditions, Fort Belvoir’s Long Old Guard Fife and Drum Parade Field was the site, last Corps, openly admits he was never week, for a major general’s promoreally athletic. “I was not athletic tion ceremony, a change of leaderuntil my mid-forties and I started ship and a unique parade of troops, racing BMX bicycles, believe it or all for Regional Health Commandnot,” said Martin. Atlantic, based out of Fort Belvoir. Biking was his new hobby unThe first order of the day was til an accident Jan. 6, 2018, at an Brig. Gen. Telita Crosland’s proindoor bike park. Martin knew immotion ceremony to major genmediately on impact that his legs eral. In it, Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West, were not going to be the same. After the Army’s 44th surgeon general immediate surgery he learned he and commanding general of U.S. would never walk again. Army Medical Command, lauded As he transitioned through the C r o s l a n d ’s a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s. Warrior Transition Battalion at “She is an exceptionally qualified Fort Belvoir, he decided not to give up on biking and used it in his adaptive reconditioning. “Hand cycling is different, be-
S I Photos by Paul Lara
Brig. Gen. Michael Place, center, accepts the colors from Surgeon U.S Army photo Regional by PFC Dominique General of the US Army Lt. Gen. Nadja West during healthDixon Sgt. 1st Class Jay Martin participates in the cycling event 23 in Command - Atlantic’s Change of Command Ceremony on June Fort BelTampa, during the 2019 voir’s Long Parade FieldDepartment last Friday. of Defense Warrior Games, an adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill and injured Service members and veterans. Approximately 300 athletes representing teams from U.S. and Allied military forces compete in a variety of athletic competitions.
cause your arms are not your legs leader strategic thinker –it’s alland arms and upper body.who I’m helped lead limited Army Medicine into pretty much from the chest the future,” said.I got “Brig. Gen. up. It’s hard,West but once fitted in the bike, Iis realized I have to get in Crosland a compassionate and there and keep going, caring physician andbecause leaderpracwho tice makes Martin. has served perfect,” at Armysaid health clinics Hemedical won a bronze for the his and centersmedal around classification in hand cycling for world and has understood the need Team Army at this year’s Departfor readiness,” adding there’s never ment of Defense a tasking or missionWarrior CroslandGames didn’t in Tampa. Martin find a solution for. knew about the games before his accident but now At Regional Health Commandrealized he could participate. Hehas exAtlantic, West said Crosland plains why he believes the Warrior been laser-focused on the Army’s Games are important. number-1 priority: ensuring the “Just like sports are important medical readiness of Soldiers. “Her for kids with developing personality leadership insights have been and growth, sports at this point for injured or handicapped individuals the same kind of thing . it SeeisRegional Health, page. .A8 shapes development and helps you
Families celebrate at Midsummer Blast
See Warrior Games, page A5
Academic program could boost Soldier retention
Live band heightens the celebration Credentialing, along with By Paul Lara Staff Reporter changes to promotion boards, helps ensure the oldiers and Families gathered on the banks of the Potomac best are promoted and River at Fort Belvoir’s Castle retained Park, July 10 for a chance to
S
relax, play and dine at the USO By Joe Lacdan Midsummer Blast. Sara Martin, Army News Service USO Warrior and Family Center program specialist, coordinated the could to its event he andArmy said, “It’s theadd kickoff to record retention numbers by the mid-summer timeframe for all providing more incentive for Families and children to come out Soldiers to stay on duty, the serand enjoy the summertime.” vice’s top enlisted leader said. this Martin said she enjoys The Army been testing pilot event, as it’shas a great way toakeep program for academic credentialing families involved in the community at Hood, and with plansone to andFort allow themTexas, to network extend the program to several maanother while they enjoy some sumjor by the end ofgrilled 2019, merinstallations activities. USO staffers said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel food for the Soldiers and Families, Dailey. The Army plans to spread as the children enjoyed a bounce the program to allpitching installations in house, a fastball station fiscal year 2020. and playing along the banks of Recently, the Army provided 110 Gunston Cove’s waters.
T
A5 A4
Twilight Tattoo Season Avoid Heat Illness
This year’s Summer Blast had an addition. Carolyn Benson had been reachbachelor’s degrees to senior ing out to USO chapters up andNCOs down who attended the Sergeants Mathe East coast to see if anyone would jor her Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. let band come play American Dailey the Army will provide rock for said the Soldiers. USO Metro exSoldiersthat with some credit or tended offer, socollege the band came professional credentialing for each down from Long Island, N.Y., for levelfirst of NCO training. her chance to gift her music to “The expectation is we give someSoldiers and their Families. thing back thatIservice,” “This is for where want toDailey be. I said at an Association of the U.S. want to sing for the Armed Forces Army breakfast in Washington, and bring some music, since it is a D.C. “Notthread just bethat able to say that beautiful brings everyyou served andBenson sacrificed, but (getbody together,” said. “Music ting) tangiblefor results. what is so healing manyThat’s and people we owe to theit.” American people–is a need to hear better product, to be more was producSince this performance oftive infor their fered free,hometowns.” Benson said her comDailey said the Army which has been munity held a fundraiser alworking the finer points of the lowed herout to offset travel expenses. program ensure higher “I’m so to blessed to be here.quality This is training Service members and our initialfor kickoff playing for milideciding how agencies will getthere paytary Families, and, hopefully ment. also for be will be The more.program We’re so will thankful available toand National and all the men womenGuard who have Army Reserve members. served our country, and this is our Dailey said the Army way of saying ‘thank you.’”has been A6
th Flood40 Safety CYS Anniversary
working with each of the military centers of excellence to provide technical skill training equitable to academic skills. “We thought we need to build on that more, because 60 percent of the Army is combat arms, so what tangible technical skills do they leave with?” he said.
Skilled labor required
Photo by Luc Dunn, AUSA
Dailey cited that 80 percent of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel American jobs require skilled labor, Dailey speaks about retention and that Soldiers can become pro- and academic credentialing at the ductive members of the work force AUSA Institute of Land Warfare after leaving the Army. breakfast in Arlington, June 26. “There is a great opportunity for many of our Soldiers to fulfill late those to civilian-sector skills, the ranks of those skilled labor re- which we had not done.” quirements in our hometowns of Last year, with the help of ConAmerica, and they have the tangible gress and the Army Continuing skills,” Dailey said. “We just need to Education System, the Army crePhoto by Paul Lara make it official. ated the credentialing assistance Joey Ramsey, 15, left, throws a baseball for one of the games at the USO “We saw the opportunity to be Midsummer Blast, brother Ramsey, 13, looks on. They are able to capitalize onas thehis great skillsJoshSee page A8 the sons of Air Force Col. Mark Ramsey andCredentialing, Debra Ramsey, who reside our Soldiers have now, and transon post. (Courtesy photo by Debra Ramsey) A7
AER Travel Relicensing PCS Tips Aid
B1
LGAFB Tournament DTRA Undefeated