Eagle BELVOIR
December 5, 2019
www.belvoireagleonline.com
SecArmy, senator visit Belvoir residents Joint Medical Belvoir Warrior Transition Brigade Soldier Readiness flourishes at DoD Warrior Games Center adding By Mary Therese Griffin Army Warrior Care and Transition
virtual health assessments
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By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle
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eadiness and health are intimately intertwined. Being medically ready is critical for deployable Soldiers who need to be ready to fight and win today’s wars. Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s Joint Medical Readiness Center is an integrated system of readiness and health that U.S Army photo by PFC Dominique Dixon provides centralized multiple Sgt. 1st Class Jay Martin participates in the cycling event June 23 in appointments, medical Tampa, during the 2019 Department of Defense Warrior Games, an assessments, and healthcare adaptive competition for wounded, ill and injured Service memservicessports for optimum readiness, bers and veterans. Approximately according to Maj. Kelly Green, 300 athletes representing teams from U.S. and Allied military forces compete in a variety of athletic Joint Medical Readiness Center competitions. department chief.
gt. 1st Class Jay Martin, a trumpet player in the Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, openly admits he was never really athletic. “I was not athletic until my mid-forties and I started racing BMX bicycles, believe it or not,” said Martin. Biking was his new hobby until an accident Jan. 6, 2018, at an indoor bike park. Martin knew immediately on impact that his legs were not going to be the same. After immediate surgery he learned he would never walk again. As he transitioned through the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Belvoir, he decided not to give up on biking and used it in his adaptive reconditioning. “Hand cycling is different, be-
cause your arms are not your legs –it’s all arms and upper body. I’m pretty much limited from the chest up. It’s hard, but once I got fitted in the bike, I realized I have to get in there and keep going, because practice makes perfect,” said Martin. He won a bronze medal for his classification in hand cycling for Team Army at this year’s Department of Defense Warrior Games in Tampa. Martin knew about the games before his accident but now realized he could participate. He explains why he believes the Warrior Games are important. “Just like sports are important for kids with developing personality and growth, sports at this point for injured or handicapped individuals is the same kind of thing . . . it shapes development and helps you
“It is our responsibility to provide housing, not simply to code but also to quality.”
Numerous assessments, one center
Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy
See Warrior Games, page A5 @SecArmy
Academic program could boost Soldier retention
JMRC, which opened in the fall Photo by Sgt. Dana Clarke 2018, is ready to conduct periodic Secretary of the Army, Hon. Ryan D. McCarthy, along with Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Michael A. Grinston, and Senator health assessments; pre- and post- bachelor’s degrees to senior NCOs working with each of the military Credentialing, along with Tim Kaine visit with families on Ft. Belvoir, Va., Monday. McCarthy, Grinston, and Kaine spoke to families and who attended the Sergeants Ma- centers of excellence to provide changes to promotion media about housing jor Academy at Fort issues. Bliss, Texas. technical skill training equitable to boards, helps ensure the Dailey said the Army will provide academic skills. See SecArmy, page A2 Soldiers with some college credit or “We thought we need to build on best are promoted and professional credentialing for each that more, because 60 percent of the level of NCO training. Army is combat arms, so what tanretained deployment assessments; exams health skills assessments “The expectation is we give some- Virtual gible technical do they leave dental exam on file for the last 15 months, which puts them in for schools; suitability checks for thing back for that service,” Dailey with?” hesaid said.another of the By Joe Lacdan Green indeterminate status. Army or Navy PCS; and needed said at an Association of the U.S. team’s initiatives is virtual Army News Service “If you have a unit of 200 and, Skilled labor required lab work. Personnel, also Army breakfast in there, Washington, health. “We’re going to try to Photo by Readiness Luc Dunn, AUSA of that, 40 are Medical “Not just be able say that start coordinate hearing and to vision Dailey cited that 80 percent of he Army could add to its D.C. virtual health assessments Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Classification 4, then those 40 served and sacrificed, but (get- face-to-face American jobs require skilledorlabor, Dailey speaks about retention record retention numbers by you checks. on the computer default to being deployable, but results. That’s and that Soldiers become pro- and academic credentialing providing more incentive for ting) “Ittangible was created to put morewhat your phone, as sooncan as January. at the you don’t really know if they are, owe to on themedical American people–is a We’ll ductive members of the work force AUSA Institute of Land Warfare Soldiers to stay on duty, the ser- we likely start with healthier visibility readiness, or not,” said Green. “It’s a false better product, beService more produc- populations after leavingthat the don’t Army.need vice’s top enlisted leader said. and make sure to that breakfast in Arlington, June 26. in their hometowns.” “There care,” is a great opportunity representation of what your unit The Army has been testing a pilot tive additional he said. members are ready to deploy or readiness status is.” Dailey said the Army has been forService many members of our Soldiers to fulfill medical program for academic credentialing transition are grouped late those to civilian-sector skills, out of the military,” working out the finer points of the the ranks of those skilled labor reat Fort Hood, Texas, and plans to into one of four Medical which we had not done.” Green said. “It’s imperative the Commander’s portal program to ensure higher quality Readiness quirements in our hometowns extend the program to several Categories. MRCs 1 of Last year, with the help of ConPhoto by PaulmaLara units are continually having their “Unit and commanders canContinuing America, they have the tangible gress jorMaj. installations by Joint the end of 2019, training for Service members and and 2 are and for healthy, generally the Army Kelly Green, Medical Soldiers how get the examswill they need. access a portal that simplifies deciding agencies get payskills,” Dailey said. “We just need to said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel deployable people. MRC 3 is the Education System, the Army creReadiness Center department This isThe all we do. We specialize tracking and reporting of unit program will also in be category make it official. Dailey. Theand Army to spread ment. for those not medically chief, left, Maj.plans Duane ated the credentialing assistance physical exams, so we get themand ready to National Guard “Weorsaw opportunity to be the program to nurse all installations whothe need more than 30 Thomas, chief officer in in available in, and help them check all the Army Reserve members. able to onsaid the great fiscal yearat2020. charge, the center’s reception days of capitalize care. Green MRC skills 4 See page A5, page Medical See Credentialing, A8 Dailey said the Army has been is at once.” our have now, and or transRecently, area, Nov. the 18. Army provided 110 boxes forSoldiers anyone without a PHA
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Housing A5 A2 Avoid Heat Illness
th CYS 40 Anniversary A6 Drunk Driving Prevention A4
PCS Travel Tips A7 Holiday Spending A6
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DTRA Undefeated ARCYBER Fitness