NMITC Supports Armed Forces Blood Program

By Lt. j.g. Sergio Wooden, Center for Naval Intelligence Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Military and civilian staff members at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) donated blood Aug. 18 and 19 in partnership with the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP).

During the blood drive, more than 130 students and staff members signed up to give blood and nearly 100 units of blood were collected.

"The success we had during this blood drive is a real testament to the support that our Navy and Marine [Corps] team are willing to give to the fleet," said NMITC's executive officer, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Kyle Tarrant. "I've worked closely with the blood program over the last two years and this is one of many programs we will continue to support with all we have. We look forward to even greater participation and donation numbers in the future."

The ASBP is the official U.S. military blood program for the Department of Defense and plays a key role in providing blood products for service members and their families in both peace and war. The ASBP provides more than 150,000 units of blood products yearly to contingency operations including Iraq and Afghanistan, and supplies transfusion centers at military hospitals in the U.S. and overseas. As a joint operation among the military services (Army, Navy and Air Force), the ASBP has many components working together to collect, process, store, distribute, and transfuse blood worldwide.

"It is always a joy to see the small commands get involved and to see such enthusiasm," said Ralph Peters, the regional recruiter for ASBP. "NMITC has been a model command with its blood drives and we look forward to working with them several times each year."

Many of the donors volunteering for the NMITC blood drive participated with their deployed comrades in mind.

"I'm just doing what Sailors do, looking out for our shipmates," said Intelligence Specialist 2nd class (SW) Patrick O'Brien, an "A" school instructor at NMITC. "With service members deployed to the Middle East and around the world, with lots on their minds, it's nothing for me to take a little time to support a program that might help one of them."

Echoing a similar sentiment was Marine Corps Pfc. Richard B. Gower II, a student at NMITC. "I was more than happy to take part in the blood drive," said Grower. "I do so as often as I can back home and it's always a great feeling inside to know that your help is going directly to those who need it."

Coordinating the blood drives is a collateral duty and includes working closely with the ASBP, while informing and educating the staff and students on the program.

"It is inspiring to see young Marines and Sailors giving blood that may be key to saving the life of a service member overseas," said Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Davila, NMITC Marine Detachment blood drive representative. "Having been in theater, hearing the call come over the public address system for blood at Camp Fallujah was always a sobering reminder of our mission. Hopefully, my pint will help a corpsman not have to make that desperate call."

"Working with the ASBP for the last two years has been rewarding," said Intelligence Specialist 1st Class (AW/SW) Kenneth Jackson, NMITC blood drive representative and "C" school instructor. "It's great to see the donation numbers come out and see the results that will make a difference in saving someone's life."