Face of Defense: Army Nurse Sails High Seas on USNS Comfort

By Sharon Renee Taylor

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

BETHESDA, Md., July 6, 2015 – “Even in the middle of the ocean, the ‘spirit of jointness’ is alive,” Army Capt. Rory Walton wrote from the high seas of the Caribbean.

The operating room nurse assigned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is one of 43 Walter Reed staffers aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort, deployed for the Continuing Promise 2015 humanitarian mission to Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

The mission is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment focused on civil-military operations. It includes providing medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support, along with disaster response preparation, to partner nations.

Walton joined the ship April 1 in Norfolk, Virginia, for a six-month deployment. She called it a “unique opportunity” to continue developing Walter Reed’s interoperability with sailors, airmen and Public Health Service members.

Sharing Best Practices and Ideas

“Having the opportunity to work together with our friends and partners in this mission setting allows for the sharing of best practices and ideas,” she said. “It further enables all of us to build partner capacity and promote collaboration [and] partnerships in order to meet challenges together and prepare for future missions, contingencies and response efforts.”

In addition to Walton and other nurses, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also deployed a general surgeon, a pediatric surgeon, a plastic surgeon and several surgical residents, along with corpsmen to support the mission. An obstetrician-gynecologist who also is part of the group assisted many women on the Comfort’s stop in Jamaica.

Navy Capt. (Dr.) Christine Sears, commander of the USNS Comfort Medical Treatment Facility, often works in tandem with the Comfort’s operating room staff for complex pelvic surgery cases. Sears has an extensive background of service with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, having completed a fellowship and served as a staff urologist and as executive assistant to Navy Rear Adm. (Dr.) Alton L. Stocks, who commanded the medical center.

“Women’s health continues to be very important to all of the host nations that we are visiting during our CP-15 mission,” Walton said. “Our gynecological surgery team has been inundated with patients at all of our completed mission stops.”

More Stops Remain

The Comfort medical team performed surgery in Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama, Walton said. After completing work at the sixth mission stop in El Salvador, she added, five mission stops still remain: Columbia, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Honduras.

“As a team, we begin each country the same,” Walton explained. “We stage our surgical supplies and pre-plan each mission stop. Because surgery uses a significant amount of resources and consumable supplies, this is no small feat. Upon entry to the country, we immediately set up a surgical screening site in coordination with each country’s ministry of health.”

The Comfort arrives to crowds of potential patients, said Walton, who specializes in open-heart surgery. Over the next two days, she said, the team screens and books up to 100 patients for surgery.

“Because certain health conditions and comorbidities can disqualify someone for surgery, it is important we maintain a high standard to ensure the safety of those in our care,” she said. “We work together with the host nation, Ministry of Health representatives and medical professionals to educate and support one another to ensure our efforts run in tandem with their needs.”

Hypertension and proper management of diabetes are common issues the Comfort team addresses with the host nation and health partners, Walton said. “When caring for patients, we continue to be compassionate, yet sensible, when addressing their health concerns in order to deliver the highest quality of care standard,” she added.

Some Cases Have Huge Meaning

Walton said there have been cases and patients she feels especially excited about helping during the deployment.

“Any care where you have substantially changed someone’s quality of life has huge meaning,” she said. “We’ve been able to resolve blindness, restore walking and upper body use, reduce chronic pain, and treat life-threatening injuries.”

The nurse spoke of a unique honor not often afforded to those who work in the operating room.

“Our patients often remember our faces,” Walton said. “It is a joy. Our patients stay in the ship’s intensive care unit and recovery wards for a few days after surgery. [We] often see them about the ship, or in a passageway. It is very meaningful to directly see the impact you have on their lives.

“Since you witness both their diagnosis and the living conditions they come from, you have a vivid picture of what they face,” she continued. “We rarely have the opportunity to watch a patient’s full recovery in the days after their operation. It is rewarding to witness that full spectrum, from diagnosis to rehabilitation and discharge.”

Deployment Continues Until October

The USNS Comfort is scheduled to complete its six-month humanitarian mission in October. Officials anticipate the hospital ship serving more than 130,000 patients during Continuing Promise 2015.

As one of the largest trauma facilities in the United States, the Comfort has a full spectrum of surgical and medical services including four X-ray machines, a CAT scan unit, a dental suite, an optometry and lens laboratory, a physical therapy center, a pharmacy, an invasive angiography suite and two oxygen-producing plants. The hospital ship also maintains up to 5,000 units of blood. Patients arrive aboard primarily by helicopter and sometimes by small boat and are then assessed for medical treatment in casualty receiving and routed to surgery or other services depending on their medical condition.

New commander takes reins at USAFCENT

by Senior Airman Jonathan Bass
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/2/2015 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C.  -- Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. assumed command of U.S. Air Forces Central Command from Lt. Gen. John W. Hesterman III during a ceremony here June 29, 2015.

The ceremony was officiated by U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Central Command commander, who travelled to Shaw from his headquarters in Tampa, Florida, for the event.

"It is totally awesome to be here today," Brown said to the group of more than 300 Airmen, community leaders and distinguished visitors, including representatives from coalition partner nations Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, at the ceremony. "To have Airmen in formation representing not just AFCENT but all the Airmen from all the nations that operate together in the Central Command area of responsibility is amazing."

Brown, who was promoted to lieutenant general earlier that morning, inherits an organization that works closely with its partners in Southwest Asia to ensure the stability of the region. In addition to serving as USAFCENT commander, he is also the Combined Force Air Component Commander for the theater.

An F-16 pilot by trade, Brown has commanded a fighter squadron, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and two fighter wings. Most recently he served as the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa director of operations, strategic deterrence, and nuclear integration at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Originally from San Antonio, Tex., the general commissioned in 1984 after attending Texas Tech University on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. He thanked many people for his continued successes including his family, the Sumter community, and Austin for his trust and confidence.

Austin, in his speech, praised Hesterman for his leadership and expressed confidence that Brown, who previously served as USAFCENT deputy commander from April 2013 to August 2014, was a great pick to replace him.

"I am confident that you are more than up to the task," Austin said of Brown.

"(General Hesterman) deserves a lion's share of the credit for the great success achieved thus far," Austin said about Operation Inherent Resolve, the campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. "This air campaign will surely go down in history as one of the most complex and well-coordinated air campaigns in the history of warfare. The air campaign would not be what it is today and we would not be where we are in terms of effects that we have achieved against this enemy were it not for your incredible leadership, your mastery of the art of air power, your unparalleled professionalism, and your formidable ability to build, lead, and strengthen winning teams."

For his part, Hesterman will move on to the Pentagon where he will serve as the director of the Air Staff and the U.S. Air Force assistant vice chief of staff.

Former WWII weather observer relives sunny days during trip to Scott

by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

6/30/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Norma Gene Cadena's last wish is to relive her days as a weather observer and to see what it would be like today to do the same job. At 87, Cadena has terminal lung cancer and, through the Sisters of Saint Mary Health Hospice and Home Health Foundation "Memories that Last" program, her wish was granted to visit the 15th Operational Weather Squadron on Scott Air Force Base, June 26, 2015.

Towards the end of World War II the U.S. Weather Bureau hired more than 900 women as observers and forecasters to fill the positions of men who'd been called to duty; one of those women was Cadena. Although she said she was only a "weather girl" for about a year she still remembers the responsibilities and importance of a weather observer's job.

Cadena's trip to Scott began with a welcome by members of the 15th OWS followed by a trip to memory lane where Airmen showed her nostalgic photographs and items the squadron has collected over the years.

The items brought up memories that she began to share about her time as an observer.

"I went to training school in Fort Worth, Texas," she said. "Then we were assigned to a base where they needed weather forecasters. I was assigned to a Marine Corps base in Beaumont, Texas. All the women were treated the same as men. We were busy. I remember in the 1940's we had no days off."

After her tour of the heritage wall, Airmen explained their training process and what equipment they use today. But Cadenas eyes grew big as they rolled her into the room where all the Airmen worked and determined forecasts daily.

She was interested in learning about all the technology the Airmen have available today. She worked her way from one side of the room to the other, talking to many different Airmen about their jobs.

"I used to have to fill a balloon with helium, release it, and then track it," said Cadena. "We would press a button, 'cheep, cheep,' to take a reading. Then, by watching the balloon we had to chart or draw the velocity, the type of clouds, and direction of winds on a map. The forecast was provided to the Marines to make sure they could come back from the Pacific Islands safely."

At the end of the tour Lt. Col. Danielle Budzko, 15th OWS commander, gave Cadena a squadron coin and took a group photo with her. After she received the coin she kept asking members if they wanted to see it, but wouldn't let anyone hold it.

"I was so shocked that everyone would want to talk to an old person like me," she said. "It was such an honor to be allowed to come into the base. I appreciate seeing the technology you all have to work with today. When I see it I just think" oh my goodness, oh my goodness"!"

Prior to the trip, Airmen were notified of Cadena's condition and that she may need to use oxygen frequently. But that wasn't the case according to her care giver.

"When I visit with her, she always mentions how she used to be a weather forecaster but wasn't able to elaborate on her job details," said Gina Bax, SSM Hospice Social Worker. "Since we walked in the door [at Scott] I have never seen her more lively and talkative. She didn't ask for her oxygen the whole trip."

Installations Receive Commander in Chief’s Award for Excellence

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2015 – Defense Secretary Ash Carter today announced the 2015 recipients of the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence:

The winning installations are:

-- Army: U.S. Army Garrison Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia;

-- Marine Corps: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;

-- Navy: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida;

-- Air Force: Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; and

-- Defense Logistics Agency: DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.

The award recognizes outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations, Pentagon officials said.

Mission Performance, Quality of Life

“Excellent installations enable better mission performance and enhance the quality of life for military men and women and their families,” officials said in a statement announcing the winners. “Each winning installation succeeded in providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions.”

Each winning installation will receive a commemorative trophy and flag, as well as a congratulatory letter from the president.

Reminder to be safe, vigilant during holiday weekend

By David Beecroft, Deputy director of Security Forces / Published July 02, 2015

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- As we enter this holiday weekend and enjoy the activities celebrating our nation’s independence, commanders and supervisors will remind us to focus on safety as we participate in cookouts, fireworks and outdoor fun.

The safety of our Air Force communities and our families is paramount. While we encourage everyone to enjoy their July Fourth celebrations, please remember to exercise vigilance at all times, especially through the upcoming holiday.

While we've received no new specific threat information, these large gatherings in the United States or overseas are attractive targets to violent extremists. For that reason, we’ve captured some tips we believe will be helpful for you and your families.

Don’t cancel your plans, but do remind everyone at work or at play to exercise appropriate operational security and force protection procedures while taking part in activities — real or virtual.

Whether you’re at work, home or an outside activity, report suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency, base police or Office of Special Investigations. Suspicious activity that warrants reporting may include:

• Individuals with new or increased interest in critical buildings and landmarks with no reasonable explanation

• Suspicious observation of or unusual questions about maintenance or security procedures

• Loitering, parking or standing in the same area over multiple days with no reasonable explanation

• Individuals wearing clothes not appropriate for the weather or season

• Attempted or unauthorized access to potentially sensitive areas

• If it looks suspicious or out of place, report it

As a general rule, when you’re online, think about what you’re posting. Keep current on evolving privacy restrictions on social media accounts and be aware of online mentions of locations and activities, especially surrounding federal holidays and military events.

Never broadcast private contact information or list your e-mail address or phone number in any public site, like your profile page, a blog, public forum or photo caption. Be suspicious of unsolicited email messages or phone calls from individuals asking for personal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with that organization.

The July Fourth weekend is intended to provide us with time for rest, reflection, relaxation and fun as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the independence of this great nation. Others, like our security forces, firefighters and other first responders, will be on the job. We need your help every day. Have a safe Fourth of July weekend.