Journal 051514

Vol. 26 No. 19 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ May 15, 2014

By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

“Our enlisted organizationsand Junior Officer Council(JOC) are doing much good-ness, strengthening our WalterReed National Military Medi-cal Center (WRNMMC) OneTeam,” said Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Jef-frey B. Clark, WRNMMC direc-tor. “They reflect so positivelyon who we are, what we do, andmost importantly, how we do it.”

The general recently joinedmembers from one of those or-

ganizations, the Junior EnlistedMess (JEM), volunteering at alocal charitable agency whichhelps families seeking to rise outof poverty. In addition to donat-ing items, JEM members assistthe organization with furnish-ing the homes of those in need,and teaching life skills and pro-fessional development to clientsof the local nonprofit.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class(HM3) Moriah Brockway, JEMmaster-at-arms, explained oneof the rewards of being a mem-ber of the JEM is helping others— “meeting new people whilealso finding fun and rewarding

things to do in the area, such asvolunteer and morale events.

“We strengthen theWRNMMC One Team by get-ting the entire junior enlisted[members] together, integratingeveryone from different branch-es and cultures of life to worktogether towards a better tomor-row,” Brockway said.

Other rewards of being amember of the JEM are “net-working, esprit de corps andcareer-building” opportunities,added HM3 Brandon Kapfham-er, JEM chief executive officer.“The JEM is available to all E-4and below military personnel

stationed at WRNMMC. How-ever, we encourage and supportfamily involvement in all of thecommunity volunteer events wedo,” he continued.

“The JEM’s motto is ‘leader-ship by example,’ and we exem-plify that in all we do,” Kapf-hamer added. JEM president,HM3 Amber Barak, agrees.

“By being a part of the JEM,I have not only been able togrow as a professional, but asan individual,” Barak said. “TheJEM is a great opportunity forjunior service members to meetone another, form a network andmake an amazing difference in

the morale of the command. TheJEM truly covers all aspects ofpersonal, professional and lead-ership growth,” she explained.

Barak led the JEM’s stuffedanimal drive from Feb. 4through March 6, collectingtoys for young patients treatedby WRNMMC staff during ahumanitarian mission March 8to 22 in the Dominican Repub-lic. People donated hundreds ofstuffed animals to the drive. “It’samazing how generous everyonewas with their donations; we

Enlisted Groups, JOC Strengthens Walter Reed Bethesda One Team

Courtesy Photo

Members of the enlisted groups at Walter Reed Bethesda greet a veteran arriving at a local airport as part of an honor flight.

See HONOR page 14

2 Thursday, May 15, 2014 The Journal

Published by offset every Thurs-day by Comprint Military Publi-cations, 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, a pri-vate firm in no way connectedwith the U.S. Navy, under ex-clusive written contract with theWalter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center, Bethesda, Md.This commercial enterprise news-paper is an authorized publication formembers of the military services. Contentsof The Journal are not necessarily the of-ficial views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S.Government, the Department of Defense,or the Department of Navy. The appearanceof advertising in this publication, includinginserts or supplements, does not constituteendorsement by the Department of De-fense or Comprint, Inc., of the products orservices advertised. Everything advertisedin this publication shall be made availablefor purchase, use or patronage without re-

gard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age, maritalstatus, physical handicap,political affiliation, or anyother non-merit factor of thepurchaser, user, or patron.Editorial content is edited,prepared and provided bythe Public Affairs Office, Naval

Support Activity Bethesda, Md.News copy should be submitted to

the Public Affairs Office, Building 11, lowerlevel, Room 41, by noon one week pre-ceding the desired publication date. Newsitems are welcomed from all installationsources. Inquiries about news copy will beanswered by calling 301-400-1381. Com-mercial advertising should be placed withthe publisher by telephoning 301-921-2800.Publisher’s advertising offices are locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md.20877. Classified ads can be placed by call-ing 301-670-1700.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) BethesdaCommanding Officer: Capt. David A. BitontiActing Public Affairs Officer NSAB: John EppersonPublic Affairs Office NSAB: 301-400-2488

Journal StaffStaff Writers Sarah Marshall

Katrina SkinnerJulie SmithSharon Renee Taylor

Managing Editor MC3BrandonWilliams-ChurchWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little

NSABethesdaFleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087

Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations 301-295-5727

NSAB OmbudsmanMichelle Herrera 240-370-5421

Sexual Assault Response

Coordinator Hotline 301-442-2053

Visit us on Facebook:Naval Support Activity Bethesda page:https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda

Walter Reed National Medical Center page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107

Uniformed Services University of the HealthSciences page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniformed-Services-University-of-the-Health-Sciences/96338890888?fref=ts

The winter season is alreadyover, and May signals the be-ginning of the spring season.The month of May brings aboutmany new and exciting eventssuch as a mixture of sunshine,rain and a variety of brightcolors because of the manyflowers blooming across thelandscapes. Although we expe-rienced a plethora of changeswith each season, in the mili-tary, the order of business andthe commitments to mission,others and self never changes.To that end, the enlisted pro-fessionals continue to evolve as extraordinaryleaders that lead the way in mission success-es, taking care of others and taking care ofself. Educating military medical professionalis one of the areas where enlisted personnelcan demonstrate their commitment to themission, others and self.

Every year, the Uniform Services Univer-sity of the Health Sciences (USUHS), the De-partment of Defense’s only military medicaluniversity, conducts a military medical fieldpracticum (MMFP) exercise that serves as oneof the final graded examinations for fourthyear tri-service military medical students.The training exercises are usually held at theU.S. Army National Guard base at Fort Indi-antown Gap, (FIG) Pennsylvania. This year’sMMFP exercise was no different from the oth-ers; USUHS leaders called upon enlisted pro-fessionals to lead the way in education our fu-ture military medical leaders. On May 4 to 11close to 100 enlisted personnel converged atFIG, travelling from near and far, to includeUSUHS; WRNNMC and NSA Bethesda; FortBelvoir; Portsmouth, VA; Pendleton, CA; U.S.Navy Reserve unit from Houston, TX, and theU.S. Army Reserve, 316th Sustainment Unitfrom Pennsylvania.

The enlisted team contributed significantlyto mission success by taking care of others,and taking care of self. In mission success,the team used their collaborative experience,skills and abilities to enhance the military

medical students’ levelof experience on the inte-grated medical systemsand care delivery underfire. In addition to the ex-perience gained on the in-tegrated military systems,the military medical stu-dents gained valuable ex-perience from the enlistedon teamwork, enhancedpatient-team and patient-physician relationships. Intaking care of others, theenlisted team observedOperational Risk Manage-

ment throughout all aspect of the training.The enlisted utilized best practices, policiesand procedures to ensure personnel safetyand equipment safety, especially evidentwhere enlisted personnel invested hundredsof man-hours, conducting day and night train-ing operations, transported numerous person-nel in the MMFP environment, as well as sup-ported shuttle movements of personnel to andfrom NSA, Bethesda. The transport fleet wascomprised of several Army Light and MediumTactical Wheeled Vehicles.

Taking care of self was an equally importantfactor in the overall success of the experiencesgained by the military medical students. In ad-dition to manpower support and to educate thefuture military medical leaders, the enlistedteam supporting the training exercise had theunique opportunity to gain experience not onlyin a field setting, but also were able to forgemeaningful relationships with members fromother branches of the military.

In closing, I wish to extend to all the en-listed personnel serving today, and prior, aspecial thank you for your service and com-mitment to this nation, your fellow country-men and to your family.

Command Master ChiefPatrick L. HydeBrigade Senior Enlisted Leader,Uniform Service Universityof the Health Sciences

USU Corner ‘Life With Cancer’The Murtha Cancer Center at

Walter Reed Bethesda is sponsoringa program for all cancer patients andtheir families. The program, “Life withCancer: Practical Tools for Living withUncertainty,” will be May 29 from 7to 8:30 p.m. at Walter Reed Bethesdain the America Building, second floor,Room 2525. Guest speakers will be Dr.Jim David, a board certified psycho-therapist, and Dr. Peter Fagan, asso-ciate professor of medical psychologyat Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.All are welcome to attend. No regis-tration is required. Military ID is re-quired for base access to Walter ReedBethesda. For those without a mili-tary ID, call the Prostate Center at301-319-2900 at least two businessdays prior to event for base access. Formore information, contact retired Col.Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or2900,or email [email protected].

Asian-American/Pacific IslanderHeritage Month

The Bethesda MulticulturalCommittee sponsors a celebrationof Asian-American/Pacific IslanderHeritage Month May 22 at 11:30 a.m.in the America Building atrium. Theevent will feature dancers, speakersand food. Everyone is invited to at-tend. For more information, call Sgt.1st Class Jason Zielske at 301-400-3542.

Better Hearing and Speech MonthIn observance of Better Hearing and

Speech Month, a table will be set upevery Friday in May from noon to 1p.m. in the America Building, first floorlobby. For more information, visit thewebsite http://www.wrnmmc.capmed.mil/SpeechandHearing.

Bethesda Notebook

The Journal Thursday, May 15, 2014 3

By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center(WRNMMC) celebrated its nurs-es last week during NationalNurses Week.

The celebration atWRNMMCincluded a candlelight ceremonywith the blessing of the handsthat heal; a DAISY award cer-emony honoring the medicalcenter’s extraordinary nurses; aNursing Grand Rounds focusedon compassion fatigue; pizzanight; a social on Building 10’srooftop garden; and a nurse call.

This year’s National NursesWeek theme, “Nurses Leadingthe Way,” highlights the evolv-ing roles of the caregivers whilethey are embracing new tech-nology and resolving emergingissues. This was also the focus ofthe presentation by guest speak-er Dr. Marguerite Littleton-Ke-arney during the DAISY awardceremony on May 7.

While Littleton-Kearney dis-cussed some of nursing pioneers,including Florence Nightingale,Linda Richards (the first pro-fessionally trained Americannurse), Mary Eliza Mahoney(the first African American pro-fessionally trained nurse in theUnited States), and Dr. LutherChristman (an American nurse,professor, university adminis-trator and advocate for genderand racial diversity in nursing),she also focused on the future ofthe profession.

A retired captain from theNavy Nurse Corps, Littleton-Ke-arney is professor and associatedean for research in the DanielK. Inouye Graduate School ofNursing at the Uniformed Ser-vices University (USU), and theuniversity’s director of the FayeG. Abdelluh Research Center.

“In order to move patientcare and health care forward,we have to be more educated,”Littleton-Kearney said. Sheadded advanced practice regis-tered nurses (APRNs) and nursepractitioners (NPs) have movedthe profession forward, and “aremaking a difference in patientcare.”

Another movement in thenursing profession came aboutfive years ago, when the Ameri-can Nurses Association (ANA)called for more clinical doctoraleducation for nursing, Littleton-Kearney said.

She added that as preven-

tion and wellness increasinglybecome the focus of health care,more APRNs will be in demand,which may exacerbate the nurs-ing shortage. The shortage maybe intensified as “baby boomers”age and the need for health caregrows, she continued.

The demand for nurses maycreate more entrepreneurial op-portunities within the profes-sion, Littleton-Kearney contin-ued. “Nurses may be involvedin non-traditional roles, suchas with policy development, inhealth care related businessesand with insurance companies.It’s limitless. I think we’re alsogoing to see an explosion ofnurse-run clinics, especially inunderserved areas where healthcare is at a premium,” Littleton-Kearney concluded.

Following Littleton-Kearney’spresentation,WRNMMC leader-ship staff presented the DAISYaward to Army Spc. Jia Jenkins,a practical nurse in the MotherInfant and Child Care Center.Nominated by a “grateful pa-tient” who wished to remainanonymous, Jenkins was de-scribed by the patient as a pa-tient advocate and a star.

“She was my nurse after avery scary C-section,” patientstated. “Within minutes, shewas advocating for me, gettingme to laugh, answering any andall questions, [and] I felt likefamily. She was instrumental inbuilding my confidence. No re-quest was too huge or too small.She’s a stand-out nursing star.Her commitment to me as a pa-tient will never be forgotten.”

Following the DAISY cere-mony, Army 1st Lt. ChristopherReyes, a pediatric nurse, hostedthe Nursing Grand Rounds,discussing compassion fatigue.According to the ANA, compas-sion fatigue is “a combination ofphysical, emotional and spiri-tual depletion associated withcaring for patients in significant

emotional pain and physical dis-tress.”

Reyes added not everyonewho works in health will de-velop compassion fatigue. Heexplained compassion fatigueis a term first coined about twodecades ago to describe the lossof a nurse’s ability to nurture,most often seen in those caringfor the ill, wounded, trauma-tized and vulnerable patientsin their charge. He said someof the symptoms of compassionfatigue may be headaches, diges-tive problems, sleep disturbanc-es (too much or the inability tosleep), muscle tension, cardiacsymptoms, mood swings, rest-lessness, irritability, oversen-sitivity, depression, anger andresentment, loss of objectivity,memory issues, and poor con-centration, focus and judgment.He said people with compassionfatigue may also exhibit workavoidance, lack of joyfulness, re-duced ability to feel compassiontowards patients or families,and frequent use of sick days.

“Most of us spend our timedeveloping care plans for oth-ers, but we tend to forget aboutourselves, and when we neglectourselves we have the potentialfor compassion fatigue and/orburnout,” Reyes said.

The pediatric nurse explainedthe difference between compas-sion fatigue and burnout, stat-ing compassion fatigue’s onset issudden, whereas burnout occurs

gradually and overtime. Com-passion fatigue is relational, re-sulting from caring for those whoare suffering, whereas burnoutis reactional in response to workor environmental stressors suchas staffing, workload, manage-rial decision-making, etc. Inaddition, compassion fatigue’spossible negative outcomes in-cludes imbalance of empathyand objectivity, while burnout’spotential outcome includes de-creased empathetic responses.“The longer you stay in a situ-ation in which you feel burnedout, you will eventually just giveup,” Reyes said.

He added it’s important forcaregivers to develop copingstrategies, such as “not goingit alone” by maintaining closeprofessional relationships andrapport, which provides an out-let versus enduring the fatigue.“Have a mentor and a peer youcan go to who understands yourprofession,” he continued.

“Know your limitation,” saidthe lieutenant. “Learn yourtriggers, take leave as neces-sary, develop rituals for dealingwith loss, grieving or death, anduse self-care strategies such asmeditation.” He added a self-care plan, similar to WRNMMCDirector Brig. Gen. Jeffrey B.Clark’s Prosperity Plan, shouldinclude physical, spiritual, emo-tional, psychological and profes-sional components.

“Sleep, eat and exercise well,”

Reyes said. “Pray, meditate andfellowship. Cry and laugh. Self-reflect, learn to say no, smile,take breaks, set limits, seek peersupport, and use vacation time,”he concluded.

According to the 2014 Con-gressional Resolution (H. Res.540), nurses represent the larg-est single component of thehealth care profession withan estimated population of3,100,000 registered nurses inthe United States. In addition,nurses have again topped theGallup’s annual Honesty andEthics survey of professions.Nurses have topped the listevery year since 1999, the firstyear Gallup asked Americansto rate professionals based ontheir honesty and ethical stan-dards, except for in 2001 whenfirefighters were included ona one-time basis, given theirprominent role in the 9/11 res-cue efforts.

National Nurses Week is cel-ebrated during the week thatcoincides with Florence Night-ingale’s birthday (May 12), con-sidered the founder of modernnursing. She came to promi-nence while serving as a nurseduring the Crimean War, whereshe cared for wounded soldiers.The first National Nurses Weekin 1954 was observed during the100th anniversary of Nightin-gale’s mission to Crimea.

‘Nurses Leading the Way’Walter Reed Bethesda Celebrates ‘Extraordinary’ Caregivers

Photo by Katrina Skinner

A candlelight ceremonyin the chapel kicks offWalter Reed Bethesda’sNational Nurses Weekcelebration on May 6.

Photo by Sharon Renee Taylor

Army Spc. Jia Jenkins, a practical nurse in the Mother Infant and Child Care Cen-ter helps new mom, Air Force Tech Sgt. Tabitha Kuykendall, with her newborndaughter Ava. Jenkins received the DAISY Award for outstanding nursing.


By Julie SmithNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

In an unlit roomwith soft music play-ing, 9-day-old SebastianEig was comfortable inthe arms of his mother,Jessica, as she learnedabout infant massagethrough the new par-ent support program atNaval Support ActivityBethesda (NSAB) May 8.

The three-part classled by new parent sup-port program nursesUrsula Rocha and An-gie Nolan is held oncea quarter at NSAB’sFleet and Family Sup-port Center, and Rochasaid the class is becom-ing increasingly popularamong parents of babies.

“Parents are look-ing for ways to calmand soothe their babyand this is just one ofthose tools they can useto do that,” Rocha said.“Teaching our familiesnurturing, positive touchis hugely important. Es-

pecially for our militaryfamilies, that bondingbetween parents andbaby is really importantbecause they aren’t al-ways together. Mom ordad might be deployed,so we really think it’simportant on a lot of lev-els. “

The nurses teach headto toe massage strokes,encouraging parents to

incorporate infant mas-sage into their regu-lar schedules. The slowmovements focus on ababy’s legs, feet, arms,torso and face. Rochasaid it’s most beneficialto massage one side ofthe body at a time sincefull body massages tendto overwhelm a baby’ssenses. She suggeststhree repetitions of each

stroke before moving tothe other side, observingengagement cues fromthe baby like cooing orsmiling.

“If they are crying orgrimacing, maybe theydon’t like that particu-lar stroke,” Rocha said.“It’s all about being intune with the baby, be-ing relaxed and beingconnected with the baby.

The strokes are impor-tant and they do servea function, but we want[parents] to be really intouch with the baby. Thisis a great bonding expe-rience.”

Health research sug-gests infant massagehelps babies sleep moreregularly, sleep moredeeply and aids in theirgrowth. According to No-

lan, infant massage isuseful for babies withgas problems, upper re-spiratory infections orallergies. Rocha said newresearch shows it alsobenefits new moms whoexperience post-partumdepression because thetime spent bonding withthe baby can decrease

Parents Learn Techniques and Benefits of Baby Massage

8-month-old Zayden and his mom, Army Spc. Ann Azarraga, par-ticipate in an infant massage class at the Naval Support ActivityBethesda Fleet and Family Support Center May 8.

Photos by Julie Smith

New parent support program nurse UrsulaRocha (right) teaches infant massage to par-ents, including new mom Jessica Eig (left),who performs the strokes on her newbornson Sebastian.

See BABY page 12

10364901042286


By G.H. CuretonNorthern RegionalMedical Command

Public Affairs

Working long hours as a mil-itary equal opportunity profes-sional requires listening — lotsof it.With four daughters at

home, Sgt. 1st Class JasonZielske, assigned to WalterReed National Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC), gets lots ofpractice.“There’s always something

going on at home; some crisisto resolve,” Zielske said. “Hav-ing four daughters made me amuch better conflict manager.My family life prepares me forbeing a good EOA [equal oppor-tunity advisor].”Good enough to be the Army

Medical Command (MEDCOM)Equal Opportunity Advisor ofthe Year.Becoming an EOA wasn’t

part of Zielske career planwhen he began his Army ca-reer 15 years ago as an air andmissile defense crewmember.He enjoyed his job and knew hewas a Soldier for life. “I joined

the Army to make it a career; Iwanted to do at least 20 years.”But a Soldier’s life is not

easy and bad knees led Zielsketo a career crossroads — findanother opportunity to excel inthe Army. He found it in a littleknown but important careerfield.After graduating from the

three-month course at the De-fense Equal Opportunity Man-agement Institute (DEOMI) in

2011, Zielske was assigned tothe former Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center before transfer-ring to WRNMMC and helpingto set up the equal opportunityprogram here. The transitionfrom an Army hospital to acombined service facility with astrong naval tradition was hisfirst, and, Zielske admits, some-times an enduring challenge.“We wear the uniform of the

U.S. military, but there are dif-

ferent customs and traditionsand you have to be sensitiveto that,” he said. “My DEOMItraining was helpful during thefirst months of our transitionfrom the old Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center to Walter ReedBethesda. It’s about adaptingto a culture that says we areall one team with the samemission.“I like to keep in mind that

the equal opportunity program

is about breaking down wallsand helping people accept dif-ferences and celebrate the sim-ilarities,” the Amherst, Ohio,native continued. “Sitting ina room with the other servicemembers who are as committedto working together and creat-ing a positive work environ-ment is one of the things thatI have embraced about Walter

WRNMMC NCO Excels in Equal Opportunity Career

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Zielske and Chaplain (Col.) Rob-ert L. Powers, chief, Department of Pastoral Care,share laugh at Walter Reed National Military MedicalCenter. Zielske was named the 2013 Army MedicalCommand Equal Opportunity Advisor of the Year.

U.S. Army photos by G.H. Cureton/Northern Regional Medical Command

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Zielske reviews last minute Irishheritage event details with his joint service equal op-portunity team at Walter Reed National Military Medi-cal Center.

See NCO page 12

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By Sharon ReneeTaylor

WRNMMC PublicAffairs staff writer

A small group of Wal-ter Reed Bethesda staffmembers recently com-pleted a four-week pilottraining program in ReikiSelf-Care. The practiceuses light, hand place-ments to promote stressrelief, balance and self-healing.

“Reiki is a subtle medi-tative practice that origi-nated in Japan in theearly 20th century. Light,still touch in a sequenceof hand placements,helps relieve stress andis balancing to the sys-tem. Reiki practice elicitsa self-healing response,”explained Marion Wer-ner, a Red Cross volun-teers and Reiki Masterwho taught the 12-personclass at Walter Reed Na-tional Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC).

Originally developedas a self-practice, Reikican also be offered to oth-ers. During the weekly

hourlong class, stafferslearned to practice Reikion themselves, not pa-tients.

“We wanted to providea tool or technique thatcan help the staff mem-bers to practice on a dai-ly basis in order to havea long-lasting benefit,”explained Public HealthLt. Cmdr. Michelle Tsai,deputy service chief ofthe Resiliency and Psy-chological Health ser-vice at WRNMMC. “Weknow that when the staffmembers are taking careof themselves, then theycan better [care for] oth-ers.”

“The gentle hand place-ments invite a medita-tive state that is calmingand balancing. A relaxedbody and mind gives afoundation for healing,”explained Werner, whohas used the practice formore than 10 years. “Weheal more effectively andefficiently when we arecalm, relaxed and rested.”

She said the benefitsof Reiki self-practice areexperienced usually rightaway with relaxation,

and relief of stress as thesystem balances. Otherreported benefits are re-duced pain and anxiety,ease of digestion, greaterconcentration and clarity,increased self-awarenessand energy, better sleep,and a “feeling that allis well in this moment,”Werner said.

Daily practice mayhelp people connect to a“place of inner stillnessand peace,” she added.That’s what Navy Capt.Shirley Bowens soughtwhen she signed up forthe class. The advisorto ambulatory clinics atWRNMMC said she hadno experience with Reikior meditation before theclass.

“I value quiet time,”said Bowens, who ex-plained the only quiettime she has is duringprayer, early in the morn-ing or late at night. “I livein a household with fourgenerations … the oppor-tunity to have that timeto myself is very rare.”

Betty Smith, a physi-cian assistant in neuro-surgery, had not taken

Reiki before she beganthe pilot self-care classat WRNMMC April 9. “Ihope to find some balancein dealing with life, andlife’s turn,” she explained.

“One of the primaryobjectives of the Resil-iency and PsychologicalHealth Service is to pro-vide services and toolsthat promote self-carefor staff members. In aneffort to accomplish thisobjective, we initially of-fered Reiki service forthe staff members [whichbegan in February 2013],”Tsai explained.

Red Cross volunteersconduct bimonthly Reikisessions with the Depart-ment of PsychologicalHealth and Resiliency,which provide chair Reikito Walter Reed Bethesdastaff on a rotation basisthrough different depart-ments. The non-manipu-lative touch is applied toa fully clothed recipientwho is either lying on atreatment table or sittingin a comfortable chair.The Reiki practitionersdo not address symptomsor diseases.

Tsai and Vivian Mur-ga, a health educatorwith the Resiliency andPsychological Health Ser-vice, set up the self-careclass schedule for the

WRNMMC staffers andcoordinated the program.In addition, the Reiki vol-unteers also offer tableand chair Reiki sessionsduring the medical cen-

ter’s prosperity fairs andobservance of resiliencyweek. Reiki sessions arenot offered to patients inthis setting.

“Overall, the partici-pating staff membershave been very positiveabout the Reiki Self-Care Class. Most par-ticipants are now prac-ticing Reiki self-care sixto seven times a weekbecause the practice ishelping them feel better.One class member saidshe was surprised at theimpact Reiki has had onher daily life, and highlyrecommends it to others.Another noticed a sig-nificant increase in theability to decrease stress.Participants also report-ed other areas of benefitincluding an increase inself-awareness, improvedsleep, more calmness,and less anxiety,” Werneradded.

For more informationabout Reiki, or otherprograms and servicesprovided, contact VivianMurga at 301-295-6516,301-400-1974 or [email protected].

Staff Members Learn Reiki Self-Care

Photo by Sharon Renee Taylor

Red Cross volunteer Naning Sugeng, a ReikiMaster, helps position the hands of BettySmith, a physician assistant in the Neuro-surgery Department, during the Reiki self-care class for staff at WRNMMC. The prac-tice uses light, hand placements to promotestress relief, balance and self-healing.

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1036495


By Sarah MarshallWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

To continue providing thelatest services and continueenhancing wound treatmentat Walter Reed Bethesda,staff members can now enrollin a new wound care manage-ment program.The first of its kind in the

military, the Wound Treat-ment Associate (WTA) pro-gram is designed to improveknowledge of wound care, andtrain military and civilianstaff to become wound carespecialists, explained MariaPaz Aquino, WTA course coor-dinator and nurse consultantfor the Wound/Ostomy Pro-gram with General SurgeryServices. Upon completingthe program, participants be-come members of the medicalcenter’s Skin Wound Assess-ment Team or SWAT and as-sistant to the Wound OstomyContinence Nurse (WOCN),she said. They will also beconsidered “the subject mat-

ter expert” in wound and skincare for their unit, Aquinoadded.“They’re going to be the re-

source for their unit or ward,”Aquino said. “It’s good for be-ginning wound care nurses,corpsmen, medics and who-ever is interested in woundcare.”The new program is provid-

ed by the WOCN Society, thecredentialing body for woundspecialists nationwide, Aqui-no continued. WTA coversroutine wound care, as wellas the physiology of woundhealing, wound assessmentand documentation, topicalwound treatments, as wellas preventing and managingvarious ulcers, she said. Theprogram also includes hands-on clinical skills training,during which they learn how,when and why to apply vari-ous wound dressings. Theymust take and pass a finalexam, and complete the pro-gram within three months.Participants will carry the

title of Wound Treatment As-

sociate through their careerand future deployments, saidSharon May, nurse consul-tant to the Wound/Ostomyprogram at Walter Reed Na-tional Military Medical Cen-ter (WRNMMC). They alsoreceive 21 Continuing Educa-tion Units for completing theprogram, and must recertifyevery five years, she added.Education is the founda-

tion of our program, May said.With the new program, andexpanding the wound careteam, the medical center isable to provide 24/7 special-ized wound care, she added.Since the program became

available in February, morethan a dozen participants haveenrolled in the program, in-cluding nurses from the Surgi-cal Intensive Care Unit (SICU),surgical wards (4 East, West,and Center), General Surgeryand the Mother Infant CareUnit (MICU), Aquino said.“They’re pioneers, because

we’re the first in the militarywith this WTA program,” shesaid.

1st Lt. Angela Heroux, as-sistant service chief of 4 Cen-ter, is among the six staffmembers who have completedthe course thus far. The pro-gram was convenient, as thelessons and exam were online,she said. It was also challeng-ing and thought-provoking,she added.

“[The program] requiresyou to really use what you’veseen with experience and takeon a role of finding what treat-ment is most appropriate forwhat wounds,” Heroux said.“It’s extremely beneficial tomy unit because we are a sur-gical ward and do get manypatients where their woundscan be so complex and need alot of attention … It’s great tohave an increase in resources.I definitely recommend thisprogram because not only isit applicable to this hospital,but it will be knowledge youcan take wherever you go.”

Heroux noted, the medicalcenter’s wound care team isneeded in all units and wards,and this program will help

share that load.MICU nurse 1st Lt. Aman-

da Higdon agreed.“We have to provide intri-

cate wound care to many dif-ferent types of patients, andgetting additional educationon how to optimize our woundcare to the fullest is so impor-tant. Having a representativeon the unit for the staff to re-fer to, when there is questionof which dressing to use on apatient, is one of the things Ifeel our unit will really bene-fit from,” Higdon said. “I’ve al-ways loved picking the brainsof our wound care team onhow they come to their deci-sion of which dressing to use,when we have such a plethoraof options. I think having staffmembers who possess a frac-tion of this education avail-able for question will be ofgreat benefit.”The wound care team will

now have an even greater va-riety of staff members, withdifferent backgrounds, she

Wound Treatment Course Enhances Care, Services

SeeWOUNDED page 8

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By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 1st Class

Elliott FabrizioChief of Naval Personnel

Public Affairs

The Chief of Naval Person-nel (CNP) and Fleet MasterChief April Beldo, Moran’s se-nior enlisted advisor, addressedSailors and answered questionsat the Association of the UnitedStates Navy’s 1st Annual Ca-reer Development Symposium,April 23 in Norfolk, Va.Vice Adm. Bill Moran, CNP,

spoke about the importance ofsea duty, upcoming advance-ment changes and stressed theneed for Sailors to look out forone another.“Post Iraq and Afghanistan,

our Navy will continue to beout forward, where we need tobe, when it matters,” said Mo-ran. “A key part of making surethose ships and units are readywill be their manning.”Moran told the audience

that his office remains focusedon filling critical gaps at seaand that the Navy has reducedthose gaps by approximately 50percent in the last two years.

“We are working hard todemonstrate how we valueservice at sea, not just talkingabout it,” said Moran. “Improv-ing at-sea manning, reducing‘cross decks’, paying Sailorsmore for going and staying atsea are all tangible examples ofour commitment.”

In addition to the CareerSea Pay (CSP) increase, whichtook effect May 1, Moran saidthat the Chief of Naval Opera-tions and he are working toinstitute an additional allow-ance for Sailors deployed lon-ger than 190 days.“Your leadership wants to re-

ward you for the sacrifices youand your families make duringthe longer and tougher deploy-ments that we expect for theforeseeable future,” Moran toldthe roughly 150 Sailors in theaudience.Responding to questions,

CNP and Fleet discussed the

latest news on advancementsand retention. Moran said up-coming changes to the FinalMultiple Score, expected to beannounced next month, willincrease the focus on perfor-mance and the opportunitiesfor Sailors excelling in theirjob.“The best chances our Sail-

ors have to advance and suc-ceed are at sea--the changeswe have in the works for theFinal Multiple Score and forCAP (Command AdvancementProgram) are intended to rec-ognize performance and furtherincentivize sea duty.”CNP closed by reminding

Sailors about the importance oflooking out for each other andusing bystander intervention toprevent suicide, sexual assaultand destructive decisions.“If we can’t trust each other

as ‘Shipmates’, we are in realtrouble,” said Moran. “If weare going to continue to be suc-cessful as a Navy, we have tobe able to rely on each other-up and down the chain of com-mand.”

CNP: Sea Duty to bring more Money and Opportunity for Sailors

By Navy PersonnelCommand Public Affairs

Due to the excellent reten-tion and outstanding recruitingsuccess, the Navy is reinstatingthe Enlisted Early TransitionProgram (EETP), according toa message released May 8.According to NAVADMIN

103/14, EETP allows eligibleSailors in targeted ratings toapply for a voluntary earlyseparation up to 24 monthsprior to their End of ObligatedService as Extended. The newversion of the program is on-going, quota-controlled, andwill help reduce the need forinvoluntary force manage-ment. Early separation will begranted on a first-come, first-served basis.Available quotas are identi-

fied by rating, paygrade, yeargroup and Navy Enlisted Clas-sification. A list is available athttp://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/commu-nity/pages/eetp.aspx. Quotaswill be reviewed periodicallyand updated as required.Early Separation requests

will not be approved for the fol-lowing Sailors:• With existing Permanent

Change of Station orders;• Identified to fill an Indi-

vidual Augmentee assignment;• In nuclear ratings;• Assigned to a Department

of Defense area tour and havenot completed the tour require-ment, including overseas tourextension incentive programsfor which a benefit has beenreceived.Commanding officers will

maintain final disapproval au-thority and do not need to for-ward requests they cannot sup-port. Final approval authorityrests with Navy Personnel Com-mand, Performance EvaluationDivision, with positive com-manding officer endorsement.For more information, read

the message at www.npc.navy.mil or contact the Navy Person-nel Command Customer Ser-vice Center at 1-800-U-ASK-NPC (827-5672) or at [email protected].

Navy Offers Sailors Limited Opportunityto Volunteer for Early Separation

Official U.S. Navy file photo


added, making for a “greatteam who provides excellentcare.”Under the General Sur-

gery Clinic, the Wound/Osto-my Program is committed toenhancing wound care andstaying up-to-date on thelatest advancements, Maysaid. In April, they hostedtheir annual 3-day WoundManagement Conference,bringing health care pro-viders from WRNMMC andacross the globe together todiscuss the latest in woundcare treatment. Using videoteleconferencing, roughly100 attendees were able toparticipate. May said theconference was a year in themaking, and guest speakers

addressed a variety of topics,such as wound care on thebattlefield, pediatric woundcare, nutrition and woundhealing, amputee care, com-plex wound care, pain man-agement, and burn care.Throughout the year, the

Wound/Ostomy Program re-mains involved in research,consultation and education.This week, they partici-pated in the Medical/Sur-gical Nursing Skills Fair,setting up an educationaltable where they answeredquestions and handed outinformation. For more infor-mation about their servicesor to learn about the newWTA program, contact Ma-ria Paz Aquino at 301-319-8983 or [email protected], or SharonMay at 301-319-4288 [email protected].

WOUNDEDContinued from 7

For more news from other bases

around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.


From Naval SeaSystems CommandOffice of Corporate

Communication

The U.S. Navy plansto install and test a pro-totype electromagneticrailgun aboard a jointhigh speed vessel (JHSV)in fiscal year 2016, theservice announced today.

This test will markthe first time an electro-magnetic railgun (EMrailgun) has been demon-strated at sea, symboliz-ing a significant advancein naval combat.

EM railgun technologyuses an electromagneticforce — known as the Lo-renz Force - to rapidly ac-celerate and launch a pro-jectile between two con-ductive rails. This guidedprojectile is launched atsuch high velocities thatit can achieve greaterranges than conventional

guns. It maintains enoughkinetic energy that itdoesn’t require any kindof high explosive payloadwhen it reaches its target.

High-energy EM rail-guns are expected to

be lethal and effectiveagainst multiple threats,including enemy war-ships, small boats, air-craft, missiles and land-based targets.

“The electromagnetic

railgun represents anincredible new offensivecapability for the U.S.Navy,” said Rear Adm.Bryant Fuller, the Na-vy’s chief engineer. “Thiscapability will allow us

to effectively counter awide-range of threats at arelatively low cost, whilekeeping our ships andsailors safer by removingthe need to carry as manyhigh-explosive weapons.”

EM railgun technologywill complement currentkinetic weapons currentlyonboard surface combat-ants and offer a few spe-cific advantages. Againstspecific threats, the costper engagement is ordersof magnitude less expen-sive than comparablemissile engagements. Theprojectile itself is beingdesigned to be commonwith some current pow-der guns, enabling theconservation of expensivemissiles for use againstmore complex threats.

“Energetic weapons,such as EM railguns,are the future of navalcombat,” said Rear Adm.Matt Klunder, the chief ofnaval research. “The U.S.

Navy is at the forefront ofthis game-changing tech-nology.”

This demonstration isthe latest in a series oftechnical maturation ef-forts designed to providean operational railgun tothe fleet. Since 2005, theNavy and its partners inindustry and academiahave been testing railguntechnology at the NavalSurface Warfare Centerin Dahlgren, Va., andthe Naval Research Labwhere the service has anumber of prototype sys-tems.

The final operationalsystem will be capableof launching guided,multi-mission projectilesto a range of 110 nauti-cal miles against a widerange of threats. The se-ries of tests are designedto capture lessons for in-

Navy to Deploy Electromagnetic Railgun Aboard JHSV

By Marcia HartNAVAIR

The U.S. Navy officersand distinguished visi-tors from Missouri and Il-linois gathered for a cer-emony May 5 in St. Louis,Mo., to celebrate the pro-duction of the 100th EA-18G Growler.

The Growler, the new-est advancement in theNavy’s electronic attack(EA) arsenal, is a variantof the Block II F/A-18FSuper Hornet and is theNavy replacement for theEA-6B Prowler.

The airborne electronicattack aircraft combinesmodern advances in Air-borne Electronic Attacksystems and weaponswith the tactical versa-tility, advancements andcapabilities of the BlockII Super Hornet.

“The EA-18G Growleris a high demand assetthat is equally critical indisrupting our enemiesoperations as it is en-hancing our own,” saidCapt. Frank Morley, pro-gram manager for theF/A-18 and EA-18G Pro-gram Office (PMA-265)during the ceremony at

Boeing.Next week, Capt. Dar-

ryl Walker, commanderof the Electronic AttackWing, U.S. Pacific Fleet(CVWP), will accept de-livery of the aircraft onbehalf of Electronic At-tack Squadron (VAQ)

129 in Whidbey Island,Washington, before itstransfer to a designatedoperational squadron inthe fleet.

The Growler is de-signed to perform an ar-ray of airborne electronicattack missions, operat-

ing from either the deckof an aircraft carrier orland-based fields, simi-lar to the EA-6B Prowler.Through these capabili-ties, warfighters may jamor suppress enemy radarand communication sys-tems to protect friendly

assets in the air and onthe ground.

“NAVAIR (Naval AirSystems Command) iscontinuing to advance thecapabilities of the Growl-er as the U.S. Navy’selectronic attack missionbecomes more robust and

potential adversaries uptheir game with increas-ingly lethal air defenses,”Morley said.

With new technologies,such as the Next Genera-tion Jammer (NGJ), theGrowler will have great-er capabilities in the EAarena then its predeces-sor. Currently, the Growl-er still uses the Prowler’sALQ-99 Jammer Pods,slated to be replacedwith the NGJ in the early2020s. The NGJ featuresactive electronicallyscanned array antennasand a lighter, more aero-dynamically shaped pod,which can allow for fasterairspeed bringing greaterlethality and capabilityto the EA-18G.

The EA-18G programremains on the sameschedule and cost pro-jected when the programbegan in 2003, and theaircraft is projected toserve beyond 2040. TheNavy accepted its firstGrowler Aug. 3, 2006.

For more news fromNaval Air Systems Com-mand, visit www.navy.mil/local/navair/.

Navy’s Newest Electronic Attack Aircraft Reaches Centennial Milestone


U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams

The second of two Office of Naval Research Electromagnetic Rail-gun industry prototype launchers is being evaluated at the NavalSurface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division.

See RAILGUN page 12


By Julie SmithNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

Three separate mili-tary base shootings in re-cent months have NavalSupport Activity Bethes-da (NSAB) emergencymanagement officials em-phasizing shelter in placeprocedures in the event ofan active shooter on theNSAB campus.

The procedures are thesame for everyone, saidNSAB Emergency Man-ager Ron Kunz, and areintended to reduce per-sonal risk in an activeshooter situation.

Community responseguidelines specify takingimmediate cover, prefer-ably inside a building,and locking and barricad-ing doors. Close windowblinds and then moveaway from doors and win-dows, and turn off thelights. Turn off radios andcomputer monitors, take

adequate cover behindconcrete walls or filingcabinets and keep out ofsight. Remember to alsosilence cell phones.

If you’re in an areawhere people are injured,report the specific loca-tion (building and roomnumber), how manypeople are with you, thenumber and types of in-juries and a descriptionof the assailant. NSABemergency services dis-patch can be reached bydialing 777 from a baselandline, or by calling301-295-0999 from a cellphone. Keep trying if thecall does not go through,Kunz said.

“We tell people to call777 from most places onbase because it’s just likecalling 911,” Kunz said. “Ifyou dial 911, that call goesto Montgomery Countydispatch, and they reroutethe call back to us. But youcan still dial 911 from thebarracks.”

An active shooter drill

took place in February onthe NSAB campus as partof the Navy-wide SolidCurtain/Citadel Shield

anti-terrorism exercise.NSAB Anti-terrorismForce Protection DivisionPetty Officer First Class

Christopher Varga saidthe drill was a success.

“Being able to practicean event like that helps

us understand our abilityto respond,” Varga said.

The drill provided anopportunity to test severalNSAB mass warning sys-tems, including the “GiantVoice” outdoor speakerand the EverBridge andAtHoc workplace notifica-tion systems, which sendemails or text messages toindividuals on the instal-lation. All of those systemsoperated normally, Kunzsaid.

To help prevent an in-cident, both Varga andKunz said individualsshould always be awareof their surroundings.Get involved if someoneis acting differently orout of the ordinary, Vargasaid.

“The key phrase is ifyou see something, saysomething,” Kunz said.“That’s always the mes-sage. We’d rather getcalled a lot for smallthings than have some-one ignore something se-rious.”

Remember Shelter in Place Procedures

Photo by Sarah E. Marshall

Naval Security Force officers aid in the protection of a bystanderduring the active shooter drill Feb. 27.

1042280


Carolina Panthers Visit Service Membersat USO Warrior and Family Center

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Williams-Church

Thomas Davis (far left) and Ryan Kalil (far right), members of theCarolina Panthers football team, pose with service members at theUSO Warrior and Family Center May 9. The Panthers visited staffand wounded warriors during the Y.U.M. lunch sponsored by the USOteam members.

Ryan Kalil (far left) and Thomas Davis (far right), membersof the Carolina Panthers football team, show off their jerseyswith Army Staff Sgt. James Pierce May 9. Staff Sgt. Pierce isa member of the 514th Military Police Company based outof Wilmington, N.C.

1042285 1042282


stress and increase the release of favorable hor-mones. Infant massage is also useful as babies getolder and start crawling.“They do get sore. They can’t necessarily verbalize

that to you, but they can get sore from crawling andall of the activities they do in their first year,” Rochasaid.For Eig and newborn Sebastian, the results of just

one class were remarkable.“My mother told me that she did infant massage on

me and it helped, so I was curious,” Eig said. “I wasn’tsure how much Sebastian could get out of it since he’sjust a week old but at least I could come and learn. Iwas so surprised. He was so calm and relaxed. It wasgreat. A lot of it seems really intuitive, but it’s good tohave guidance.”The new parent support program at NSAB assists

families with parenting support and connects themto resources in their community. Rocha and Nolanmeet with families in their homes to provide handson instruction about a range of parenting topics, likebreastfeeding, swaddling and sleep concerns. Theprogram also offers prenatal classes so parents knowwhat to expect after the birth of their baby.“Our name, new parent support, doesn’t really do

us justice because we have a lot of new parents, but alot of our families have multiple children, so it’s notjust for new parents,” Rocha said. “This is also a reallygood way for people who are living in this area to meetother moms and dads. It’s a great way to build supportnetworks for our military families.”For more information about the new parent support

program at NSAB, call 301-319-4087.

BABYContinued from 4

Reed Bethesda. I think it makes this place special.”On any given day, Zielske and a team of Soldiers,

Sailors and Department of Defense Civilians areasked to find ways to support a positive command cli-mate and help lessen the negative impact intolerancecreates in the workplace.“What we do is very important to ensuring that our

staff is free to work in an environment that is sup-portive,” he said. “Quality of work life is important tooverall quality of life.”And while being the senior EOA at one of the larg-

est hospitals in the military keeps Zielske busy, hedoes get to have fun.“I’m most proud of helping to get the multicultural

committee up and running,” he said. He serves as its

command advisor and oversees the planning of up to 13annual cultural events. “It’s great to see people smile,”he said, pointing out to the crowd gathered for a recentIrish heritage celebration to watch a group of dancers.“The staff, the patients, they all enjoy these events.”Zielske says the compliments from both staff

and patients are one of the highlights of his tour atWRNMMC. The other is watching the Soldiers hementors, like Staff Sgt. Daniel Abeyta, excel. Abeyta,a former WRNMMC equal opportunity leader, wasnamed the MEDCOM Equal Opportunity Leader ofthe Year. Equal Opportunity Leader is an entry-levelunit position working under the direct supervision ofan EOA.Zielske credits Abeyta as one of the main reasons

he was recognized as MEDCOM’s best EOA. “Sgt.Abeyta is an outstanding young Soldier and leader.He put a lot of time and effort into being successful asan EOL. I’m more proud of him being selected than Iam for myself. When you have great Soldiers, it’s easyto be good.”

“Success in any program, to include programs likewhat Zielske supports, depends on having troopswho buy into the program and that buy in can havean impact on not only the organization but the indi-vidual,” Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin H.S. Scott, Jr.,command sergeant major, Northern Regional MedicalCommand.With his tour of duty at WRNMMC scheduled to

end in October, Zielske, a self-described family man,says he is ready for his next challenge. The Armyagrees and he was recently selected for promotion tomaster sergeant.“The EOA position here was a stepping stone to

the next level and I am grateful to have served withan awesome joint service team. I ‘d like to think myteam and I helped to set the tone for a joint EO pro-gram with diplomacy, empathy and patience — all thethings we learn in our training.”They are also skills that come in handy in a house

with four daughters.

NCOContinued from 5

corporation into a future tactical design and will allowthe Navy to best understand needed ship modifica-tions before fully integrating the technology.The Navy is using JHSV as a vessel of opportunity

because of its available cargo and topside space andschedule flexibility. Because JHSVs are non-combat-ants, there is no plan to permanently install a railgunon any ship of the class. A final decision has not beenmade on which ship classes will receive a fully opera-tional railgun.For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command,

visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.

RAILGUNContinued from 9

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had more than 350 stuffed animals, andwe weren’t able to pack them all [for thehumanitarian mission],” said the JEMpresident.

Those stuffed animals not packed forthe Dominican Republic were donated tothe local nonprofit agency JEM membershave been volunteering with the lastSaturday of every month for the pastthree years.

In addition to helping at the local non-profit agency, JEM members regularlygreet veterans at local airports cominginto the area as part of honor flights.JEM members also participate in clean-up efforts on base and at local parks;host fundraisers for service balls; andsponsor morale-boosting events month-ly, such as barbecues, trips to historicalsites and sporting events.

The Echo 5 Mess is another enlistedgroup making a positive impact at Wal-ter Reed Bethesda and exemplifying theWRNMMC One Team philosophy, ex-plained HM2 Davin Laurell. “Our organi-zation is open to all Army, Navy,Air Forceand Marine Corps E-5s on base,” he said.

“The purpose of our organization is topromote and grow the morale and wel-fare for all personnel on the base,” Lau-rell continued. “We aim to foster a greatenvironment for all of the junior person-nel, and offer a great network of E-5s to

turn to in any situation,” he continued.The Echo 5 Mess has weekly events,

including cooking a meal for beneficia-ries of a local women’s shelter, as wellas volunteering on the second Saturdayof each month at the same charitableagency as the JEM, which focuses onhelping those in need. The third Mon-day of every month, members of Echo5 volunteer at another nonprofit thatprovides its residents with services in-cluding food, clothing, medical care, le-gal and social services.And on the fourthWednesday of each month, Echo 5 mem-

bers go to WRNMMC’s the pediatricsinpatient ward for story time, reading toWRNMMC’s youngest beneficiaries.

“The Echo 5 strengthens the com-mand by being a presence, we help withhospital events by providing manpowerand fundraising,” Laurell added. “Wealso strive to make this the best com-mand for every service member to beproud to be a part of,” he said.

Joint Forces 6 (JF6) shares that goal,explained HM1 Scott Kuniyuki, the or-ganization’s president. He said JF6, anassociation for all E-6 members of WalterReed Bethesda, is “doing good things” onand off base.

“We sponsor an assistance programwith Rock View Elementary School, andvolunteer for various events around Na-val Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB),”Kuniyuki said. A main focus of JF6is support for the upcoming HospitalCorpsman Ball, he added.

Kuniyuki said two of the most reward-ing aspects of being a part of JF6 are“giving back to the junior enlisted, andshowing unit cohesion between Army,Navy and Air Force as WRNMMC OneTeam.”

The Bethesda Area Chief Petty Of-ficer Association (CPOA) also promotesthe WRNMMC One Team philosophy byensuring “every service member knowswe want them to succeed, and that wevalue their service, talent, skill and ded-ication,” explained Senior Chief SharonTavares, vice president of the CPOA.

“Our association supports acts ofcharity that come before us, throughboth financial and participatory contri-butions,” the senior chief continued. “Weaccomplish these goals through the ac-tions of our members individually and incommittee.

“We are supportive and available toarea commanders, commanding officers,officers-in-charge and missions repre-sented within our membership,” Tavarescontinued.

In support of WRNMMC One Teamphilosophy, Tavares said CPOA is avail-able to all eligible members of the U.S.Armed Forces who have been “initiated,transitioned or inducted as chief pettyofficers.” This includes all chief petty of-ficers in or around the Bethesda area —active, retired or honorary.

The JOC also promotes unity amongthe Walter Reed Bethesda community,opening it ranks to all junior officers,O-1 through O-3, on base. Army 1st Lt.Rory Walton, outgoing JOC, describesthe organization as “a command-wide,go-to source for officer professional de-velopment, mentoring and service,”which supports junior officers across theservices at WRNMMC and NSAB tenantorganizations.

“We have provided support for morethan 3,500 officers,” Walton continued.She explained this support has includedsponsoring Morale, Welfare and Recre-ation-type events; providing peer groupand mentorship opportunities; sponsor-ing professional development lectures;and hosting off-site tours to historicallocations.

Explaining how the JOC strengthensWRNMMC’s One Team concept, Waltonsaid, “We all go through the same chal-lenges and stresses as junior officers,just in different services and roles. It iswonderful to bring everyone togetherand share ideas, projects, and lessonslearned.”

For more information about the JEM,contact HM3 Amber Barak at 301-319-8650. For more information about theEcho 5 Mess, contact HM2 Davin Lau-rell at [email protected] more information about JF6, contactHM1 Scott Kuniyuki at [email protected]. For more informationabout the CPOA, contact Senior ChiefSharon Tavares at 301-400-0538. Formore information about the JOC, contact1st Lt. Regine Faucher at 301-295-5489.

HONORContinued from 1

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Director Brig. Gen. Jeffrey B. Clark and his wife Sue(center) join members of enlisted organizations volunteering at a local nonprofit which assists familiesseeking to rise out of poverty.

Courtesy photos

Information Systems Techni-cian 3rd Class Daniel Warshawgreets a veteran arriving in thearea at local airports as part ofan honor flight.

T6619110

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