Warriors Taking Care of Warriors

December 2009

WARRIORSDesert

MCC(SW/AW) Lesley Maceyak PAO

Aroundthe Sands

Inside this Issue

Sailor in the Spotlight .......................pg. 5

EMFK Sailors in Buehring ..................pg. 6

Team Work .......................................pg. 7

Pensacola locals make visit ...............pg. 9

Warrior Return Unit ........................pg. 11

No-Nonsense Story of Christmas....pg. 13

Commanding Officer:Capt. Lynn E. Welling

Executive Officer:Capt. Steve L. Keener

Command Master Chief:HMCM(SW/AW) Steve A. Murray

Editor and Public Affairs OfficerMCC(SW/AW) MaceyakCell: 9940-5947DSN: 318-430-1997Email: lesley.a.maceyak@kuwait.swa.army.mil

Desert Warrior Staff:HM3 Oheneba Amponsah

Cover picture done by:LT. James Buchanan

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As I walk around EMFK I’m seeing the spirit of the Holidays come alive. Decorations galore, and homemade goodies sent from loved ones. It makes you feel like a little from home is here in Kuwait.

Speaking of home, I have two children and this year will be hard for them not having their mommy. Just last year, I broke the news to my youngest about “Santa.” Her older brother was filling her ear about Santa and she was asking me a million questions. I know this was mean but I got tired of hearing it and said you know who Santa is? She said “who?” I said, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

So that wasn’t nice of me and now I felt like the Holiday spirit was ruined. Especially with a crying child who was so disappointed that I was Santa. But it wasn’t ruined, ask why? There is a lot more to Christmas than just Santa and the breaking of the bank.

We have our friends, families and co-workers. We have wonderful jobs that fight for our Country’s freedoms. We have a choice of religion, who we want to be with, where we want to live and how we want to live. What about how beautiful the earth is and all the creatures that live in it. Do you stop to take it all in and breathe the fresh air.

How about here in Kuwait, the beds we get to sleep in every night and the free movies we get to watch. Have you walked over and taken a look at the wood shop and see the beautiful pieces that our Sailors are making? How about the laughter you do hear at the clinics from time to time. It’s there, I hear it!

I’m so blessed to know that there are so many things that I’m grateful for. Even though I’m away from my loved ones, I’m happy that I’m healthy, alive and can share it with someone like you. So take a minute and reflect that it isn’t so bad that we are away from home. It could be a lot worst. Hey, at least we have internet, online shopping and Skype, right? Happy Holidays to you all!

Happy Holidays to the Warriors, families, parent commands, and friends of EMFK! We have just completed the month of Ramadan, the Moslem period of fasting and worship, and will have had Thanksgiving by the time this is published, and then only a few more shopping days until Christmas! And then, shortly after New Years, India det pulls up stakes, and turns over with Juliet det to start 2010 off right.

Parent Command and Family support for the Warriors of EMFK has been phenomenal during the last five months. We all greatly appreciate it. We’re all looking forward to calls and “skyping” with you on the holidays. Be prepared for some long waits as the lines get overloaded quickly on these special days.

I recently attended the CENTCOM surgeon’s conference which included senior medical leaders from the entire CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR), Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and the Sea Lanes surrounding these areas. There were a few common themes that came out of the conference, which I’m happy to announce EMFK is in the lead in addressing many of these issues. The first issues across the board was staffing all our facilities and to what level. All the leaders expressed concerns that maintaining a level of staffing that provided “near CONUS” level of care was unsustainable, and we needed to return to the expeditionary model of medical care. This includes ensuring that each warrior (and contractor) that comes into theater is fully medically ready, meets all theater guidelines, and will as much as can be predicted, remain in compliance throughout their tour. This puts the obligation on the medical processing sites to be more discerning, the Component Surgeons more strict about granting waivers, and the individuals to be more involved in preparing for deployment. As this is instituted across the AOR, we should see the medical requirements transform into primary expeditionary units taking care of the forward deployed warrior, and less assets needed for routine and elective care. EMFK is on the forefront of this initiative as we have worked diligently to match assets with mission, and have already returned over 120 warriors back to their parent commands to get quality dwell time, and prepare for the next deployment, or have sent warriors forward to areas with great need in taking care of the life

CAPTAIN’S CORNER

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threatening combat injuries. And as many of you know, we accomplished this (somewhat unexpectedly due to the staffing process at HHQ) over 4 months earlier than we had planned. India detachment quickly adjusted fire to the new staffing, realigned its assets to continue to cover its mission, and pressed on with our medical Warriors taking care of the Warriors going into harm’s way.

Another issue that is affecting every command in the AOR is predeployment training. All acknowledge that combat skills training is important, and has been appropriately emphasized. All (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines) also noted that medical training needs to be significantly improved. This includes the basics (BLS, ACLS, ATLS), TCCC, and for each service its service specific trauma training programs (the Navy has NTTC and OEMS). All noted that their warriors hit the deck running at all levels, and are often seeing trauma patients the day they set foot at their deployed command. This has been taken back to the HHQ of each service, and EMFK has been working closely with NAVCENT, BUMED, and NEMTI to ensure we are preparing our warriors as

best we can prior to their deployments. This has already begun with a revised NEMTI training plan for Juliet det. Again, parent command support is critical, and has been outstanding in this regard.

We have also instituted a sponsorship program that is attached to our family communication program. Each parent command POMI has received a list of assigned sponsors for their warriors in Juliet det, along with their email addresses. Please encourage them to make contact to see what they really need to bring, and what to expect here in Kuwait, or further forward should they have the opportunity to go to Afghanistan, Iraq, or to the ships in the Gulf of Aden. They can also find information on the EMFK Blog, http://emfkuwait.blogspot.com, and on the Navy IA webpage http://www.ia.navy.mil/kuwait.htm. I strongly encourage your incoming warriors to take advantage of these assets to prepare for their upcoming detachment.

As the war shifts from Iraq to Afghanistan, the mission of medical care in Kuwait is shifting from a wartime trauma center, to an in-garrison care mission. India detachment staff has been working closely with Army staff to ensure that this transition goes smoothly, expeditiously and that the medical footprint that remains in Kuwait is the correct one for the mission here. We have been working closely with the American Embassy, and the Kuwaiti medical facilities to be able to utilize the robust Kuwaiti medical system to provide outstanding care for our warriors as is provided by other host nation facilities worldwide.

To the Warriors of EMFK, as your time here in Kuwait winds down, a reminder that while you are all anticipating awesome reunions with your families and friends, we all need to keep our heads in the game out here, to continue to provide that outstanding patient care 100% of the time, and continue to improve the way we do business so our handoff to Juliet det sets them up for a hugely successful mission, just as the one you’re completing.

You are AWESOME!!!!!

The Executive Officer’s Note

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Warriors,

It’s hard to believe the Holiday Season is upon us and that we will soon be preparing to redeploy back home. As I began to reflect about being away from my family during the holidays, I keep thinking about a poem I had seen in the past which I wanted to share with you. Happy Holidays.

Merry Christmas, My FriendBy James M. Schmidt, a Marine Lance Corporal

stationed in Washington, D.C., in 1986

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to giveand to see just who in this home did live

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.With medals and badges, awards of all kind,a sobering thought soon came to my mind.

For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.

Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.I soon understood, this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night,owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,because of Marines like this one lying here.

Families and friends of EMFK warriors. Please cut this out and put it on your refrigerator, or in some other place you can

find it should you need it. If you have an emergency at home, or hear of a potential emergency or disaster over here in Kuwait, these are the procedures you can use to get in touch with your warrior to get as much information as possible. They are listed in order.

Contact your warrior via the method you have already set up. In most cases this should work. However, due to operational security, there are times when the phone and internet lines to the base are shut off, and then you must use an alternate method, and be prepared to wait until the authorities open the communications up.

Contact your warrior’s parent command (i.e., the one they are normally attached to or their duty station from which they deployed). You should have been given contact information for the CIAC (command individual augmentee coordinator), the POMI (plans operational medical intelligence), or the CMC/XO/CO. We will attempt to get information to the commands as soon as possible after an event out here. Your parent command also has good contact information on your warriors, and can get messages to them out here.

If your warrior is on GSA orders, you should be getting a GSA monthly deployment newsletter. Read it, as it has good generic information on getting assistance for all sorts of issues. It also lists phone numbers and emails for the duty crew that can be of assistance. For Kuwait, these contact #’s are: ECRC family help desk ecrc.fs.fct@navy.mil, Team Kuwait: ecrc.gsa_other.fct@navy.mil, Telephone Number: 757-462-4744 Ext(s) 123, 126, 143 or 235

If none of the above are able to help you, you can call the following numbers, they are international and long distance charges will apply. We will call you back as soon as possible.

CO – CAPT Lynn Welling: Cell: 011.965.9965.6095, DSN: 318.430.1913 XO – CAPT Steven Keener: Cell: 011.965.9901.7024, DSN: 318.430.1910 CMC – HMCM Stephen Murray: Cell: 011.965.9965.8984, DSN: 318.430.1908

Our leadership spouses are available to assist also, and may have important information sooner than some of the official sources: CO Spouse –Patricia Welling - 619.995.1766 XO Spouse – Deborah Keener – 703.753.4789 CMC Spouse – Nichole Murray – 757.818.7648

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FORCONTACTING WARRIORS OF EMFK

CMC’s spot

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Advancements

Petty Officer First ClassHM2 Abdullah

HM2 Olivar HM2 Rios (redeployed)

HM2 Siegert

Petty Officer Second ClassHM3 FreemanHM3 McCauley

HM3 Nixon HM3 Randle

YN2 Shouse (redeployed) HM3 Smith

HM3 Theopolous HM3 Hall (redeployed)

HM3 Pescadormartinez (redeployed)

Petty Officer Third ClassHN AndrewsHN Aninzo

HN Barry (redeployed) HN Fajardo

Shipmates!

First, congratulations to our newly advanced Petty Officers! You’ve worked hard, studied hard and now you get to reap those benefits. Of course, you also get new responsibilities, broader challenges and a new set of personal and professional goals. Charge forward with your new crow and live our CORE VALUES with reckless abandon!

As the holiday season approaches, I’m reminded of our ‘support staff’ back home. Our families, friends, parent commands and even strangers are out there keeping that home fire lit and holding it high. I’m also reminded of the countless Red Cross and USO volunteers, church groups and elementary schools that send countless care packages and don’t ask or expect anything in return. Just ‘Come Home Safe’. Or, in the case of quite a few Third Graders from Missouri recently, ‘Thanks for saving America’! Love those cards…..

While our backgrounds are diverse, our methods and ideas not similiar and our gatherings a melting pot of race, religion, political thought and design, we are still FELLOW AMERICANS. One Nation, One Team, One FIGHT.

I ask that you join me in fostering that culture of fellowship. At home and abroad, our service to our country, by nature, makes us brothers (and sisters) in arms. Comrades. SHIPMATES. It’s this mindset, this culture of dedication and commitment, that has seen our Navy grow from a handful of ships fighting the Barbary Wars to the immense footprint that we have placed on the Global War on Terror.

Hopefully, you are sharing the feeling of pride that I have in our country and our Navy. Be proud of yourselves. Your commitment to EMF Kuwait and our Commanding Officer’s philosophy are what has made us a success, and will continue to remind others of our successes. Believe it or not, India detachment’s chapter in Kuwait is almost to a close. You have played a vital role in our victory in Iraq (OIF) and our continuing advancement in Afghanistan (OEF). We have sacrificed and we have accomplished. We will complete this mission and leave together as ONE. One team, having put our distinct touch on this little piece of history. Our legacy will be remembered as positive, dynamic and lasting.

Brothers and Sisters, STAY THE COURSE. Accomplish the mission and leave your mark. I’m proud to serve with you and thankful for all that you do, every day.

See you on the deckplates.

With Pride,

CMC

Sailors

in the

Spotlight

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Sean Bowman is a volunteered IA and works at Kuwait Naval Base (KNB) which is one of five clinics that are commanded by Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait.

His daily goal at the clinic is handling sick call. In an average day he sees about 10 patients, doing initial assessments and giving the report to the provider. KNB handles several different services and work along with Kuwaiti military at the clinic. There is a wide range of service members being seen at the clinic, some are SEAL teams who transition through KNB. He is on call 24/7.

In addition, Bowman is put in charge of the lab and pharmacy, and he said, “I’m not a lab tech or pharmacy tech, but handling the responsibility of issuing prescriptions and ordering labs.”

On his off time, Bowman has been hitting the gym and has lost over 25 pounds.

He is planning on making the Navy a Career. From the look of his coffee cup he was using, he looks like a future Chief! The inside of cup was lined with stained coffee.

He would like to go to Independent Duty Corpsman

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Lusia Asunsion’s has been in the Navy for six years and she works in optometry.

She has learned a lot while here at EMFK. She has learned about leadership and friendship.

A big accomplishment while being on Individual Augmentee, she has taken two college courses.

While at EMFK, her hobbies have been playing the acoustic guitar. Every night she is playing and teaching friends to read music. That has kept her busy on top of her job and school work.

She is married and her husband lives in Guam.

Hospital Corpsman Second ClassLusia Asunsion

Hospital Corpsman Third ClassSean Bowman

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school in the future.

Bowman said, “Being here in Kuwait has been a good experience. Working with Kawaiti military has been a challenge but rewarding.”

EMFK’s new United Through Reading Program by RP1 Akil Blackmon

In Oct 2009, the EMFK Chaplain’s office started the United Through Reading Program (UTR). The program enables families to keep in touch across the miles. On military deployments families who value the benefits of one on one time together, the United Through Reading military program offers opportunity for powerful emotional connections that relive the stress of separation by having deployed parents read aloud to their children via DVD. Shipboard and ground based

deployments have one thing in common, family separation.

The overall UTR program was established in 1989 to help support relationships by reading aloud to children. At EMFK we have all experienced the anxiety of separation to some degree. The United Through Reading program helps to close some but not all of the gaps that family separation may cause. The program consist of three parts, military members go to the Chaplains office, pick out a book and make a recording, then simply mail the recording and the book home to your loved ones.

Nestled in the vast expanse of the Kuwait desert, and located just south of the Iraq border, Camp Beuhring is the most northern coalition base in Kuwait; and home to one of the bustiest Troop Medical Facilities (TMCs) in this country. Camp Beuhring nurse, Lieutenant Carol Wheeler flashes a smile and says, “Ever see the (TV) show “M.A.S.H?” This is the setting.”

Staffed with four doctors, one dentists, two nurses, and 16 Corpsmen, the TMC is the one-stop shop, open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, for all coalition troop and ex-patriot medical needs at Camp Beuhring. From treating various kinds of abscess, offering sick call twice a day and shot-exercises (shot-ex’s) when needed, advising commanders about H1N1, to teaching preventive medicine techniques the Camp Beuhring clinic is truly a bustling oasis of healing in the remote deserts of Kuwait.

Unlike a real desert oasis, the TMC is constantly growing and evolving to meet mission readiness requirements for all troops stationed at, or transitioning through, Camp Beuhring. Because of the constant demand for the best medical care possible, on Sunday, September 13th, the TMC opened its new facility.

Currently the TMC averages about 1,000 patients per month, about 45 patients a day, and if a shot-ex is scheduled then they accommodate 200+ troops at one time. Since TMC, mental health, preventive medicine, and physical therapy are now co-located in the same building; health care services are being streamlined to

By Lt. Sunny Mitchellmaximize the most efficient patient care available.

Although quality patient care is a constant focus and overall mission for all Expeditionary Medical Facilities (EMFs) in Kuwait, Hospital Corpsmen 3rd Class Justin Keeling says there are unique challenges working at Beuhring because their facility is so far removed from the other area TMCs.

The TMC staff relies on the experience, cooperate knowledge, and teamwork, which are essential for patient care. Wheeler affirms teamwork as the reason for Beuhring’s success, “(I) wouldn’t trade them for the world. Great team and would take them back stateside.”

The character Trapper John on the 1970’s television show “M.A.S.H.” once said, “All it needs is a little salt.... pepper.... mustard, ketchup, sauce, flavor.”

Although he was referring to food, Camp Behring’s TMC is a lot like this quote. Necessary for functioning are strong Corpsmen, doctors, and nurses, a lot of flexibility, mixed with fun and the obligatory sense of humor. Combined together the staff Camp Beuhring TMC offers the best patient care making it truly an oasis where its staff heals so their patients can continue the mission.

Working hard for others

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EMFK Sailors in Buehring

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EMFK India detachment has been doing an outstanding job . There are so many countless stories to tell and it is hard to focus on just one good thing because there have been so many. I went around the clinic and asked the questions about teamwork and most of the responses were the same. When you sum up it all up, team work is what’s keeping this command at full throttle.

Cmdr. Michael Cardenas, EMFK’s gynecologist, talked about what his job entails. Cardenas stated, “From a woman’s health perspective, I am able to provide the same primary care that any Soldier or Sailor gets back home.”

Cardenas has learned a lot while being deployed here, “From an operative perspective, working with the General Surgeon, has really broadened my experience as a surgeon. I’m doing a lot more non-gynecological surgeries, which has the same principle as GYN type surgeries but by that perspective you can bring home a lot more experience.”

The most personal reward here has been being part of the team Cardenas said, “The staff is dedicated and focused, which I have never seen before.” He continued to say, “Capt. James Valente I would like to thank also, that his dedication is unmatched.”

In the CASREC and Ward, Lt. Michael Hevrin, is one of the staff registered nurses. Looking back on the deployment he has learned to work with Army counterparts. That has been a learning curve for Hevrin.

The most rewarding patient Hevrin has encountered while here was a civilian who was driven in by his friend and was having a heart attack in the car,

when Hevrin got to the car, the patient was in full cardiac arrest, and they eventually had to shock him six times. From the last time Hevrin heard, “He is doing well.”

Hevrin continued to talk about team work and who he would like to thank, “There is a lot of team effort happening here; corpsman, nurses and doctors are working together. The corpsman as a group, I would like to thank, all together they are outstanding.”

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Lacey McNeely works in the Ward/CASREC,

and is gaining a lot of experience while here at EMFK. McNeely said, “I was a clinic corpsman in the States, I’m hands on now, doing IV’s and EKGs. I have learned that team work really makes a difference throughout the day and helps utilize your time wisely.”

McNeely spoke about HM2 Katherine Terry, “She has been a big help to me and has taught me so much, and I can always go to her.”

Director of Nurses Services (DNS), Cmdr. Deborah Roy, supervises all inpatient care and care in the CASREC, makes sure that Nurses have the resources they need and ensures that all patients are getting the care they

need in a timely manner.

Roy explained the experiences she is getting here, “This is my first time deployed to a land base facility in the Middle-East, but I have been deployed to the Philippines and to ships. This is my first director position.”

“I have learned that you can always count on the Navy to get the job done truly,” said Roy.

Roy continues to talk about some of the patients she has seen, “We have had several critical patients that have come in here, one was a

serious pneumonia patients and the other had diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In this particular person the blood sugar got very high and he was found in a diabetic coma. Even recently, with two casualties from a vehicle collision, there was a major trauma. Patient with multiple fractures and head injuries. What was noticed in taking care of these patients was that few EMFK staff have seen trauma, and have never taken care of patients like

this before. What I saw with the caring of those patients was a very diverse group of people who came together and communicated exceptionally well in the middle of a crisis. They all new enough by their training to take care of the patient and we came together as a cohesive team.”

“Beyond the nursing, and the provider staff, the pharmacy is involved getting all those drips and medications for patients. Lab is involved in sending critical lab results and procuring blood for transfusions. Patient Administration is there to facilitate the medical evacuation of patients to get continued care. Every single person whether directly involved in the care of the

Team Work is the foundation of EMFKBy MCC(SW/AW) Lesley Maceyak

patient or somehow involved in the support services came together and got the job done. Getting as good of care as they would receive in a major trauma center. This is because all of the command’s assets were used to care for these people.”

Roy exclaimed, “I am extremely proud of my enlisted corpsman staff, technicians, radiologists, and the nurses that have come together. One thing you worry about on deployment, are we going to have the skill set to take care of what comes through the door? That is the least of my worries because I know they have what it takes!”

Radiologist and Director of Clinical Support Services (DCSS), Capt. Kimberly McNeil believes she is getting excellent operational experience. McNeil said, “The team is unique here, we work closely together as a small group of people, but we get a lot accomplished.”

She made a point that extraordinary “pathology” is happening here at EMFK. What is “pathology” I asked, McNeil said, “It is a nice word to encompass all that we are doing.”

Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, bodily fluids, and whole bodies. McNeil has seen some noteworthy cases. She has seen abcesses, bizarre fractures, brain bleeds, tumors, and cancer.

McNeil notes all unusual cases in her notebook. In just four and half months, she has logged in over 54 cases that she has found interesting. She works with all the doctors in studying the cases; documenting and discussing them.

McNeil said about working together with the EMFK doctors, “Here you get the whole picture, you don’t get this back in the States, it is just too big. The way you work together here as a team and taking care of patients is especially rewarding and unique, you get great care here.”

Lt. James Buchanan, perioperative nurse in the OR, does routine cases here instead of sending them back to state side for care. Buchanan said, “We are able to keep the Sailors and Soldiers here for minor surgeries.”

Buchanan continued to state, “We work very close with the Ward and the Specialty Clinic. We work in such a cohesive function here that we are allowed to treat patients more rapidly so they can get back to work.”

Buchanan’s LPO, Hospital Corpsmand 2nd Class Ricardo Alonsolopez, has been an asset to the OR. Buchanan said, “He is the sharpest tech he has had the pleasure to work with. We have been reduced by 66% staffing for OR. I am the only OR nurse and I have 2 techs. Two detachments ago they had 11 and now we have two techs and we have the same job load. It takes sharp management to keep the irons in the fire. He would flounder without having Alonsolopez.”

EMFK continues to show each and every day that there is an esprit decorps here and teamwork is the reason behind it!

HM3 Joseph Orlino helps HM3 Sarah Jones dress-out for surgery.Photo by MCC(SW/AW) Lesley Maceyak

Lt. James Buchanan prepares patient for Hernia surgery. Photo by MCC(SW/AW) Lesley Maceyak

HM3 Lacey McNeely stays busy doing reports.Photo by MCC(SW/AW) Lesley Maceyak

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The Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait got a special visit from a country music station, Cat Country 98.7 and WEAR TV3 from Pensacola, Florida.

Cat Country is the academy of country music station of the year. The morning host, Dana Cervantes returned to Kuwait for the third time to give tribute to the men and women from Pensacola. With her, she brought letters from all over Pensacola to give out to service members to read.

Dana got a chance to interview a few of our Pensacola Sailors here at EMFK. Her first interview was with S-6 Communications Officer, Lieutenant Rusty Deason. What made this visit so special for Deason is he is a Pensacola local. He was very excited to get a visit from Dana Cervantes which he well knows from listening to her show while at work in Pensacola.

Dana Cervantes explains why she is happy to be here, “I love the fact that I can bring a little piece of home to the Sailors.”

Dana sat with Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ethlyn Hixon and explained to her about how people back home want to let you know that even though they don’t even know you, that you are appreciated. Does it make a difference to get the support from home?

Hixon said, “It does, it makes a tremendous difference. Too often on the radio and TV people take for granted on what we do. They tend to forget what we are sacrificing for. We might not be getting shot at but we are leaving our families behind, and that alone is a huge emotional stress. We are over here fighting for our freedom that some take for granted. These letters do matter to us, and I would like to thank them.”

Camera reporter, Wear TV, Bill Pearson, talked about this being his first visit overseas ever. Pearson said, “From getting their passport, and to fly on a charter flight from Atlanta to here has already been quite an experience. To see the men and women in the service is going to be amazing. To see what they do on a daily basis will give me a new perspective.

Pearson has done many stories on homecomings in the past from the Middle East and Afghanistan. Pearson goes on by saying, “Being here makes those stories

more real and personal to me. It lets me see how they are living, what they are sacrificing for, than their type of life back home.

Videographer Daniel Kettinger also from Wear TV was excited to be here in the Middle East. He said, “I will not be missing Thanksgiving too much back home this year, but I will miss my mom’s home cooking. I am happy to be here and to have Thanksgiving with the troops.”

Pharmacists Lieutenant Justin Eubanks was interviewed on camera by Kettinger. Eubanks said, “He enjoyed the interview and it was unexpected to get someone from his home duty station to come here. I am happy they got a chance to come visit.”

Pensacola folks show some our way for the Holidaysby MCC(SW/AW) Lesley Maceyak

Cat Country 98.7 morning host, Dana Cervantesinterviews Lt. Justin Eubanks. Photo by MCC Maceyak

Daniel Kettinger sets up a video clip with HM1 Ethlyn Hixon and Army patient. Photo by MCC Maceyak

From Left: Lt. Justin Eubanks, Bill Pearson, HM1 Ethlyn Hixon, Lt. Rusty Deason, Daniel Kettinger holding Dana Cervantes. Photo by MCC Maceyak

Sanity Check…the Holiday Edition

Award winning actors Robert DiNiro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Berrymore, and Sam Rockwell team up for this year’s hit holiday movie, “Everybody’s Fine.” Opening in state-side theaters on December 4th, DiNiro plays Frank, a father of grown-up children who all phone home leaving messages they will not be attending the family’s annual Christmas reunion. The siblings all end their messages with, “Don’t worry dad, everybody’s fine.”

Alone on Christmas, Frank begins a journey across the United States to reconnect with each of his children only to discover that their lives are not what they seem. This modern remake Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1990 movie, Stanno Tutti Bene, still captivates audiences partially because it addresses the uncomfortable theme of “dealing with family drama during the holidays.” There is something about the holidays that brings out the craziness many families have often packed away deep within their closets. Charles Dickens must have been thinking of the holiday season when he penned, “It was the best of times it was the worst of times….”

If the holiday season was not stressful enough, deployment stresses often make the “most joyous time of year” seem like a perpetual season of Friday the 13th’s. Whether it is the deployed member or family members back at home, anxiously waiting for their loved one’s safe return, family drama during the holiday season knows no boundaries and can transcend the miles. This drama can cause long hours of stress and anxiety, sadness, depression, and even anger to all who are involved. How can anyone possibly stay sane during this season when several thousand miles of sea and desert separate loved ones and their families?

Books (rags), magazines, and thousands of websites offer countless tips for stress-free holidays. Some of the most common tips are:

For Family Members

• Say no to events (and to certain people) so you won’t spread yourself too thin

• Don’t spend a lot of money; shop online; create a budget and stick to it

• Volunteer

• Choose to do something meaningful with people whom you want to spend time

• Include physical activity in your daily schedule not only to burn off extra calories, but to unwind from a particularly stressful season

• Eat healthy (small portions) and “spend” calories on foods you love

• Make a holiday scrapbook; or document the holidays with a video recorder for the deployed

member

• Rediscover your inner child by watching Christmas movies or specials like, “White Christmas,” “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Miracle on 34th Street”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and, of course, Scrooge and all its variations. Or , read out loud with family “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” or “Christmas Carol”

For Deployed Members

• Get involved in something around the base (i.e. EMFK Community Relations Project, sports or aerobics classes, or religious services etc.)

• Set aside time for pampering yourself

• United Through Reading (contact RP1 Blackmon)

• Do something you haven’t done before or have not done in a while (i.e. woodshop, eat at another zone, get a massage)

• Write actual letters home (not skype, not email, not social networking) actual

letters or holiday cards

• Start a tradition with your family that can continue whether you are on deployment or not (see chaplain if you need ideas)

• Spend quality time with a friend; have several on speed dial

The common denominator in all of these tips (whether deployed or not) is remembering to utilize our own natural ability to heal and transform ourselves and our situations. These tips focus on enjoying (or surviving) life and removing the victim into which sometimes we turn ourselves. The bottom line that we tend to forget during the holiday season, is remembering we cannot change anyone but ourselves and how we react to the people and settings around us.

Accepting we cannot change our relatives or friends (who are also probably experiencing holiday stress) frees us and gives us the permission we need to enjoy what we love most about the holiday season. By not setting our expectations of these people or situations too high allows us the freedom to create boundaries (fences) around ourselves so we do not get sucked into arguments. The two best holiday gifts (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, New Years, etc) we can give ourselves are self-care and family time, even if several thousand miles separate us from our loved ones.

In the movie “Everybody’s Fine” Robert DiNiro’s character had a choice: He could sit in his empty house in California and feel sorry for himself or he could remove the victim inside himself. He chose to remove the victim and meet his family. He could not change them; he did not have the physical power to heal any of them; yet he we able to find a way to accept them for who they were (and where they were) and was able to have a joyous holiday with those that meant to most to him regardless of the situation.

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The Warrior Return Unit (WRU) located on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait boasts of being the ‘right choice’ for expeditious recovery of Joint and Coalition Forces who benefit from in theatre medical care and convalescence. Managed by Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait (EMF-K), the WRU was created to maximize the opportunity for Return to Duty (RTD) of patients treated inside the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR) as part of the Theater Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Return to Duty Program.

Established in 2005, the intent of the RTD Program and the WRU is to streamline the patient movement process, conserve valuable resources, and enable specified patients to receive their definitive treatment and rehabilitation in Theater and rapidly return them to duty without sending them out of the AOR.

Warrior Return Unit (WRU)Right Choice for Joint Force Recovery

Revised by Lt. Kathleen Caffrey

Operated under the EMF-K Patient Administration Department (PAD), staff collaborates in a multidisciplinary approach to achieve Command and WRU goals “to maximize the quality of life for service members of coalition forces during the period of convalescence, expediting their return to duty or transfer to definitive care.” This is met through a strong focus on administrative, transportation

and billeting support to all uniformed personnel undergoing medical / surgical treatment at EMF-K while returning to duty within 30 days.

Statistics of the WRU include an average 114 patients per month census boasting an 83% Return to Duty rate. That’s 1,143 Joint Force and coalition forces this year and over 5,467 since the WRU conception. Customer satisfaction is an astounding 99% from 900 collected patient surveys supporting a strong stance that this WRU program is an investment with great rewards!

The Warrior Return Unit (WRU) comprises three Partial Construction or Pre-Cast Buildings (PCB) with

WRU Living Area

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Physical Therapy, Internet Service, semi-private berthing. A common lounge exists in each building for resident activity. Residents are assisted as needed with a clothing / uniform acquisition process.

A focus on convenience for the residents is evident with designated latrines constructed and in close proximity to accommodate patients with assorted disability. The commode stalls are extra wide and all showers are equipped with fold-down seats for patients with physical limitations. DFAC-dining facilities, MWR and PX shopping are all within close walking distance.

The WRU is manned by a Division Officer, who is the Nurse Case Manager, and six full time enlisted staff members. In addition, the WRU is supported by one part time ARMY Liaison from the 3D MDSC, who contribute to ensure continuity and communication to Army command affiliates.

Donations by several organizations, charities and groups across the globe have enhanced comfort and morale to all residents of the WRU. Several performers have stopped by to share their musical talents including Charlie Wilson and The Gap Band, Blackstreet, Chely Wright, Andrew Ripp, Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers, and Charlie Daniels.

The WRU is a holistic approach to maximize the warriors’ potential for recovery and return to duty. Through a focus on the patients’ case management and treatment, many have found access to services including mental health and an identification of health issues that resulted in needed treatment. Access to a Chaplain, Mental Health, and Legal services has also greatly enhanced the statistics of this impressive ‘warrior’ program.

Physical Therapy Crew

Living Quarters at WRU

WRU LCPO, MAC Douglas Gingerich

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As a child I remember sitting around the fireplace on a cold December night listening to memories of a family Christmas story long past. Or, sitting and staring in splendid wonder at the beautiful Christmas Tree with its lights gleaming on all of the marvelous presents below and wondering just how did Santa get all of that down the chimney.

Well, after a bit of research I have found the true history of Christmas. I will say that it may not come as a surprise to many of you that Christmas is a Christian holiday, but its origins are not what you may think. So sit around Christmas tree and pour a cup of Egg Nog as the true history of Christmas is as follows:

In the 4th century, the Catholic Church wanted to conceal the celebrations of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity’s very existence. It appears that the Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during the same time of year. It was unheard of for the Christians to celebrate people’s birthdays in those times. However, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus’

The No-Nonsense Story of ChristmasHM1 (SW/AW/FMF) Jodie Bédard

birth is thought to be in either the spring or the fall, the date of December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ’s Mass so that it would compete head-to-head with the rival pagan celebration.

Christmas was slow to catch on in early America as the early colonists considered it to be a pagan ritual, there was even a law in Massachusetts during early colonial days which made the celebration of Christmas illegal to celebrate. As a matter of fact, the Puritans forbade the singing of Christmas carols, period!

In other Christmas news; the earliest English collection of Christmas Carols was published in 1521. ~ The first Christmas card was created in England on December 9, 1842. Now, Christmas cards account for $2.28 billion (or 61 percent) of annual sales for Greeting Card Companies ~ St. Nicholas was bishop of the Turkish town of Myra in the early fourth century. It was the Dutch who first made him into a Christmas gift-giver, and Dutch settlers brought him to America where his name eventually became the familiar Santa Claus. He was also known as the children’s saint – St. Nicholas, and was said to have miraculously revived three schoolboys murdered by an innkeeper. His generosity was limitless and people often found his gifts in their homes at times when they needed him most. ~ The classic animal crackers box is designed with a string handle because the animal-shaped cookie treats, introduced in 1902 as a Christmas novelty, were conveniently packaged so they could be hung from Christmas trees. ~ Ten percent of American households still leave milk and cookies out for Santa. ~ The tradition of Christmas lights dates back to when Christians were persecuted for saying Mass and a simple candle in the window meant that Mass would be celebrated there that night. ~ Old World wine and milk with egg concoctions came to America when a new twist was put on the theme. Rum was used in the place of wine. In Colonial America, rum was commonly called “grog,” so the name eggnog is likely derived from the very descriptive term for this drink, “egg-and-grog,” which corrupted to egg’n’grog and soon to eggnog. ~ And finally, one we all may know oh so well from our own experiences; per the results of a three-year Christmas study performed by the Center for Lifestyle Management, an average of 10 hours are spent the last week of December arguing and bickering with family members about holiday-related activities. So, with joyous thoughts for all of the EMF-Kuwait personnel and their families; Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night. Bah-Humbug!!

Command InfoFCPOAThe FCPOA continues the FlagPole Project for EMFK beautification. Our goal is to resurface and repaint the gravel.

Our pride and professional performance is top notch above the rest. We are proud to serve our country and proud to serve EMFK.

Please Contact FCPOA President for any questions: HM1(SW) Phetkhamyath DCSS LPO, Radiology Department EMF-Kuwait Camp Arifijan APO AE 09366 DSN: 430-1929

Get your India Detachment Cruisebook!

Take home a momento of your EMFK deployment. Book is only $30.00. Give your order to LS2 Beaujean, HM2 Mears, PS2 Rosa, HM3 McNeely or HM1 Hixon soon!

Warrior VoicesHow are you involved in your family’s holiday

celebrations this year?

“My wife and son are going to visit my family in Massachusetts, they will be carrying a picture of me as if I were there with them.”

EM2 Joseph Vanni

“ My wife put me in charge of mailing out all the christmas cards this year. I think that’s because it’s free to mail letters while deployed.”

LTJG Martin Boese

“I have made a video message for my family. I will send it along with Christmas cards and presents to them.”

HM2 Elda Rodriguez

“ Skype. I want to watch my wife an kids open their presents through skype.”

LT Andrew Rutledge

“Sent home traditional Kuwaiti outfits for my neices and nephews.”

LS1(SW) Jermaine Dixon

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EMFK Juliet Sponsor Program

Nearly every Warrior in India Detachment is assigned a member of Juliet Detachment to sponsor. See Sharepoint for your sponsor assignment and Welcome Aboard Package materials that you need to forward to your replacement ASAP. If you any questions, please contact S-1 at 430-1916