Vol. 26 No. 6 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ February 13, 2014

By Sarah MarshallWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

To ensure preparedness and to testresponse efforts, Walter Reed Bethesdawill participate in a Code White (Ac-tive Shooter) Drill on Feb. 27. The drillwill take place in conjunction with anannual Navy-wide anti-terrorism exer-cise, Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield (SC/CS).

On Feb. 18, SC/CS will begin on-board Naval Support Activity Bethesda(NSAB) with a series of anti-terrorismforce protection exercises throughoutthe installation, and will culminatewith an Active Shooter response drill,Feb. 27. Walter Reed National Mili-tary Medical Center (WRNMMC) willparticipate in the exercise, along withthe Uniformed Services University ofthe Health Sciences and Navy Medi-cine Professional Development Center.Code White is the hospital emergencycode to notify personnel of an activeshooter and to take shelter-in-placeprecautions. Installation personnelwill also hear an announcement of “Ac-tive Shooter/Shelter-in-Place,” via the‘Giant Voice’ speaker system and othercommunication tools.

“We’re always trying to prepare andtrain for something that may or may

not happen,” said Chris Gillette, emer-gency manager for WRNMMC. He not-ed that in January 2014, there were atleast a dozen active shooting incidentsat schools and on campuses nation-wide. Most recently, in late January,an active shooter incident occurred atthe Columbia Mall, Md., leaving threedead. “It could happen anywhere,” Gil-lette said.

To ensure readiness for any emer-gency, training is necessary, he contin-ued. Both the hospital and the instal-lation prepare for and participate innumerous of emergency preparednessdrills year round.

“The expectation for our patientsand visitors coming to this facility isthat in the event of a crisis, disasteror active shooter, we know what to do,”Gillette said. “We’re going to ensuretheir safety while they’re in our build-ings. We’re going to take care of themin all facets.”

The installation is required to con-duct four major exercises each fiscalyear, including a hurricane disasterresponse drill, known as HURREX,which takes place in the spring, saidJanelle Massiatte, NSAB’s installationtraining director. Massiatte noted thebase also recently implemented famil-iarization tours by inviting local emer-gency responders inside the facility,

such as state and county law enforce-ment and park police. Should a disas-ter occur, those first responders will beacquainted with the layout of the base.

“We work in a collaborative envi-ronment with our tenants, and try topiggyback exercise opportunities witheach other, and make them integrat-ed,” Massiatte said. “At the end of theday, we all have the same goal: to keep

our folks safe, secure and prepared.”WRNMMC is also required to pub-

lish an annual training plan, and isrequired to conduct two major emer-gency preparedness exercises eachcalendar year, Gillette said. After alltraining evolutions, both the hospital

Active Shooter Drill to Occur Feb. 27

Security measures at Naval Support Activity Bethesda and WalterReed National Military Medical Center will be tested during theSolid Curtain/Citadel Shield anti-terrorism exercise on Feb. 27.

The Journal file photos

On Feb. 27, Walter Reed Bethesda will again participate in a CodeWhite (Active Shooter) Drill, testing its security posture.

See DRILL page 8

2 Thursday, February 13, 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 301-400-2488. 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

Sharon Renee TaylorCat DeBinderRyan HunterKatrina Skinner

Managing Editor MC2 John Hamilton

NSAB Editor MC3BrandonWilliams-ChurchWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little

Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations 301-295-5727Fleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087

NSAB Ombudsman

Michelle 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 Health

Sciences page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/

Uniformed-Services-University-of-the-Health-

Sciences/96338890888?fref=ts

Black History Month ObservanceThe Bethesda Multicultural Committee

will host Walter Reed Bethesda’s African-American/Black History Month observanceon Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11:30 a.m. in theAmerica Building atrium. There will be per-formances by staff members and free foodsamples. All are invited to attend. For moreinformation, call Sgt. 1st Class Jason Zielskeat 301-400-3542.

Navy Medical Corps BallThe 143rd Navy Medical Corps Ball is

scheduled to be held March 8 at 6 p.m. inthe Bethesda Hyatt Regency in Bethesda,Md. All services, ranks and civilians are in-vited to attend. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr.,assistant commandant of the Marine Corps,is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. Forcost and ticket information, go to https://sites.google.com/site/2014medicalcorpsball/or 2014mcbb@gmail.com.

Staff Talent ShowToday, there will be a staff talent show

from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the AmericaBuilding lobby. Resiliency and PsychologicalHealth Service is sponsoring the show, andeveryone is invited to attend.

Prostate Cancer Support GroupThe Prostate Cancer Support Group

meets at Walter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center the third Thursday of everymonth. The next meeting will be Feb. 20from 1 to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in theAmerica Building, River Conference Room(next to the Prostate Center), third floor.Spouses and partners are invited. MilitaryID is required for base access. Those with-out a military ID should call the ProstateCenter at 301-319-2900 at least two busi-ness days prior to event for base access. Formore information, contact retired Col. JaneHudak at 301-319-2918 or jane.l.hudak.ctr@health.mil.

Bethesda NotebookSeveral national papers

ran a wire service articlethis weekend that analyzedsex crimes reported in Ja-pan between 2005 and early2013. The article made itclear that military leadersrecognize that sexual as-sault is a crime that destroystrust, divides teams and de-grades the military’s opera-tional effectiveness. Unfor-tunately, the article providesnumbers without context orbackground. Without rebutting the articlepoint by point, I want to raise a few issuesthat should be considered.

First, it’s important to note that thereare multiple offenses covered under Article120 of the Uniform Code of Military Jus-tice, ranging from rape to non-penetratingcontact offenses, such as groping. Second,each case is judged on its own merits, andif there is a conviction, the sentencing isawarded based on the unique facts in thatcase.

The article might lead Sailors to thinkthat commanders – particularly those inJapan — do not take their responsibilityto make accountability decisions in sexualassault cases seriously. This is not true. InJapan, as in all other locations, every re-port of sexual assault is and will continueto be taken seriously, fully investigated bythe Naval Criminal Investigative Service(NCIS) and presented to commanders foraction as appropriate.

NCIS agents and commanders do notwork alone. Judge Advocate General of theNavy, Vice Adm. Nan DeRenzi, has notedthe involvement military lawyers have inthe process. “Prosecuting attorneys andstaff judge advocates work with NCIS andcommanders every step of the way,” shesaid, “offering legal advice on investigativeactions and advising commanders on theappropriate disposition of cases.”

A lot is happening, not just in Japan,but around the world to prevent sexual as-sault in our Navy. The truth is, only rela-tively recently did we begin to understandthe magnitude of the challenge. As soon

as we learn, we act – and notjust piece by piece, but alongthe entire continuum of care.

We’ve created changes inour reporting, investigative,and adjudicative procedures– changes which have earnedcritical trust and resulted inincreased reporting, whichdeepen our understanding.

First and foremost, respon-sibility for fostering a climateintolerant of sexual assaultlies with our commanding of-

ficers. They, along with their executive offi-cers and senior enlisted advisors, have theresponsibility of creating a professionalcommand climate that will not tolerate,condone or ignore sexist language and be-havior, hazing, sexual harassment or sex-ual assault. Over the past year, we haveaggressively implemented a variety of newinitiatives designed to improve victim con-fidence, including reforms to the militaryjustice system, creation of dedicated legalsupport to victims, enhanced access to vic-tim advocacy and increased training andawareness for the entire force.

If we are to continue to gain the trustof service members, then we must ensurethat our process of investigation and adju-dication not only protects the due processrights of the accused but also fully respectsvictims’ rights, to include that the victimbe protected from the accused, accordedevery means of privacy and treated withdignity and respect.

And in fact, we’ve already seen a sig-nificant increase in reporting this year; a46 percent increase since last year. That’sgood! That proves to me that the aware-ness level of this problem has already im-proved. Faith in our process is growing tothe point that more victims are now com-ing forward. I’m hoping that sooner thanlater, the survey data will match the re-porting data. Both numbers need to comedown.

Rear Adm. Sean BuckDirector, Twenty-First CenturySailor Office

Accountability Actions in Sexual Assault Cases

The Journal Thursday, February 13, 2014 3

By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

As Senior Enlisted Leader(SEL) of the nation’s largestjoint military medical center,Command Master Chief (CMC)Terry Prince said his most re-warding experiences were,“watching our team come to-gether in early 2012 and abso-lutely nail the Joint Commis-sion Accreditation…, [and] thechange of command ceremony,where I was privileged to passthe command colors from RearAdm. (Dr.) Alton L. Stocksto Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Jeffrey B.Clark.”Prince, the first SEL for

Walter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center (WRNMMC),first took command in October2011, a month before the officialrenaming ceremony salutingthe integration of Walter ReedArmy Medical Center and Na-tional Naval Medical Center.He’s departing WRNMMC tobecome the first Senior EnlistedAdvisor (SEA) for the DefenseHealth Agency (DHA), led byAir Force Lt. Gen. (Dr.) DouglasRobb.“One of the most important

decisions a commander makesis the selection of the per-son to be the command mas-ter chief,” Stocks said. MasterChief Terry Prince was exactlythe right person to be the CMCfor WRNMMC during the jour-ney of becoming a joint facility.His leadership, mentorship andcommon sense approach werekey reasons for the successes ofthe command and the military,civilian, contract and volunteeremployees,” the admiral added.“I can’t believe how fast the

time has gone,” Prince said ofthe nearly two-and-a-half yearshe’s served. As DHA’s SEA, heexplained the job will be similarto what he’s done at WRNMMC,only on a broader scale.“I will serve in an agency

that is responsible for makingthe Military Health Systemmore efficient by standardizingmedical practices, to quote mynew boss [Robb], ‘Provide high-er quality care at a lower cost,while increasing overall readi-ness.’ We want to be accessible.”“I’ll be working with another

amazing group of people whohave come together to do some-thing never attempted in thehistory of military medicine,”Prince said excitedly.“The military is unique be-

cause our providers wear the

cloth of our nation,” said Prince,who served his first 20 yearsin the Navy as a dental techni-cian doing direct patient care.His wife Jennifer, who also wasa Sailor for 12 years, became adoctor (psychology) last year.Prince said military provid-

ers have “earned the trust ofpatients by virtue of the factthey are in the military. Thosewho have come before us andthose are currently serving,have put their blood, sweat andtears into military medicine, sopeople come to us because theytrust us. We want them to staywith us because they want to betreated by us.”Proactively providing pa-

tient-friendly care and beingresponsive to the concerns andsentiments of patients are twoways to maintain and ensurethe trust of beneficiaries, Princesaid. “If you get good service

and you really like what youget, you’ll come back for thatservice,” he added.Those with whom Prince

worked with atWRNMMC, notehis enthusiasm for the job, per-sonable manner and mentorshipamong his qualities that standout and will be missed when heleaves for his new assignment.“Command Master Chief

Prince is truly a joint seniorenlisted leader,” said Army Col.Risa D. Ware, director for nurs-ing services at WRNMMC. “Ev-eryone — Army, Navy, Air Forceand Marines is a ‘ship mate.’ Hewas my ‘battle buddy,’ and I willtruly miss having him around.”Personnel Specialist 3rd

Class Meagan R. Orand agreed,“I admire him greatly and com-mend him on taking such anactive interest in the lives andcareers of all enlisted personnelat this facility. He makes us feel

as if we really matter and as ifwe can achieve the impossiblein our careers.”“He cared about everything

that was going on [with the]Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors andMarines,” added Air Force Tech.Sgt. Bryan T. Konisiewicz, ofthe surgical intensive care unit.“He made an effort to includeus [Airmen]. We’re a very smallpart of the hospital; there’s notmany of us who work [here],but [Prince] made an effort toinclude us and he made us feelright at home.”Command Master Chief

Prince worked with all of theWalter Reed Bethesda team.“We have more civilians herethan we do active duty per-sonnel, and civilians are reallythe ones who are going to behere through all of the ups anddowns as [military personnel]deploy.”His respect and appreciation

for civilians, contractors andvolunteers at WRNMMC is re-ciprocated.Cathryn DeBinder, a public

affairs specialist at WRNMMCand the former civilian repre-sentative to its Board of Direc-tors (BOD), described Prince as“an open-minded and a genu-inely nice guy.”“He’s fair-minded and equi-

table when discussing issuesaffecting civilians, military andother groups,” DeBinder said.Those sentiments about

Prince are shared by DavidRohrbaugh, the current civil-ian representative to the BODand pharmacy coordinator atWRNMMC.

“I have found [Prince’s] re-marks and passion to be of the‘whole picture,’” Rohrbaughsaid. “While his focus is obvi-ously on his enlisted staff – ofwhich he pushes for excellence,he is very aware of the need forworking harmoniously with of-ficers, civilians, contractors,volunteers and patients. Henot only considers the organi-zational impact during discus-sions and decisions, he equallyconsiders the human impactand the well-being of staff.“Most admirable, CMC Prince

may stand head and shouldersabove nearly everyone, but heinteracts at eye-level with all,”Rohrbaugh added in referenceto the SEL’s 6-foot-8-inch stat-ure.A Milwaukee native, Prince

jokingly says of his height, “I’mabout 6-feet 9-inches in theNavy Working Uniform. Thisis an awesome advantage be-cause I can see over the cubiclesaround the hospital, which al-ways makes for a fun momentwith staff. I often joke that peo-ple look up to me, whether theywant to or not. Some fun timesoccurred at awards ceremonieswhere [former WRNMMC Chiefof Staff] Army Col. RamonaFiorey, who stood all of 5 feet,seemed to always end up nextto me.”Prince said he enjoyed the

daily interactions he had withmembers of the Walter ReedBethesda “One Team,” andthanks “every person here forall they did to make this tour soamazing. I will never forget ourpledge at Walter Reed Bethes-da, ‘What I Do Matters,’ exceptfor one change, ‘What You DidMattered.’”Ref lec t ing back on

WRNMMC’s successful accredi-tation by the Joint Commissionand the medical center’s firstchange of command, Princesaid, “Those days I went homeand thought, ‘we’re going to bejust fine; everything is going towork out. It always does whenpeople just come together, andwe do it well.”Prince said he’s inspired ev-

eryday by “the young Soldierwho has two babies yet worksthe night shift to take care ofour heroes, and the Sailor whoserves in Afghanistan becausehe wants his family to be free.They sacrifice so much in de-fense in that freedom. I’m in-spired by the history of thosewho have worn the cloth of ournation, and I feel like I owe it tothem to do my best.”

Command Master Chief: ‘What You Did Mattered’

Prince Thanks Staff for Making WRNMMC Tour ‘Amazing’

Photo by Katrina Skinner

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) Command Master ChiefTerry Prince (right) accepts the WRNMMC colors from Rear Adm. Alton L. Stocksto pass to Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey B. Clark, signifying the change in leadership atthe flagship of military medicine on Sept. 19, 2013. Dr. Jonathan Woodson (left), as-sistant secretary of defense for health affairs, officiated the ceremony.

Photo by Sharon Renee Taylor

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center(WRNMMC) Command Master Chief Terry Prince(right) meets with Master Chief Petty Officer of theNavy (MCPON) Mike Stevens, during the MCPON’svisit to WRNMMC in 2013.

104148401041186

4 Thursday, February 13, 2014 The Journal

By Ryan HunterNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

“[Naval Support ActivityBethesda] (NSAB) accounts forthe most accidentally dropped911 calls from any business orindustry in Montgomery Coun-ty,” said NSAB Emergency Man-ager Ron Kunz.

Kunz believes the problem,which caused 68 dropped emer-gency calls between Novemberand December 2013, stems frombase residents and staff who at-tempt to reach a telephone lineoutside of the base by dialingthe extension, 9-9-1. This acci-dent can be easily fixed througha simple explanation to dis-patchers who answer the call;however many dialers don’t.

“When somebody dials 911,they’ll get a dispatcher and of-ten they will realize their mis-take and hang the phone up [be-fore saying anything],” said KyleO’Connor the 911 dispatcher forNSAB. “The big problem is thatit doesn’t just affect us. Depend-ing upon where you are on thebase, if you dial 911 it goes to

the Montgomery County PoliceDepartment (MCPD).”

Montgomery County emer-gency service operators mustreceive a response from every911 call they receive, no mattertheir length or purpose. If an in-dividual reaches their line anddisconnects, dispatchers are re-quired to immediately redial thenumber.

“We don’t know, if you call andhang up, that it’s not an emer-gency,” said Sue Wooten, the 911coordinator for the MCPD. “Wedon’t know if the caller is inca-pacitated and can’t speak or ifsomething else is going on thatrequires our assistance, so wehave to follow up.”

If the MCPD cannot establishcontact with the original caller,they will reach out to emergencyservices on board the base whowill continue the efforts. Utiliz-ing the outgoing number of theoriginal caller, NSAB emergencyservices will gather information,such as the location and nameof the caller, and attempt to con-tact them as well. If for a secondtime the original dialer does notanswer, NSAB dispatchers will

send patrol cars to the caller’slocation to investigate. “Contacthas to be made with the per-son that made the call,” statedO’Connor.

“We drop everything to an-swer the [emergency line] phone.It takes priority,” said Kunz.“But it takes up a lot of man-power and time to do so, and itwastes valuable resources to in-vestigate dropped phone calls. It[hinders] us from responding toa real emergency.”

“I can see how it happens,”said Kunz, who admits to nearlymaking the mistake severaltimes himself. “We understand itis an accident, so no one gets introuble or anything like that.Wejust want personnel to informthe dispatcher that there is noemergency. If they do that, thenthere is no problem.”

Every 911 call made on base,accidental or otherwise, is re-corded, explained O’Conner.“They are all tracked and theWalter Reed commanders andthe NSAB commanders viewthem. So when an accident oc-curs, you’re better off explain-ing the situation over the phone

immediately rather than laterwhen a dispatcher arrives or asuperior finds out.”

While the 9-9-1 extension, astandard number used on everymilitary base in the nation, can-not be changed, steps have beentaken to lessen its impact onMCPD services.

In the future, all 911 callsmade on base will first be rout-

ed to NSAB emergency servicesdispatchers. However, regard-less of whether accidental emer-gency calls are directed to re-sponse operators for the countyor for the base, staff and resi-dents are advised to stay on theline and explain their situationor respond to an emergency ser-vices return call.

Emergency Services Always Call Back

Photo by Ryan Hunter

If a 911 call is made to emergency services and opera-tors are unable to speak directly with the caller forany reason, Naval Support Activity Bethesda policeofficers, like those pictured above, will be dispatchedto investigate.

01041490

The Journal Thursday, February 13, 2014 5

By Cat DeBinderWRNMMC Public

Affairs staff writer

Honoring the selflessservice, dedication andsacrifice of Army chap-lains and nurses, theWalter Reed Bethesdacommunity observedFour Chaplains Day andthe 113th anniversary ofthe Army Nurse Corps(ANC) on Feb. 3.

Congress establishedFour Chaplains Day in1988 by a unanimousact to recognize the he-roic sacrifice of four U.S.Army chaplains whogave their lives to saveothers after the UnitedStates Army TransportDorchester was torpe-doed by a German U-boat in the North Atlan-tic on Feb. 3, 1943. Thosechaplains, 1st Lts. (Rev.)George L. Fox, (Rabbi)Alexander D. Goode, (Fa-ther) John P. Washingtonand (Rev.) Clark V. Pol-ing, went down with the

ship in prayer after giv-ing away their life jack-ets and helping othersoff of the vessel. Of thenearly 1,000 crew andpassengers aboard theDorchester when it was

torpedoed 71 years ago,only 230 were rescued.The four chaplains whowent down with the shipbecame known as the“Immortal Chaplains.”

Chaplain (Col.) Rob-

ert L. Powers Jr., chief ofthe Department of Pas-toral Care at WRNMMC,said although the chap-lains were all differentfaiths, they came to-gether that fateful day

for one common purpose.He explained he first

heard of their story in1989. “Their personalcourage and selflesssacrifice have been aconstant standard forme since that day,” saidPowers. “They had dif-ferent backgrounds anddifferent faiths, yet they

all stood together for acommon purpose. Thesechaplains are an endur-ing symbol of unity, hopeand selfless sacrifice,” headded.

A second cake wasalso cut during the Feb. 3observance, this one cele-

WRB Celebrates Army Nurses and Chaplains

Photos by Cat DeBinder

Artwork by Walter Reed Bethesda’s Marketing Department sa-lutes the selfless sacrifice of the Four Chaplains of the United StatesArmy Transport Dorchester, whose heroics were recognized Feb.3 during Four Chaplains Day at the medical center.

Army Col. Risa Ware (left), director ofnursing service at Walter Reed Bethesda,and 2nd Lt. Laura Schrader, the most ju-nior Army Nurse Corps (ANC) nurse at themedical center, cut the cake celebrating theANC’s 113th anniversary during a celebra-tion on Feb. 3.

See NURSE page 8

6 Thursday, February 13, 2014 The Journal

By Sharon Renee TaylorWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

Walter Reed Bethesda heldthe medical center’s annualprayer breakfast in obser-vance of the National Day ofPrayer, Feb. 6.

Service members, civiliansand volunteers gathered to-gether in the Warrior Cafeto build community throughprayer, lifting up state andnational leaders as well as lo-cal leaders, during the prayerbreakfast.

“My spiritual journey, myspiritual life has carried me tovarious places [to] talk to dif-ferent people, but I discoveredthat they’re just like us,” ex-plained Navy Chaplain (Capt.)Roosevelt H. Brown, chaplainof Navy Medicine and specialassistant to the Navy SurgeonGeneral. Brown was the key-note speaker. He attended hisfirst Hindu service as depart-ment chief of pastoral care atWalter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center (WRNMMC)in 2011.

The Navy chaplain reflect-ed on services he attendedwith his Franciscan (Catholic)friends, at a mosque, as well asthose held at his own church,

First Baptist Church of D.C.“I’ve discovered they still saidthe same prayers,” Brown said,explaining those prayers wereto stay in contact with God, fortheir family members and togive thanks.

He told the audience, de-spite the differences in re-ligious faith, race, rank andservice, “we have much in com-mon.” Prayer is one of thoseintimate ways of relating toGod, and reaffirms that we ashuman beings are connected

to one another through love,Brown added.

Quoting a speech given byPresident Barack Obama atlast year’s annual NationalPrayer Breakfast held inWashington, D.C., Brown said,“‘It says something about us,as a nation, as a people, thatevery year for 61 years now,this great prayerful traditionhas endured. It says some-thing about us that everyyear, in times of triumph andtimes of tragedy, in calm and

in crisis, we can come togetheras brothers and sisters and aschildren of God. Every year, inthe midst of all our busy andnoisy lives, we set aside one

morning to gather as one com-munity, united in prayer.’”

Ginger Ridley, of Healthcare

National Day of Prayer: ‘We Have Much in Common’

Photos by Sharon Renee Taylor

Navy Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Kimberly Cain, of the De-partment of Pastoral Care, offers a prayer for local lead-ership at the National Day of Prayer Breakfast, Feb. 6.

Walter Reed Bethesda Director Army Brig. Gen.Jeffrey B. Clark, left, thanks Navy Chaplain (Capt.)Roosevelt H. Brown, Chaplain of Navy Medicine andSpecial Assistant to the Navy Surgeon General, forserving as keynote speaker for the National Day ofPrayer Breakfast, Feb. 6.

See PRAYER page 8

By Craig ColemanNorthern RegionalMedical Command

Public Affairs

Two non-commissioned of-ficers (NCO), Staff Sgt. Jus-tin D. Reichenbach and StaffSgt. Freddy L. Drayton, wereinducted into the CommandSergeant Major Jack L. ClarkJr. Chapter of the SergeantAudie Murphy Club (SAMC) inan induction ceremony held atWalter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center Feb. 5.

The Sergeant Audie Mur-phy Club, named for the mostdecorated Soldier in U.S. Armyhistory, is an elite organiza-tion of U.S. Army NCOs whoare leaders in the Army and intheir communities. Leadership,achievement and performance,as well as a desire to improvethe lives of Soldiers, are thehallmarks of SAMC.

The Jack L. Clark Jr. Chap-ter is named for the 13th Com-mand Sergeant Major of theU.S. Army Health ServicesCommand and Army Medical

Command.The Chapter President, Sgt.

1st Class Kevin D. Conner, saidafter the ceremony that induc-tion gives non-commissionedSoldiers a chance to make theArmy even stronger. “As non-commissioned officers, you areinducted into the NCO Corps,”Conner said. “By being inductedinto this elite group, you arebetter able to positively impactyour organization, the commandand the community, as well.”

The Clark chapter is veryactive in the local community.They sponsor the “Partnershipin Education” with WoodlawnElementary School in Alex-andria, Va. During the schoolyear, SAMC joins guidancecounselors to sponsor “FunLunch Fridays,” where Soldiersmentor students. The event of-fers students an opportunityto meet with outstanding rolemodels.

Fort Belvoir CommunityHospital Junior Enlisted As-sociation also participates, giv-ing junior enlisted Soldiers anopportunity to mentor under

the leadership of elite NCOs.SAMC members also partici-pated in the 7th annual JuniorReserve Officer Training CorpsHigh School Drill Competitionas judges and mentors.

The chapter worked wellwith youth in the community,but it also acknowledged the

services and sacrifice of the Sol-diers who preceded them in theranks. They walked with Veter-ans organizations as they par-ticipated in the Commander-in-Chief ’s Veterans Day WreathLaying Ceremony at ArlingtonNational Cemetery, served inthe Non-Commissioned Of-

ficer Association Color Guardat the ceremony and presentedthe association’s wreath to theguards at the Tomb of the Un-known Soldier.

“The extension of what youdo in the community is re-

Leading from the Front: Newest Members of SAMC Vow to Serve Soldiers, Community

U.S. Army Photo

Staff Sgt. Justin D. Reichenbach (left) and Staff Sgt. Freddy L. Drayton (right)speak with Maj. Gen. M. Ted Wong, commanding general, Northern RegionalMedical Command after their induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

See SAMC page 10

The Journal Thursday, February 13, 2014 7

By Cat DeBinderWRNMMC Public

Affairs staff writer

To improve servicesto patients, the AssistiveTechnology Departmentat the Walter Reed Na-tional Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC) hasexpanded their scope,doubled their office space,and added a number ofsubject matter expert vol-unteers.According to the As-

sistive Technology Act of1998, assistive technologyis defined as “any item,piece of equipment orproduct system, whetheracquired commercially,modified or customized,that is used to increase,maintain or improve func-tional capabilities of indi-viduals with disabilities.”

Amanda Reinsfelder,assistive technology pro-fessional (ATP), saidthey now have eight ac-tive volunteers, includ-

ing a biostatistician andoutcomes specialist, amarketing specialist, anoutreach consultant anda program development

advisor as part of theirexpanded team.“Many of our volun-

teers are performinghigh-powered work,” saidReinsfelder. “They [col-lectively] put in about 45hours a week.”As an ATP, Reinsfelder

and Mark Lindholm, an-other ATP at WRNMMC,both provide service byanalyzing the needs ofconsumers with disabili-ties and assist in theselection of appropriateassistive technology fortheir needs.“Our job responsibili-

ties at WRNMMC includeworking with therapistsand health-care provid-ers to determine the mostappropriate tool to help apatient accomplish a goalor task,” said Reinsfelder.“We help the patient ob-

tain those tools, if not al-ready owned, and ensurethe patient is competentin using them.”These items are de-

signed to be simple andfunctional and includeanything from a knee-powered sewing machineto a thumb-powered com-puter mouse or a device,to enable someone withone hand to take theirown medicines, said Lind-holm.To help design, cre-

ate and construct thesedevices, Reinsfelder andLindholm work closelywith the WRNMMC Ra-diology’s 3D Medical Ap-plications Center (MAC)Department’s Directorof Services, 3D MAC, Pe-ter Liacouras, Ph.D. “3DMAC can fabricate a va-riety of items with resins,

gypsum and titanium,” hesaid.Reinsfelder added pa-

tients may have a varietyof needs. “An inpatientmay need an adaptationto have independent con-trol over medication. Anoutpatient may need anadaptation to indepen-dently access a computeror to complete school as-signments. We work hardto help people accomplishtheir goals with tools theyalready have and toolscustomized to meet theirindividual needs,” shesaid.

“Assistive technologyallows people to do thingsthey might not otherwisebe able to do,” she said.For more information

about the Assistive Tech-nology services, call 301-295-8548.

Assistive Technology Department Expands to Meet Patient Needs

Photo by Cat DeBinder

Walter Reed Bethesda’s 3D Medical Appli-cations Center Department, working withthe Assistive Technology Department, canfabricate a variety of items with resins, gyp-sum and titanium to provide assistive tech-nology equipment to patients.

By Ryan HunterNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

“When you grew upyou wanted to fly didn’tyou? Everybody does.”said Red Cross Volun-teer William Kahl. Whilemembers of his WoundedWarrior Remote Con-trolled (RC) HelicopterProgram don’t ever leavethe ground, Kahl be-lieves they experience,“the next best thing.”Every Tuesday pa-

tients at Walter ReedNational Military Medi-cal Center convene in theOccupational TherapyDepartment to practiceon simulators, performmodel maintenance andconverse about a varietyof RC aircrafts.“It’s tough to learn

this by yourself,” saidKahl. “You really needsomeone to help you outand I discovered thatthe hard way.” Whenfirst attempting to en-ter the world of RC Air-craft, he claimed to feeloverwhelmed by bothhis lack of piloting skilland mechanical knowl-edge. “You really haveto learn to master thosetwo things at the sametime. Once you get that

together you’ll be able toenjoy it. That’s what theclass tries to help us do.”Kahl instructs wound-

ed warriors how to as-semble and repair mod-els from individual partsand pieces; a task he ad-

mits is neither easy, norcheap. The helicoptersused in the class are hob-by grade, which meansthey are more complexand expensive than onescommonly found in toystores. Most of the at-

tendees to the class usemodels with 24 to 35inch diameters bladesthat can range in pricefrom $1,000 to $2,500.According to Kahl,

the hobby’s high priceof entry typically sends

people running awayfrom what he admits isa “rich man’s pastime.”However, due to the gen-erosity of his connectionsthrough the Red Cross,local hobby stores and avariety of non-profit or-

ganizations, he’s able tokeep his class attendeeswell trained and amplystocked for free.Crashes for begin-

ners are inevitable andexpensive, said Hospi-tal Corpsman 3rd Class(HN3) Ian McClanahanwho has, in his 5 monthsparticipating, built twodifferent helicopters anda gas powered airplane.“However, with this pro-gram we have a vastcollection of parts andsupplies. [Kahl] actu-ally looks forward to usbreaking aircraft, thatway we come back andwork on them.”To teach flying skills,

Kahl supplies the groupsessions with several high-end gaming laptops in or-der to run computer flightsimulator programs. Uti-lizing special attachmentsidentical to radio control-lers, everyone involvedin the program gets thechance to hone their skillsbefore taking expensiveequipment to the skies.Donated copies of the

flight program are sup-plied to those interested,and the class and fre-quently holds simulatedflying sessions online.

Remote Control Program helps Wounded Warriors Take Flight

See FLIGHT page 10

Photo by Ryan Hunter

While not permitted to fly on the base, Sgt. Jamie Varga learns how to program a remotecontrol for one of the many models during the Wounded Warrior Remote ControlledHelicopter Program.

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brating the selfless service and compassionate patientcare Army nurses have been providing for 113 years,since Congress formally established the ANC on Feb.2, 1901. This year’s theme was “Everyday Heroes inHealthcare.”

“It is inspiring to have a hand in putting together aceremony that recognizes the compassionate care thatnurses bring to health care,” said Army Capt. LisaTaylor, from 5-West, who helped organize the event.

“It is great to see such a nice turnout to honor thehistory and celebrate the hard work that nurses do,”added 1st Lt. Maura Lang, a WRNMMC nurse whoalso helped organize the celebration.

Col. Risa Ware, director of nursing services atWRNMMC, and 2nd Lt. Laura Schrader, the most ju-nior ANC nurse, cut the ANC anniversary cake. Wareexplained Army nurses at Walter Reed Bethesda pro-vide “patient-friendly, compassionate care every dayto all of those we are privileged to serve, the nation’sheroes and their families.”

In a video saluting the ANC, Lt. Gen. Patricia D.Horoho, the U.S. Army surgeon general, said, “For113 years, members of the Army Nurse Corps haveserved our nation without hesitation. Since 1901,Army nurses have provided responsive, innovativeand evidenced-based nursing care,” said Horoho, thefirst female and first Army nurse to be the Army sur-geon general and lead the U.S. Army Medical Com-mand. “I am extremely proud of your focus, dedicationand your support for our nation’s defenders, familiesand retirees as you continue to elevate our care with apatient-caring touch system,” she concluded.

NURSEContinued from 5

Operations, said she rose early Feb. 6, arriving a fullhour earlier than she is scheduled to work, to attendthe 7 a.m., prayer breakfast at WRNMMC, with hercolleague Kim Shropshire.

“It’s really important to me to have a strongprayer life I felt like I just wanted to come and cel-ebrate with my co-workers and people that I workwith,” Ridley explained.

Navy Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Leslie Sias led theprayer for state and national leaders. “Grant themwisdom,” Sias prayed. “Guide their decisions eachday that will bring hope and a brighter future forthe least, the lost and the left out.”

“It’s not always easy to lead, for leaders are calledfirst to serve — to serve one another — and we serveyou, God,” Navy Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Kimberly Cainimplored for local leadership. “Give them cool heartsand minds as they lead your people.”

“We thank you God, for the opportunity to gath-er together in peace and prosperity,” prayed ArmyChaplain (Col.) Robert Powers, department chief ofPastoral Care at WRNMMC.

Walter Reed Bethesda Director Army Brig. Gen.Jeffrey B. Clark addressed the audience gathered atthe prayer breakfast. Clark said spirituality is animportant aspect of the Prosperity Plan Workbook,designed to help staff at the medical center attaintheir goals.

Held on the first Thursday of February annuallysince 1953, the President of the United States hoststhe National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.Once called the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, itbecame known as the National Prayer Breakfast in1970.

PRAYERContinued from 6

and the base assess the exercise, to identify whatworked and what didn’t, so they can improve uponthe next training, and enhance preparedness.

In the event of a real-life Code White, staff shouldfirst ensure the safety of patients and visitors. Wheth-er you’re outside or inside a building, you should im-mediately shelter in place. If you’re inside, secure thearea by locking and barricading doors, turn off radiosand computer monitors, close blinds and block win-dows. Also, silence cell phones and keep yourself andothers out of sight by taking adequate cover, behindconcrete walls or filing cabinets.

On the day of the drill, as a reminder to pa-tients and visitors, flyers will be handed out at the

gates and parking garages. There will be postersthroughout clinics, leading up to the event, and onthe day of, also as a reminder. During the drill,staff and patients can expect to see police lightsand sirens, as well as some law enforcement activ-ity, but should expect there to be minimal, if any,impact on patient care and daily operations.

“Our goal is patient care. Our goal is to be pa-tient-friendly, and to provide world-class care,” Gil-lette said. He added clearing out hallways, turninglights off and finding safe havens are paramount tothe success of the drill. “Our staff are responsiblefor taking care of patients and visitors here … how-ever, [during the exercise], we do provide patientcare, so patient treatments will still continue.”

Even though a drill is taking place, everyoneis encouraged, as usual, to report any suspiciousactivity, by dialing Security, 301-295-1246, or 777from any installation landline.

DRILLContinued from 1

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10 Thursday, February 13, 2014 The Journal

Gathering in groups as large as 10,participants can fly side-by-side andoffer critiques and advice to advanceeach other’s skills.

These simulated airfields are thetesting ground for fledgling pilots,like first time flier Spec. Tomas Car-rasquel. Originally an Army mechanicfor Black Hawk helicopters, Car-rasquel found himself behind the con-trols and airborne for the first time af-ter only a few minutes of instruction.“I want to keep trying. I am going toget a helicopter soon,” he said.

The class focuses on a hands-off ap-proach to instruction, opting more tosee veteran fliers gently nudging nov-ices in the right direction. It’s com-mon to see a participant crash in thesimulator and receive praise and sug-gestions for improvement from a col-league nearby. “It’s kind of like a littlecommunity,” said Kahl. “It’s a nice lit-tle place where we know one anotherand help each other out.”

While not a therapist, Kahl believeshaving a positive hobby like the one of-fered in the helicopter program can bebeneficial to those suffering both phys-ical and mental disabilities. “I had oneguy who lost his dominant hand in a

firefight, express interest in the class,”he said. “I never thought [he] was go-ing to be able to fly with just one arm,but he shocked me. He flies better withone hand than a lot of the guys do withtwo hands.What I thought was his big-gest challenge turned out to be one of

his biggest successes.”HN3 Ian McClanahan hopes to use

the experiences he’s gained in theclass to turn his hobby into a careerafter he retires from the military. “In2015 the Federal Aviation Adminis-tration is going to release rules about

how you can use [drones and otherremote controlled devices] commer-cially,” he said. “I could definitely seemyself working with a company usinghelicopters with cameras to get a newangle on car crashes, or to inspect theunderside of bridges. They’re doingthat in Japan right now.”

The Wounded Warrior RC Helicop-ter Program is held every Tuesday at1 p.m. in the America Building Occu-pational Therapy Department. To findout more about the program contactKahl at Wjkahlssmd@nestscape.comor 301-318-8552.

FLIGHTContinued from 7

markable,” said Northern RegionalMedical Command Commanding Gen-eral Maj. Gen. M. Ted Wong, who wasthe presiding officer at the inductionceremony. “It shows that our commit-ment to the community doesn’t endwhen you take off the uniform.”

The leaders of the Clark chapterhope to grow that commitment as itsmembership increases. “It’s very im-portant to extend the membership tomore leaders,” Sgt. 1st Class GloriaD. Butler, Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L.Clark Jr. Chapter vice president said.“We know they’re out there, and it’svery important to recruit them so theycan help us make a bigger impact inthe community and for our Soldiers.”

SAMCContinued from 6

U.S. Army Photo

Soldiers in vintage and modern uniforms celebrate the contribu-tions of non-commissioned officers in the history of the UnitedStates during the Command Sgt. Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr. ChapterSergeant Audie Murphy Club induction ceremony.

Photos by Ryan Hunter

While the parts and helicopters are provided for free, participantsin the Wounded Warrior Remote Controlled Helicopter Program,like Spec. Tomas Carrasquel, spend hours honing their pilotingskills using a flight simulator program.

While it focuses mainly on Heli-copters, the program works witha variety of remote controlledaircraft, like this gas poweredairplane constructed by Spec.Willbur Robinson (left) and HN3Ian McClanahan (right).

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