journal 082114

Vol. 26 No. 33 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ August 21, 2014

By Julie SmithNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

Senior naval officials fromthe National Capital Regionand Naval Support ActivityBethesda (NSAB) gathered toformally open the base’s new-est wounded warrior transi-tional lodging, Sanctuary Hall,with a ribbon cutting ceremonyAug. 18.

The $66 million project wasdelivered on time and underbudget, said Capt. Tony Ed-monds, commanding officer ofNaval Facilities EngineeringCommand (NAVFAC) Washing-ton.

“It was absolutely a privi-lege and an honor for us to beinvolved in planning, design-ing and building this facilityfor wounded warriors and theirfamilies,” Edmonds added.“This is the nation’s newestfacility to accommodate such aprecious resource – our wound-ed warriors.”

The 137,000 square-footresidential building includes125 studio suites and 37 two-bedroom suites. Each suiteis compliant with Americanswith Disabilities Act (ADA)standards and includes a mi-crowave, small refrigerator anddesktop computer hardwiredwith internet access. The build-ing also has wireless internetcapability. There are commonkitchenettes and laundry fa-cilities on each floor, and therooftop boasts an outdoor tele-vision lounge, pool and foosballtables and a putting green.There is an adjacent dedicated470-space parking garage thatutilizes a parking availabilitycounter and display system.

“This building is loaded withfeatures to accommodate andsupport our wounded warriorsand their families and every-one else who may reside herein any capacity,” Edmonds said.

The facility is eligible andwill be accredited with a Lead-

ership in Energy and Environ-mental Design (LEED) silverrating for its sustainabilityand conservation qualities, hecontinued.

The addition of SanctuaryHall augments centralizedwounded warrior supportivecare at NSAB because of itsproximity to the USO Warriorand Family Center, the fitnesscenter and administrative of-fices (Building 17) and its sis-ter facility, Tranquility Hall(Building 62).

“The mission of Naval Sup-port Activity Bethesda is tocreate an environment thatenables patients to heal, staff

to thrive and guests to feel athome,” Capt. David Bitonti,NSAB commanding officer, ex-plained during his remarksprior to the ceremony. “Thisnew facility and its capabilitiesare the epitome of our missionstatement. We are proud toopen this beautiful facility andpromise to provide the high-est quality customer service inthat experience. We are grate-ful to everyone who turned thisconcept into a reality.”

Construction of the buildingwas a joint venture betweenDCK Worldwide and Tetra

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Marks Opening of Sanctuary Hall

Photos by Julie Smith

From left, WRNMMC Director Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Jeffrey Clark, Lance Cpl. Brett Seamans, Sgt. Jacob Ow-ens, NSAB Commanding Officer Capt. David Bitonti, Naval District Washington Commandant Rear Adm.Markham Rich, NAVFAC Commander Capt. Tony Edmonds and Tetra Tech representative James Pagenkopfhelp cut the ribbon to open NSAB’s Sanctuary Hall Aug. 18.

The rooftop of Sanctuary Hall includes an outdoortelevision lounge, pool and foosball tables and a put-ting green.See SANCTUARY page 8

2 Thursday, August 21, 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 appear-ance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts or supplements, does notconstitute endorsement by the Departmentof Defense or Comprint, Inc., of the prod-ucts or services advertised. Everything ad-vertised in this publication shall be madeavailable for purchase, use or patronage

without regard to race, color, re-ligion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handi-cap, 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 17, firstfloor, across from PSD, by noon one weekpreceding the desired publication date.News items are welcomed from all instal-lation sources. Inquiries about news copywill be answered by calling 301-295-1803.Commercial advertising should be placedwith the publisher by calling 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. BitontiPublic Affairs Officer: Ron InmanPublic Affairs Office: 301-295-1803

Journal StaffStaff Writers MC2Ashante Hammons

MC2 Christopher KruckeSarah MarshallKatrina SkinnerJulie SmithSharon Renee Taylor

Managing Editor MC2BrandonWilliams-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 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 Military 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

SG, Force Master Chief CallNavy Surgeon General Vice Adm.

Matthew Nathan and Force Master ChiefSherman Boss host a Navy SurgeonGeneral and Force Master Chief Call to-day at 8:30 a.m. for E-6 and below, and at10 a.m. for E-7 and above. Both meetingswill be in Building 10’s Clark Auditorium.All personnel are welcome to attend eithermeeting. For more information contactHM1 William Davis at 301-295-2429.

JOC Summer PicnicThe Junior Officer Council is sponsor-

ing a summer picnic open to all staff andtheir families this Saturday from noon to4 p.m. at the MWR Sports Complex onNaval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB).

Parking will be available in the multi-pur-pose garage, Building 32. Participants areencouraged to bring a children’s book todonate to a book drive in congunction withthe event.

Physical Readiness TrainingTime isapproaching for theNavyPhysical

Fitness Assessment (PFA) at Walter ReedBethesda. Medical waivers for Navy per-sonnel are due to Internal Medicine bySept. 19. Command weigh-ins/body compo-sition assessments for Sailors will be con-ducted between Oct. 6 and Oct. 17 from7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Building 9, first floormezzanine. PFA testing will be scheduledby directorate and conducted from Oct. 20

to Nov. 14. All Sailors must complete theirweigh-in prior to scheduling their test. Thesemi-annual Army Physical Fitness Test(APFT) will be Oct. 6 through Oct. 31. Formore information, call the Walter ReedBethesda Physical Readiness Training of-fice at 301-295-5502.

Staff Talent ShowResiliency and Psychological Health

Service will present a staff talent showWednesday, Aug. 27, at 11:30 a.m. in theAmerica Building lobby. Staff members in-terested in participating in the show cancontact Vivian Murga at 301-295-6516 orDonna O’Neill at 301-380-0584. Lunchwill be provided at the event.

Bethesda NotebookPhoto Story by Mass Communications Specialist Brandon Williams-Chruch


The Journal Thursday, August 21, 2014 3

By Sharon Renee TaylorWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

July DAISY Award Winner Navy Hos-pitalman Davonne Martinez-Gandarilladiscovered her calling during the birth ofher daughter Ashley, born in 2006 withpulmonary hypertension.

“When she was born, they found thather left ventricle was not closing. Sheturned blue when she drank her bottle,”the Sailor explained. “That triggered mymaternal instincts — that I wanted to doeverything I could to make sure she washealthy and cared for.”

The Sailor spent nearly four monthsin the hospital caring for her daughteralongside nurses she called “Amazing.Just working with them, and my daugh-ter’s pulmonary hypertension, they in-trigued me,” she said.

“And from there, the nurses kind of letme know that I would be good for nurs-ing,” she smiled. “Here I am today, thanksto my daughter.”

Aug. 14, Army Col. Ray C. Antoine, di-rector of nursing at Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center (WRNMMC) rec-ognized the corpsman, who works side-by-side with Emergency Department(ED) nurses, with the DAISY Award.

Martinez-Gandarilla was selectedfrom 66 Walter Reed Bethesda nomina-tionsor the award which recognizes nurs-ing staff members for their compassionand outstanding clinical care.

“We do this every month,” Antoine ex-plained. “DAISY is actually an acronymfor Diseases Attacking the Immune Sys-tem,” he told those gathered to recognizeMartinez-Gandarilla in her work area.

“It’s a foundation that was startedin 1999 by the Barnes family,” Antoineadded about the DAISY award. “PatrickBarnes was a young man, 33 years old,who woke up one morning…went to thehospital and they diagnosed him with(Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura).From that point, he would only survivefor about eight weeks. Now this youngman and his wife had just become par-ents. They had a baby girl named Riley,about six weeks prior, and he had sur-vived Hodgkin’s Lymphoma twice beforethat.”

Antoine explained that while Patrickwas hospitalized for those six weeks in afacility in Seattle, the Barnes family no-ticed the way they were cared for by thenursing staff.

“They expected to get excellent clini-cal care…what they didn’t expect wasthe way the staff treated them — the waythey provided them with compassion; theway they talked to (Patrick), even whenhe was intubated (and) sedated — howthey took time to explain to him what

they were going to do and how they werethere for the family,” Antoine said.

He explained that Patrick’s parentsmemorialized their son with the DAISYFoundation and award as a legacy forhim to show how much nursing does forpatients each and every day. Individualscan be nominated for the award by pa-tients, family members or staff.

The patient who nominated Martinez-Gandarilla was a Walter Reed Bethesdanurse who found herself in the ED aftersustaining an injury at work one evening.The hospitalman performed the neces-sary procedures, but after receiving dis-charge papers, the nurse experienced anacute asthma attack.

“Again, I felt safe and in excellentcare,” the nominator wrote. “They allmade me feel like they really cared aboutme. I cannot say enough good thingsabout my experience that afternoon inthe ER. All that they did may seem smallto someone else, but it was huge to me,”the nurse wrote.

As the DAISY award recipient, Mar-tinez-Gandarilla received a hand-madehealing statue “to show the bond of therelationship nurses have with theirpatients — representing the sacredtrust that nurses (share) with patientsand their families,” Antoine explained.The hospitalman and fellow nomineesreceived a DAISY pin, and the ED cel-

A Daughter, a Nurse, a DAISYHospitalman Earns July’s‘Extraordinary’ Nursing Award

Photo by Sharon Renee Taylor

Hospitalman Davonne Martinez-Gandarilla recently earned theJuly DAISY Award for Extraor-dinary Nursing at Walter ReedBethesda. “Honestly, I feel likeit’s just something I know I needto do,” she said. “It’s a greatfeeling to know that [patients]do notice. This is my everydaything I do, regardless of who iswatching or not. I love it.”

See DAISY page 8


1042613


By Julie SmithNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

The Navy Exchange (NEX)at Naval Support ActivityBethesda (NSAB) rolled outthe red carpet Aug. 11 for achief petty officer (CPO) se-lectee fashion show featuringNavy uniforms and examplesof appropriate business casualoutfits.The event marked the first

time a public fashion showwas held for the CPO select-ees. In the past, the selecteesgathered for an evening recep-tion at Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center’s(WRNMMC) Uniform Center,where they would purchasetheir new uniforms. That stillhappens, but the addition ofthe daytime fashion show justmakes the process a bit morefun, said NEX Store ManagerRobin Dale.“It’s something different,

definitely,” Dale added. “Ithelps (the CPOs) know howto wear the uniform correctly,and shows them what kind ofattire they should wear whenthey’re not in uniform.”NSAB and National Capital

Region senior enlisted Navypersonnel modeled civilianclothes before showing themale and female versions ofall Navy CPO uniforms, in-cluding service khakis, sum-mer whites, ceremonial full

dress blues and full dresswhites and dinner dress uni-forms. Commentary providedhighly technical details abouteach uniform’s features andcharacteristics. NSAB CPOselectees were in attendance,along with their family mem-bers and other distinguishedguests.

“I think the most importantaspect of the uniform show isto let the junior selectees weartheir uniform in pride and un-derstand every article of theuniform and how it’s supposedto be worn so when they stepout in it, they’re proud and ev-eryone is proud of them,” saidSenior Chief Petty Officer Jay-

mie Brinkmeier, course direc-tor for the Navy Medicine Pro-fessional Development Cen-ter’s Executive Medical De-partment enlisted course andorganizer of the fashion show.To be promoted to CPO,

candidates must obtain acommander’s recommenda-tion and pass a peer review

and specialty exams. They arealso required to have a certainamount of time in service andhigh evaluation scores.“This is a significant mile-

stone in the career progres-sion of an enlisted sailor,” saidNSAB Commanding OfficerCapt. David Bitonti. “That stepor jump from Petty Officer 1stClass to Chief Petty Officer isa very marked change basedupon the level of responsibilityand authority that they have.”The fashion show also

served as a reminder for cur-rent senior enlisted Navy per-sonnel about the correct wayto wear the uniforms, Brink-meier explained.Bitonti stated the CPO se-

lectees will be officially pro-moted during a ceremony atNSAB Sept. 16.

NSA Bethesda NEX Stages CPO Selectee Fashion Show

Chief Hospital CorpsmanSylvia McBee displays theproper way to wear Navyceremonial full dressblues to the CPO FashionShow audience.

Photos by Julie Smith

Chief Hospital Corpsman Gerry Delacruz models civilian fall fashions during theCPO Fashion Show Aug. 11.


1041996

1043348


By Mass CommunicationSpecialist (SW/AW/IDW)

Ashanté HammonsNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

Service members and civil-ians assigned to Naval Sup-port Activity Bethesda (NSAB)came together to celebrateachievements and supportone another through careertransitions during an awardceremony at the USO Warriorand Family Center Aug. 13.

“This is really a great op-portunity,” Capt. David A. Bi-tonti, NSAB’s commandingofficer, remarked during theceremony. “I thank you all forbeing here, not only the award-ees for their performance thatthey did in order to receive anaward, but (also) those of youin their chain of command orfriends and everyone else forbeing here to support them.This is really important.”

Fire Protection SpecialistDaniel Hunt was recognizedas NSAB civilian of the quar-ter for the second quarter of2014. Hunt, who did not expectto be selected for this award,was completely surprised. He

accepted his award and cap-tured the moment in a photowith his wife.

“I am very happy to receivethis award,” Hunt said. “I be-lieve that you should alwayshave the mindset of helpingothers. Customer service is(the) key (to success).”

Courtney Silvestre, Mo-rale, Welfare and Recreation(MWR) director, was alsosurprised to receive civiliansupervisor of the quarter. Sil-vestre gave credit to her MWRteam for helping her be recog-nized.

“This is an MWR award.Everyone has helped makethis possible. Even though myname is on it, this award is forall of us,” Silvestre said.

Petty Officer 1st ClassGeorge Sangriu and Petty Of-ficer 2nd Class Steven Laneexemplified teamwork whiletraining 3,100 officers at Uni-formed Services University ofthe Health Services (USU) forthree weeks in February.

“I’m glad the hard work anddedication was recognized bythe command,” said Lane.

Bitonti shook hands andposed for photos with all hon-

orees as they received theiraward. The following Sailorswere recognized as NSAB’sSailors of the Quarter (SOQ)for Fiscal Year 2014: Petty Of-ficer 1st Class Troy Felton wasawarded Senior SOQ; PettyOfficer 2nd Class BrandonWilliams-Church was awardedSOQ; Petty Officer 3rd ClassCesar Rebolledo-Valencia wasawarded Junior SOQ; and Sea-

man Jasmin Castro-Roach wasawarded Blue Jacket of theQuarter.

“I am honored to be selectedas BJOQ,” said Roach. “Hon-estly, this achievement moti-vates me to learn more aboutmy rate, to develop more lead-ership skills and to mature inmy career in the Navy.”

After giving out the lastaward, Bitonti concluded the

ceremony by thanking every-one for coming together andencouraged everyone to takethe time to “re-energize beforethe new school year starts in afew weeks.”

“We’re going to take careof ourselves as a family andwe’re going to go on and beeven more successful at ourmission,” said Bitonti.

NSAB Recognizes Sailors and Civilians for Outstanding Performance

Photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Ashante Hammons

NSAB awardees take a picture with Capt. David A. Bitonti (left), NSAB’s com-manding officer, after the command’s award ceremony Aug. 13.


1043382

The Journal6 Thursday, August 21, 2014 The Journal

By Mass Communication Specialist 2ndClass (SW/AW/IDW/) Ashanté Hammons

That time of year has come once again where earlymornings and late nights of homework will be a nor-mal routine. In the coming weeks, summer will beofficially over and children will be lining up at busstops for their first day in a new classroom. A varietyof emotions are felt by both students and parents

Fortunately, Naval Support Activity Bethesda’s(NSAB) Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) of-fers educational tools to help families prepare for anew school year. FFSC held a Back-2-School Fair Aug.12 in NSAB’s Building 17 to give parents a chance tocheck out the different programs and gather schoolsupplies for their children’s school year.

Horace Franklin, NSAB school liaison officer, de-scribed the fair as “Christmas for parents,” who wereable to tour a variety of stations at the fair featuringresources offered on and off base. These included Mo-rale, Welfare and Recreation, Tricare, American RedCross, the Exceptional Family Member Program, Vac-cine Healthcare Center Network, Defense and Veter-ans Brain Injury Center, Operation Brave Family andResiliency and Psychological Health Services.

According to Franklin, parents not only receivedvaluable information about different resources pro-vided at NSAB, but they were provided basic schoolsupplies and backpacks for their children by the USO,Operation HomeFront, Operation Second Chance andNavy Federal Credit Union.

“The fair hosted different providers from NSABas well as some non-profits in the area, such as Op-eration Second Chance, Operation C.H.A.M.P.S., andOperation HomeFront,” said Franklin. “I wanted tomake sure that parents had the opportunity to visitthe different tables to learn about the services fromFFSC, Navy Federal, USO and Resiliency and Psycho-logical Health Services at NSAB and what they haveto offer them, whether they are staff, dependents oractive duty.”

Operation Second Chance offers a variety of servic-es for wounded warriors and their family members.According to Stephanie Albrecht, who handed outschool supplies at the Operation Second Chance ta-ble, the organization provides wounded warriors andfamily members financial support and assistance,planned retreats and counseling.

“We also host day trips and nights out for thewounded warrior,” said Albrecht. “We visit recover-ing wounded warriors in the hospital and bring themgames, movies and favorite foods from local restau-rants to pass the time.”

Another resource at the Back-2-School Fair in-cluded Operation Child Heroes Attached to MilitaryPersonnel (Operation C.H.A.M.P.S.). This organiza-tion offers parents an opportunity to relax for an eve-ning while their children are taken care of by well-trained babysitters who want to give back to militaryfamilies. Operation C.H.A.M.P.S. is free babysittingfor military families in the D.C. metropolitan area,including wounded warriors and service membersdeployed from or returning home to the DC Metro-politan area.

“The babysitters, also called ’champsitters,’are col-lege students and high school juniors and seniors.They go through seven hours of training to becomeCPR and first aid certified,” said Jenner Fink, found-er and CEO of Operation C.H.A.M.P.S. “They are alsotrained in military 101, military cultural competenceand babysitting best practices.”

As the fair continued through the afternoon, manyparents were very appreciative of the valuable resourc-es on and off base, and grateful to have the opportunityto get basic school supplies for their children.

“The fair was awesome,” said Petty Officer 2ndClass Steven Lane. “I have two kids in school; one inelementary and the other is in middle school. So, ithelps me by providing the basic school supplies thatthey will need for the school year.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marquita Watson agreed.“My kids have a long list of school supplies for thiscoming year,” said Watson. “I’m glad the fair providedthe basic supplies. Also, I was able to see the work-shops that FFSC will provide for next month andother resources like Operation C.H.A.M.P.S.”

Back To School Tips for a Successful Year

The fair proved to be a success as people steadilycame by to see the different resources. Since schoolwill start Aug. 25 in Montgomery County, parents andchildren will be prepared to start the school year offright. To ensure good habits start early, Franklin of-fered back to school tips for parents. He said, parentsshould establish a routine a few weeks before schoolbegins.

“Start getting kids on a schedule. During the schoolyear, kids may have a 9 o’clock bedtime but they were

able to stay up until midnight over the summer,”Franklin said. He suggested parents start backing uptheir bed time an hour a week. “Say, ‘Okay, I want youto start going to bed at 11 o’clock this week. Next week,your bedtime will be 10 o’clock.’ Then, when schoolstarts, they’ll have that time schedule back in theirsystem (of having a bedtime at 9 o’clock),” he added.

Before the first day of school, it would be a goodidea to contact the school to make sure you know thestart times. “If your child is new to a school, for ex-ample, he or she is transitioning from fifth to sixthgrade or eighth to ninth grade, you should make surethat they’ve been to the school and walked around,”suggested Franklin.

“Sometimes, schools are open and you can go talkto the secretary about touring the school. You mayget to see the classrooms. It may not be finished butat least you’ll have an idea of what it looks like andwhere it is located.”

The first day of school for kindergarten studentswill be a challenge for the child as well as the parents,Franklin continued. “For my kindergarten parents, Itell them to prepare themselves. When you leave (yourchild) that first day, (preparing yourself will ensure)

you’re not adding to the child’s stress by tearing up orbeing visibly upset,” Franklin explained. “Be a cheer-leader for that first day of school and talk to themabout what’s going to happen.”

Franklin encouraged parents to have a set routinefor children when they come home from school. Insteadof playing games or getting on social media right away,the first thing they should do is their homework.

“As the parent, you can start checking their home-work and folders to make sure everything has beencompleted,” said Franklin.

Whether your child is starting kindergarten orhigh school, being involved in your child’s educa-tion is very important, according to Franklin. “Oneof the first things you can do is attend the back toschool nights. Most schools have their annual backto school night within the first two weeks of school,”he explained. “Go meet your child’s teacher. Let theteacher know that you’re going to be a supporter withthe education of your child. Give the teacher an av-enue for them to get in contact with you.”

According to Franklin, Montgomery County PublicSchools have an online grade-tracking system.

“When children get to high school, the parents

tend to pull back,” Franklin continued. “I like to re-mind parents that this is the one time you want tostay involved because you’re looking at graduationrequirements. You don’t want (your child) to get totheir senior year and realize credits are missing inorder to graduate.

A reminder to all parents and all commuters in the

area is the change in traffic patterns starting next week,Franklin emphasized. He advised that everyone allowextra time because the buses will be back on the streets.

For more information about Montgomery CountyPublic Schools, visit http://www.montgomeryschool-smd.org/schools/bcchs/academics/edline.aspx orcontact Franklin at 301-295-7849

Parents Prepare for the New School Year at the Back-2-School Fair

Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Lane signs up at the Operation Homefront table as LauraRoler stamps his “passport” at the FFSC Back-2-School Fair.

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashante Hammons

NSAB Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Liaison Bonnie Hayes-Johnson (left) talks with a staff member at the Fleet and FamilySupport Center (FFSC) table during the Back-2-School Fair Aug. 12.

Jennifer Fink, founder and CEO of Operation C.H.A.M.P.S. explains the organization’s pur-pose to Soldiers at the FFSC Back-2-School Fair.

Thursday, August 21, 2014 7

ebrated with cinnamon buns, a traditionfor the award winner and their colleagues.A special banner will hang in the ED forthe next month.“This is her first of many awards,” an

ED colleague said.“Congratulations, well-deserved!”

yelled another.Joan Loepker-Duncan, a WRNMMC

nurse who serves as DAISY committeeco-chair, reminded Martinez-Gandarillathat a nurse complimented her on the

care she gave. “It’s twice as special,” Lo-epker-Duncan added.“Honestly, I feel like it’s just some-

thing I know I need to do,” Martinez-Gandarilla said. “It’s a great feeling toknow that (patients) do notice.This is myeveryday thing I do, regardless of who iswatching or not. I love it,” the hospital-man explained.December will mark two years in the

Navy for the corpsman, who said shehopes to earn her bachelor’s degree innursing. Her daughter Ashley, now 8, iswithout respiratory or cardiac problems.The small hole in her heart closed up.“She plays soccer, she runs,” Martinez-Gandarilla said.


Tech, two private sector constructionfirms which subcontracted 70 percentof the project to local service-disabled,veteran-owned small businesses, Ed-monds said.Bitonti added that residents have

already moved into the facility fromBuilding 50, which will return to per-manent party housing for E-4 and be-low personnel.One of those residents, Army Sgt. Ja-

cob Owens, has lived on NSAB for al-most three years after coming to WalterReed National Military Medical Center(WRNMMC) for treatment of combat

injuries he received in 2011 from an im-provised explosive device. The 31-year-old Chicago, Ill., native was impressedwith the new building’s features, butwas most excited about the queen-sizedbeds in Sanctuary Hall, as opposed tothe twin mattress he was used to sleep-ing on in Building 50.“That’s the best thing,” Owens said

with a smile.Creating a warm, home-like environ-

ment was the goal for Navy Lt. MichelleCaponigro, Sanctuary Hall’s lead con-struction manager.“I think it’s a beautiful facility that

will really serve our wounded warriorsand their families,” she continued. “It’smeant to be comforting and not so in-stitutional. We want everyone to feelwelcome here.”

SANCTUARYContinued from pg. 1

DAISYContinued from pg. 3


1043285 1043291


By MC2 (AW) Chris KruckeWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

Twenty-nine new Army nursescrossed the Memorial Auditoriumstage at Walter Reed Bethesda (WRB),receiving their certificates of achieve-ment during the 68 Charlie PracticalNurse Course (PNC) graduation July31.

The student Soldiers completed atwo-phase, 54-week training programthat began at Brooke Army MedicalCenter, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Theclassroom curriculum included anat-omy and physiology, pathophysiologyand microbiology. The graduates spent

1,400 clinical hours in specialty ar-eas such as the medical-surgical unit,medical and surgical intensive careunits, and the pediatric intensive careunit.

Graduates of the PNC at WRB usedtheir knowledge of practical nursecompetencies to successfully pass theNational Council Licensure Examina-tion-Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN), ac-cording to Sgt. 1st Class Steven Brown,a course instructor for Phase II.

Students completing the course nowpossess the skills to provide first linetrauma care on the battle field, per-form as members on forward surgicalteams and function in a standard sup-port roll in combat hospitals and fixed

medical facilities, Brown added.“It’s amazing. It’s actually fantastic

to be able to learn the things that Ilearned throughout this course,” newgraduate Army Sgt. Lisa Coplen said.

Coplen added what stood out in hermind about the course was what theylearned in the classrooms and that shelooks forward to “putting into actionthe things we were taught how to doon the floor.”

She stated the course was a “greatadventure and great transition” frommedic to nurse, and she enjoyed learn-ing the skills needed “to help thosepeople heal. That’s why our motto is‘Skills to Heal.’”

The year-long course “builds cama-

raderie with the nurses inside yourclinicals, with the instructors and withthe other students,” Coplen continued.

“Just being a nurse and learningwhat we did, was just an amazingthing,” Coplen emphasized.

Graduates of the course will betransferred to combat support hospi-tals or military medical centers. Oth-ers will return home to their reserveunits and some will practice in the ci-vilian sector. Many expressed interestin continuing their education in pur-suit of nursing or physician’s assistantdegrees.

Editor’s note: Sharon Renee Taylorcontributed to this article.

Soldiers Complete Practical Nurse Course, Continue ServingThe Journal Thursday, August 21, 2014 9

1043219

For more information on volunteering for the local Honor Flight program,visit facebook.com/honorflightdca or honorflightcr.org

Area military families are invited to join the DCMilitary Family Life staff in honoring our World War II veterans on

Saturday, September 13.

There are 2 separate groups arriving into Reagan National Airport on September 13, and there are several ways you can participatethroughout the day:

Group 1:• Welcome 90 veterans at the US Airways, Terminal A at 10:02am to salute and cheer their arrival.• Salute these veterans as they visit the World War II Memorial on the National Mall from 2:30pm – 3:45pm.• At the end of the day, you can help bid farewell after their full day of touring as they return to Reagan National Airport at 6:30pm.

Group 2:• Welcome 25 veterans at the AirTran Airways, Terminal C at 11:05am to salute and cheer their arrival.• Salute these veterans as they visit the World War II Memorial on the National Mall from 12:30pm – 1:30pm.• At the end of the day, you can help bid farewell after their full day of touring as they return to ReaganNational Airport at 6:30pm.

Look for a special pullout banner in the August 15th issue of DCMilitary Family Life, or visit

DCMilitary.com/honorflight to download a special welcome banner to customize and hold as you greetour veterans. Our photographers will be on hand to snap a photo of your family with your personalbanner for future publication.

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By MC2 (AW) Chris Krucke andSarah Marshall

WRNMMC Public Affairsstaff writers

Next week, the nation will recognizeWomen’s Equality Day on Tuesday. AtWalter Reed National Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC), the Bethesda Mul-ticultural Committee will host a musi-cal performance by the Army’s Down-range Band on Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to1 p.m. in the America Building.

Downrange performs globally, enter-taining crowds and fostering support ofthe armed forces with a variety of patri-otic music, as well as rock, pop, countryand R&B songs, according to the band’swebsite.

In 1971, Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY) re-quested Congress designate Aug. 26 asWomen’s Equality Day. The date waschosen to commemorate the passage ofthe 19th Amendment to the Constitu-tion in 1920, which granted women theright to vote. According to the NationalWomen’s History Project (NWHP), this

was a culmination of a civil rights move-ment by women which had its formalbeginnings in 1848. Over the last sev-eral decades, changes in society contin-ue to allow women to make a difference,NWHP officials add.

Today, women are piloting fighterjets, commanding missions in foreigncountries and overseeing medical pro-cedures, including those performed atWRNMMC, the Nation’s Medical Cen-ter.

Among some of the many achieve-ments by women in uniform, MarineLt. Col. Sarah Deal Burrow was com-missioned as a second lieutenant inthe Marine Corps in 1992, shortly afterearning a Bachelor of Science degree inaerospace flight technology from KentState University. In 1993, the U.S. mili-tary changed its policy to allow womento fly combat aircraft. Subsequently,Burrow, who had earned her pilot’s li-cense prior to joining the Marines, wasselected for training as an aviator andearned her aviator’s wings on April 21,1995. She was then assigned to Marine

Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 as aCH-53E pilot, becoming the first femalepilot in the U.S. Marines Corps.

In 2007, Air Force Maj. Gen. Mar-garet Woodward took command of the89th Airlift Wing, which included re-sponsibility for Air Force One. In 2011,she commanded the entire U.S. air cam-paign and organized the U.S. airstrikein Libya during Operation OdysseyDawn, before the operation was trans-ferred to NATO. Woodward was namedDirector of the Air Force Sexual AssaultPrevention and Response Office, Officeof the Vice Chief of Staff, in 2013, andremains in that position.

In 2011, Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho wasnamed the 43rd Surgeon General of theU.S. Army, becoming the first femaleand first Nurse Corps officer to hold thisposition as the Army’s top uniformedmedical health care leader.

On July 1, 2014, not only was Mi-chelle J. Howard the first female to bepromoted to Navy admiral, she becamethe first female Vice Chief of Naval Op-erations that same day.

On July 31, 2014, in a ceremony atthe Smithsonian Institution Museumof Natural History in WashingtonD.C., the White House recognized theachievement of former Army Capt. Ma-ria Urso, for her research on musculo-skeletal injury and repair. Urso receivedthe Presidential Early Career Award forScientists and Engineers (PECASE),the highest honor granted by the U.S.government to science and engineeringprofessionals.

At Walter Reed Bethesda, women inuniform, such as Army Staff Sgt. Dani-elle Sharrock, recognize women’s equal-ity has greatly evolved over the years.

“We have stepped up for what we be-lieve was a given, not because we arewomen, but because we are human,”said Sharrock, who is the non-commis-sioned officer in charge (NCOIC) inWal-ter Reed Bethesda’s Allergy/Immunol-ogy/Immunizations clinic.

The Soldier said she has enjoyedmany achievements throughout her lifeand her career, including her first in-ternship at age 14 at a Superior Court-house where she was later offered a full-time position.

“This is little insight into my back-ground to show that women’s historyand what was once prohibited wasinstilled in me at a young age,” Shar-rock said. “It’s important to recognizewomen’s equality because it shows thegrowth pattern of where we were, whatwe’re doing now, and what is to come.”

Sharrock added she has been in-spired by the women in her family, andhas learned no matter what, to keepmoving forward, and “give it your all;never settle for anything less than whatyou deserve.”

Air Force Lt. Col. Kerry Latham, a

craniofacial surgeon at Walter ReedBethesda, expressed she has had thefreedom to choose a career without see-ing gender as a factor.

“I have felt fortunate that I have notconsidered my gender, or anyone else’s,to have negatively impacted or signifi-cantly influenced choices I have madeor opportunities I have had,” Lathamsaid. “I have my dream job, in my favor-ite city, at the best MTF (military treat-ment facility), taking care of the great-est patients. I am a pediatric craniofa-cial surgeon and that is what I wantedto be.”

Latham added she enjoys serving inuniform and taking care of those whoserve with her, as well as those whohave served, and their families. Sheappreciates having great mentors andfriends helping her along the way, andis grateful for her patients and the trustthey have in her, she said.

“I am also grateful for my colleaguesand co-workers who work as a teamto make great things happen for pa-tients,” Latham continued. “My great-est achievement happens every time apatient tells me they are happy with theresult of their surgery. I like to makepeople happier and healthier.”

She encourages junior enlisted mem-bers to seek out mentorships and not beafraid to ask for help in making theircareer dreams come true.

Navy Capt. Carolyn R. McGee, assis-tant director for nursing at Walter ReedBethesda, said she hopes opportunitiescontinue to grow for women in uniform,such as the submarine community re-cently opening to women, and morecommand at sea opportunities becom-ing available.

“In health care, the number of fe-male physicians has increased in recentdecades,” McGee added. “The numberof female physicians has certainly in-creased since I started nursing over 20years ago.”

Throughout McGee’s career, she saidshe had many mentors, mostly seniorNurse Corps officers who assisted herat various times. When she joined theNavy Nurse Corps, she recalls havingan opportunity to meet the Nurse CorpsDirector, Rear Adm. Mariann Stratton.She described the admiral as “polishedand articulate,” and she was very im-pressed by her.

McGee recommends not only to ju-nior enlisted, but all service members:“Know what you want to achieve, setshort- and long-term goals and iden-tify mentors. Take care of the peoplewho work for you, and take care of yourhealth.”

As for the future of women’s equality,McGee said, “I am eagerly awaiting theelection of the first female president ofthe United States.”

Women’s Equality Day is Aug. 26

Women In, Out of Uniform Making an Impact


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