Standard 100413

Vol. 30, No. 28 October 4, 2013

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Social Media What’s Inside

Shutdown Information,p. 2

Preparedness is Key inPreventing Disasters, p. 4

Fort Detrick Gathers forFall Fest 2013, p. 6

ELLEN CROWNUSAMRMC PAO

Researchers unveiled the world’s firstthought-controlled bionic leg Sept. 25,funded through the U.S. Army Medical Re-search and Materiel Command’s Telemedi-cine and Advanced Technology ResearchCenter and developed by researchers at theRehabilitation Institute of Chicago Centerfor Bionic Medicine.

The New England Journal of Medicinehighlighted the project that marked a mile-stone for prosthetics. Until now, this typeof technology was only available for arms.While the bionic legs aren’t for sale yet, re-searchers are hoping they may be availablecommercially in as little as five years.

“More than 1,600 service members re-turning from Iraq and Afghanistan havesustained amputations,” said Col. JohnScherer, director of USAMRMC’s Clinicaland Rehabilitative Medicine Program. “Ourgoal is to help these men and women par-ticipate fully in life.”

Scherer added that may mean returningactive-duty or gainful employment to thecivilian sector.

“This research is an important step tomake the choice theirs, rather than the in-jury being a deciding factor,” said Scherer.“While we want to keep as many of theseindividuals on active duty as possible, werecognize that some of them must moveon to civilian lives due to the severity oftheir injuries.”

In fact, this technology can apply to civil-ian leg amputees as well. According to theNational Limb Loss Information Center,there may be more than one million ampu-tees in the U.S.

One such civilian amputee is 32-year-oldZac Vawter, who served as RIC’s “test pilot”for the project’s first bionic leg. Vawter is asoftware engineer who lives in Seattle withhis wife and two children. In 2009, he losthis leg in a motorcycle accident.

Vawter first underwent a cutting-edgeprocedure called “TargetedMuscle Reinner-vation” developed by RIC and NorthwesternUniversity. Surgeons redirected nerves from

Vawter’s damaged muscle in his amputatedlimb to healthy muscle above his knee.

Vawter then started learning how to usethe thought-controlled bionic leg. The legis controlled using a computer chip that issimilar to those in modern smartphones.As muscles contract, they generate signalsthat are detected by sensors and analyzedby the computer chip. A specially-designedcomputer program analyzes these signalsand data from sensors in the leg. It instan-taneously decodes the type of movementVawter is trying to perform and then sendsthose commands to the leg. Using musclesignals, in addition to robotic sensors,makes the system safer and more intuitive,according to researchers.

Using the bionic leg, Vawter can walk upramps and stairs, and transition betweenthese activities without stopping. He is alsoable to use his thoughts to change the po-sition of his lower leg while sitting down,something that cannot be done with currentmotorized leg prosthetics.

“This new bionic leg features incrediblyintelligent engineering,” said Levi Hargrove,PhD, the lead scientist of this research atRIC’s Center for Bionic Medicine. “It learnsand performs activities unprecedented forany leg amputee, including seamless tran-sitions between sitting, walking, ascendingand descending stairs and ramps and repo-sitioning the leg while seated.”

Vawter’s bionic leg is a prototype. Whenhe is not working with the research team,Vawter uses a regular prosthetic.

“The bionic leg is a big improvementcompared to my regular prosthetic leg,” saidVawter. “The bionic leg responds quickly andmore appropriately, allowing me to interactwith my environment in a way that is similarto how I moved before my amputation.”

The bionic leg may also help preventfalls. Vawter’s robotic leg had an error rateof about 12 percent. This was reduced toless than two percent with the bionic leg,according to researchers.

Vawter added, “This is a huge milestonefor me and for all leg amputees.”

First ‘Thought-Controlled’ Bionic LegFunded Through Army Medicine Research

Researchersunveiled theworld’s first thought-controlledbionic legSept. 25, fundedthrough theU.S.ArmyMedicalResearchandMaterielCommand’s TelemedicineandAdvancedTechnologyResearchCenteranddevelopedby researchersat theRehabilita-tion InstituteofChicago Center forBionicMedicine. ZacVawter, a lower-limbamputee,servedas the “test pilot.”Photo courtesy of RIC

2 Fort Detrick StandardOctober 4, 2013 Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

Command StaffMaj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr.

Commanding general, U.S. Army Medical

Research and Materiel Command

and Fort Detrick

Col. Steven P. MiddlecampU.S. Army Garrison commander

Editorial StaffFort Detrick Public Affairs Office

The STANDARD is an authorized unofficial newspaper,published every two weeks under the provisions of AR360-1 for the military and civilians at Fort Detrick. Circula-tion is 7,000. The STANDARD is a commercial enterprisenewspaper printed by Comprint Military Publications, 9030Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., 20877, a private firm,in no way connected with the United States Government orDepartment of Defense. The contents of the STANDARD donot necessarily reflect the official views or endorsement ofthe U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S.Army. The appearance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts and supplements, do not constitute endorse-

ment of DoD. Everything advertised in this publication shallbe made available for purchase, use or patronage withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or anyother nonmerit characteristic of the purchaser, user or patron.Editorial content is prepared and edited by the Fort DetrickPublic Affairs Office, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Md.21702-5000. Editorial Offices are in Bldg. 810, Suite 004,telephone 301-619-2018; e-mail: [email protected].

Display ad salesFrederick County 301-921-2800Montgomery County 301-921-2800Classified ads 1-888-670-7100

ext+. 2684Circulation 301-670-2591Editorial 301-619-3319Printed on recycled paperRecycle when finished

Visit our Web site at: www.detrick.army.mil

Provost Marshal Office (301) 619-2652Fire and Emergency Services (301) 619-2528Near Miss Hotline (301) 619-3164USAG Network Enterprise Help Desk (301) 619-2049Balfour Beatty (240) 379-6518Directorate of Public Works Trouble Desk (301) 619-2726Barquist Army Health Clinic (866) 379-3981Post Operator (301) 619-8000

After Duty NumbersImportant After Duty Hour Numbers Domestic Violence

Awareness MonthLisa J. Homer, Family Advocacy Programmanager, ChadDehoff and Brian Dixon decorated a tree on the Blue, andGray Field with purple ribbons in support of October, which isDomestic Violence Awareness Month. The Army’s theme thisyear is, “End Domestic Violence - Recognize it, Report it, Pre-vent it.” Photo by Sidney Hinds

Government ShutdownInformation for Fort DetrickThe following services will remain open until further notice:

All gates at Fort Detrick will remain operational

Family and Morale, Welfare & Recreation services (Fort Detrickand Forest Glen) Child Development Centers and Child,Youth & School Services

Army Emergency Relief offices (Fort Detrick and Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center)

Post Exchange

Military Personnel Division

ID Card Services

Employee Assistance Program

Barquist Army Health Care Facility and Dental Clinic

Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic

Police, Fire, and Emergency Services Personnel

Staff Judge Advocate

Sexual Harassment/ Assault Prevention (SHARP)

Security Office

Public Affairs Office

Work Order Submissions (emergency work orders)

Fitness Center

Post Library

Chapel Services

Community Activity Center

Services closed:

Education Center (Counseling, Tuition Assistance)

Commissary

Equal Employment Opportunity

Visual Information /DA Photo support

Barquist Occupational Health Clinic

There aremany offices closed orminimally staffed during the shut-down. Visit http://www.detrick.army.mil for updated information.

TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY:

It is with deep sadness that I write you regarding the government-wideshutdown, and the actions the Department of the Army must now take tocome into compliance. This great disruption of our operations was madenecessary after Congress failed to enact either a FY 2014 budget or a tem-porary funding measure that would have allowed normal operations tocontinue after the 2013 fiscal year ended on September 30.

While Congress and the President have taken prudent steps to protectmilitary pay for our men and women in harm’s way, our civilian workforcewill likely be deeply and personally impacted. A large number of our civil-ian workforce will be temporarily furloughed beginning today. As Secretaryof Defense Hagel noted recently, decisions about who will be furloughedare dictated solely by law. Please know that if you are furloughed, it in noway diminishes the importance of your work to the Army or our mission.

Coming so soon after a six -day furlough required by budget sequestra-tion, this furloughwill create a tremendous hardship on both our workforceand their families. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers,and that we hope for a speedy resolution to this impasse. Thank you for allyou have done, and will continue to do, for the United States Army.

Gov Shutdown letterfrom SECARMY

SECRETARY OF THE ARMYWASHINGTON

OCT 01 2013

3Fort Detrick StandardOctober 4, 2013Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

NICBR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITYRELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

The last of this year’s Summer StudentSeminar Series, which featured leading sci-entists discussing their current research,was held on Aug. 6. Sponsored by the Na-tional Interagency Confederation for Bio-logical Research, the Series allowed sum-mer students to meet one another and hearabout the broad range of research being car-ried out at the Frederick campus. Studentsfrom the Frederick community, as well asthe National Cancer Institute at Frederickand Fort Detrick, were welcome to attend.The program was started around 1996 by Dr.Howard Young at the NCI, a demonstrationof his dedication to training all levels of thenext generation of scientists.

The lectures were held in Bldg. 549, fromnoon to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. There aregenerally about 60-100 attendees. In this fi-nal event of the summer series, Dr. LaurenKeith treated attendees to pizza and spokeabout her role as Imaging Physicist for theNational Institute of Allergy and InfectiousDiseases. NIAID is part of the National In-stitutes of Health and has an Integrated Re-search Facility at Fort Detrick. The NIAID-IRF manages, coordinates, and facilitatesemerging infectious disease and biodefenseresearch on vaccines, countermeasures,and animal models that could lead to im-proved patient outcomes in human medicalcare. As explained in Keith’s presentation,the IRF is also exploring medical imagingas a tool for infectious disease research, anemerging discipline.

As an undergraduate student majoringin physics at the University of Wisconsin-where, she quipped, “It doesn’t snow allthe time!”-Keith worked in a magnetic reso-nance imaging, or MRI, research laboratory.She went on to obtain both her master’sdegree and doctorate in medical physics.This field of science encompasses medi-cal imaging, which involves non-invasivevisualization of the body’s internal organsand tissue density. Images are producedwhen energy, depending on where it fallson the electromagnetic spectrum, is passedthrough, injected into, or transmitted intoand absorbed by the body. Keith explainedhow technologies like x-rays, computedtomography (commonly known as a CATscan), and single photon emission scanswork, and are used in healthcare to diag-nose musculoskeletal or head trauma, dis-

orders of the heart and lungs, cancer, andother conditions.

Turning to potential research applica-tions, Keith explained that medical imagingcould identify biomarkers, such as metabol-ic activity and blood flow, that are objective-ly measured and can indicate the presenceand/or severity of disease. Her medical im-aging research at the IRF involves infectiousdisease organisms that require special pre-cautions-which she detailed-because thereare currently no vaccines or treatmentsavailable for those diseases, and they areoften fatal. Medical imaging enables fewersubjects to be used for these studies.

Following her presentation, Keith tookquestions from the audience. She observedthat she “really enjoyed the opportunity tospeak to such an engaged, interested audi-ence. It was inspiring to see self-motivatedyoung adults explore and get involved in thescientific community through [the SummerStudent Seminar Series]. Their level of inter-action throughout the talk, and during theQ&A, made it clear that the students werethinking critically and independently - twoessential abilities of great scientists, youngand old.”

Other speakers in the 2013 Summer Stu-dent Seminar Series were Drs. Jay Schnee-cloth, Barry O’Keefe, David Wink, and Shy-am Sharan, all of NCI; Dr. Paul Tooley, U.S.Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Re-search Service; Dr. Kei Amemiya, U.S. ArmyMedical Research Institute of InfectiousDiseases; and Dr. Stephen Cendrowski, De-partment of Homeland Security-NationalBiodefense Analysis and CountermeasuresCenter. Staff from NICBR partner agenciesare invited to speak at the 2014 SummerStudent Seminar Series. If you are inter-ested in speaking, please contact Julie Hart-man at [email protected]. For moreinformation, please visit http://ncifrederick.cancer.gov/Programs/Student/Summer-Students/Seminar.

The mission of the NICBR is to developunique knowledge, tools, and products byleveraging advanced technologies and in-novative discoveries to secure and defendthe health of the American people. In ad-dition to NIAID, NCI, DHS-NBACC, USDA-ARS, and USAMRIID, the NICBR partnersinclude the U.S. Army Medical Researchand Materiel Command, Naval MedicalResearch Command, Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Food and DrugAdministration, and U.S. Army InstallationManagement Command.

Imaging Physicist Delivers FinalTalk of 2013 NICBR Summer

Student Seminar Series

CAPT. SEUNGHO KANG6TH MEDICAL LOGISTICSMANAGEMENT CENTER

The 6th Medical Logistics ManagementCenter hosted the Medical Stability Opera-tions Course to enhance military health sup-port during stability operations, Sept. 10-12,at the Reserve Center, Fort Detrick, Md..

MLMC partnered with the Defense Medi-cal Readiness Training Institute at Fort Samin Houston, Texas, to bring the MSOC teamto Fort Detrick. This move maximized train-ing dollars and enabled the majority ofthe unit to attend the course. Organizersextended an invitation to other units andagencies across Fort Detrick to add a varietyof student experiences to the course.

In all, 36 military personnel and civil-ians from the 6th MLMC, the U.S. ArmyMedical Materiel Agency, the U.S. ArmyMedical Research Institute of InfectiousDiseases, the Walter Reed Army Instituteof Research, Air Force Medial OperationsAgency, and the Joint Vaccine Programcompleted the course.

“We’ve been maintaining five ready-to-deploy teams at all times to provide stra-tegic medical logistics expertise to majorCombatant Commands,” said Col. AnthonyR. Nesbitt, commander of the 6th MLMC,told course attendees. “Understanding stra-tegic concepts of military-to-military andmilitary-to-civilian health engagements,stability operations, and U.S. governmenthumanitarian and disaster response effortsis very important to accomplish that mis-sion.”

The MSOC was developed in responseto increasing demands from deployed andreturning military health support person-nel for more deliberate preparation formilitary health support for stability opera-tions. Engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan,and responses to humanitarian needsaround the globe have moved military ac-

tion toward a new paradigm. This para-digm supports national security throughthe development of stable environmentsthat enable durable peace, and political,economic and human security.

The Department of Defense acknowl-edged the role of the U.S. military in pre-ventive diplomacy with the passage ofDODD 3000.05 in Nov. 2005. This directiveelevated stability operations to a prioritylevel comparable to combat. It also definedstability operations as an overarching termencompassing various military missions,tasks and activities conducted outside theUnited States. DoD coordinated this effortwith other instruments of national powerto maintain or reestablish a safe and secureenvironment for essential governmentalservices, emergency infrastructure recon-struction, and humanitarian relief.

“The MSOC curriculum was designed tobuild a healthcare force that possesses theknowledge, skills and abilities to supportmilitary health support for stability opera-tions including humanitarian assistancein the global arena and to ensure geo-graphical combatant commanders havethe capabilities for integrated stability op-erations,” said Dr. Diana Luan, EducationDirector of MSOC.

Attendee Sgt. 1st Class James T. Bakerfrom the 6th MLMC expressed his satisfac-tion with the course stating, “this three-daycourse helps me better understand the dy-namic requirements of supporting stabilityoperations and the complexity of militarymedical diplomacy within the context of theU.S. strategy and international relations.”

The MSOC course is open to all militaryand civilian personnel. More informationabout the class can be obtained by callingthe Defense Medical Readiness Training In-stitute at (210) 221-9608 or visiting http://www.dmrti.army.mil.

6th Medical LogisticsManagement Center

Hosts the Medical StabilityOperations Course

Travis Betz from the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance within the U.S.Agency for International Development provided information on internationaldisaster response logistics during the Medical Stability Operations Course.

Photo by Capt. Seungho Kang

CAPT. PATRICIA ALVAREZBARQUIST HEALTH CLINIC

Barquist Health Clinic is leveraging theArmy Surgeon General’s strategic vision tomove from a health care system to a systemfor health through its Wellness at Fort Det-rick campaign.

The Surgeon General’s vision, called thePerformance Triad, dictates that activity,nutrition and sleep are essential for improv-ing the Army family’s health, readiness andresilience. It uses a tiered prevention strat-egy to ensure soldiers, family members,retirees and civilians receive the educationand/or services they require to help themmaintain, improve or restore health.

The Wellness at Fort Detrick initiative

will keep personnel apprised of availableservices tailored to help them improve nu-trition, increase physical activity, reduceobesity, manage stress, and other tactics.

Many initiatives are underway. Hereare just a few taking place this month andearly November:

Nutrition: Small changes in diet and ex-ercise are often all it takes to lose weight andincrease fitness levels. Given this fact, thehealth clinic will have a nutritionist avail-able once a week to offer personalized in-formation to patients.

Women’s Health: The clinic is empha-sizing women’s health throughout Octo-ber and is encouraging female patients

Wellness at Fort Detrick

See WELLNESS, continued on page 8


CAREY PHILLIPSUSAMMDA PAO

The Armed Forces Institute ofRegenerative Medicine: WarriorRestoration Consortium, underthe Wake Forest University Schoolof Medicine (Wake Forest BaptistMedical Center) entered into a co-operative agreement with the U.S.Army Medical Research and Ma-teriel Command, the Office of Na-val Research, the Air Force Medi-cal Service, the Office of Researchand Development - Department ofVeterans Affairs, the National In-stitutes of Health, and the Office of

the Assistant Secretary of Defensefor Health Affairs.

The AFIRM II program will fo-cus on five key areas:

- extremity regeneration- craniomaxillofacial regeneration- skin regeneration- composite tissue allotransplan-tation immunomodulation

- genitourinary/lower abdomenreconstruction

Regenerative medicine is a sci-ence that takes advantage of thebody’s natural healing powers torestore or replace damaged tissueand organs. Therapies developedby the AFIRM II program are in-

tended to aid traumatically injuredservicemembers and civilians. Thegoals of the program are to fundbasic through translational re-generative medicine research andto position promising technolo-gies and therapeutic/restorativepractices for entrance into humanclinical trials.

“When warriors come backfrom the battlefield with seriouslife-changing injuries, it is our jobto find new and innovative ways tohelp them. Ultimately, we’d liketo create new treatments to re-pair these severe injuries as if theynever happened,” said Maj. Gen.

Joseph Caravalho Jr., commandinggeneral of the USAMRMC and FortDetrick. “The science of regenera-tive medicine is one of the ways wefulfill our promise to service mem-bers who put themselves in harm’sway, that we will work our hardestand do our very best to take careof them.”

The original AFIRM coopera-tive agreements, awarded in 2008,focused on limb repair, craniofa-cial repair, burn repair, scarlesswound repair, and compartmentsyndrome. Research under theAFIRM was conducted through

two independent research consor-tia working with the U.S. Army In-stitute of Surgical Research in FortSamHouston, Texas. One researchconsortium was led by Rutgers,the State University of New Jersey,and the Cleveland Clinic (Rutgers-Cleveland Clinic Consortium)while the other was led by WakeForest University Baptist MedicalCenter and The McGowan Insti-tute for Regenerative Medicine inPittsburgh (Wake Forest - Pitts-burgh Consortium).

Learn more about AFIRM II on-line at: http://www.afirm.mil

Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine II CooperativeAgreement Awarded to Warrior Restoration Consortium

GARTH C. PHOEBUSUSAG EMERGENCY MANAGER

U.S. ArmyGarrison andmissionpartners participated in an annual,full-scale exercise designed to testand validate current shelter-in-place plans and procedures Sept.24, at Fort Detrick, Md..

This year participants respond-ed to the touchdown of a tornado.The exercise was conducted to en-sure personnel in the Fort Detrickcommunity understand the impor-tance of being prepared before anincident occurs, especially thoseincidents that can occur withoutnotice, like a tornado.

Exercise participants acknowl-edged that their performanceduring an exercise reveals bothareas for improvement as wellas best practices. As testamentto the progress the area’s emer-gency management communityhas made with disaster prepara-tions, CBS Money Watch rankedthe Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick,Md. region at number five in itslist of the top 10 U.S. cities safestfrom natural disasters. CBS MoneyWatch also reported that hurri-canes are the most likely disasterto occur in this region, but notedthat the area is far enough inland

from the Eastern shore that the fullimpact would be reduced.

While the National Weather Ser-vice can recognize when stormsmay transform into potential torna-does, there are no systems in placeto predict the timing or path of atornado. Tornadoes form withoutnotice and last up to 30 minutes.Hurricanes, on the other hand, doprovide a signature for weatherpatterns to be predicted, however,the paths can also change.

The Fort Detrick community islikely to feel the effects of a winterstorm, flash flooding, heavy rains,and strongwinds. Visit http://www.fema.gov or http://www.ready.govto learn more about what you cando to prepare your home, work,and car against these disasters. Pre-paredness starts with you. Be yourown hero.

Preparedness is Key in Preventing Natural Disasters

Staff shelter-in-place during exer-cise at the Joint Medical LogisticsFunctional Development Center.

Photo by Siegfried Bruner

Staff activate the Emergency Operations Center at Fort Detrick in support of the exercise.Photo by Siegfried Bruner

SHENIQUA BUSHFORT DETRICK INDIVIDUALS WITHDISABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER

October is National DisabilityEmployment Awareness Month.Held each October, this nationalcampaign raises awareness aboutdisability employment issues andcelebrates the many and variedcontributions of American work-ers with disabilities. The themefor 2013 is “Because We Are Equalto the Task.”

Fort Detrick is recognizing thisyear’s observance Oct. 16, at theCommunity Activity Center from

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The entireFort Detrick community is wel-come to attend. The post also willhost a variety of activities to edu-cate the Fort Detrick communityon disability employment issuesand the role they play in fosteringa disability-friendly work culturethroughout the month.

For many with disabilities,employment opportunities oftenrequire accommodations thatprovide a safe and productiveworkplace. Employers know ac-commodations must be made forpeople with physical disabilities,

but may not know how to accom-modate people with disabilitiesthat cannot be physically seen. Itis the responsibility of disabledindividuals to be aware of theirneeds and communicate themto employers. Do not be afraidto ask if it will help you performyour job better.

Anyone with a disability canrequest an accommodation atany time during the applicationprocess or while employed. To re-quest an accommodation simplyinform your employer of the need.There are nomandatory key words

to use when making the request,and neither the American withDisabilities Act nor the phrase“reasonable accommodation” hasto be mentioned.

All requests sent directly toa manager or supervisor by anemployee must be forwarded toa disability program managerwithin two business days. Whenan employee makes a request forreasonable accommodation thatinvolves job performance, the Dis-ability ProgramManager will workwith the employee’s supervisor toensure that an appropriate accom-modation is provided that meets

the needs of the individual andenables that person to perform theessential functions of the position.

NDEAM’s roots go back to 1945when Congress enacted a law de-claring the first week in Octobereach year as “National Employ thePhysically Handicapped Week.” In1962, the word physically was re-moved to acknowledge the employ-ment needs and contributions ofindividuals with all types of disabil-ities. In 1988, Congress expandedthe week to a month and changedthe name to “National DisabilityEmployment Awareness Month.”

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month


MERRIE AIKENUSAMMDA MEDICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS

PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE

The terrain in Afghanistan is tough.Hairpin roads down treacherous hillsides,

sandy valleys between tree-spotted ranges,snow-chilled mountains and plains, mudfrom snowmelt, narrow passes filled withboulders, and rivers, and more mud. Add inextremes of temperature, the danger of flashflooding and earthquakes, and the expecta-tion of unexploded land mines and impro-vised explosive devices. Add in sniper gun-fire, heavy artillery, and wounded warriors.

How can the United States military safelyevacuate its casualties without endangeringthe rescuers?

Given the mountainous terrain and in-clement weather, which restrict the use ofMEDEVAC helicopters, reaching casualtiesis one thing. Treating them while gettingthem off the battlefield, under fire, to com-bat support hospitals is another. Minutessaved using litter assist to load woundedwarriors into a mine-resistant ambush-pro-tected ambulance can make the differencebetween life and death.

The Medical Support Systems ProjectManagement Office at theU.S. ArmyMedicalResearch and Materiel Command’s MedicalMateriel Development Activity works withmilitary, government, and industry partnersto improve equipment and evacuation ca-pabilities, giving minutes back, saving lives.

MRAP vehicles are armored vehicles witha blast-resistant, V-bottomed hull designedto protect the crew from mine blasts, frag-mentary and direct-fire weapons.

“The existing litter loading system onMaxxPro Plus solid-axle ambulances usedin Operation Enduring Freedom does notfully meet objective requirements for safeand easily accessible litter loading,” saidJaime Lee, Medical Support Systems Proj-ect Management Office product manager.“The current MaxxPro Plus ambulance re-

quires four soldiers to lift and load, so thatmedics and casualties remain safe duringmedical evacuation.”

Loading a casualty into and out of theback of a currentMRAPMaxxPro ambulanceis a time- and labor-intensive task. The backof the ambulance is elevated and requires astep ladder to enter the back hatch.

SavingMinutesandLiveswithLitterAssistonMine-ResistantAmbulance

NewMaxxPro Plus ambulance configuration, with litters side by side. Litters folddown over seats. Note patient on litter at left. Seat at the end of the aisle is for themedic. The Plus ambulance can accommodate two litter patients or up to fiveambulatory patients. Photo courtesy of Navistar Defense

Uparmored MRAP MaxxPro Plus ambu-lance with independent suspension anddual rear wheels. Photo by U.S. Army

Loading a casualty into the back of anMRAPMaxxPro ambulance now requiresfourmen ascending a step ladder.

Photo by U.S. Army

See ASSIST, continued on page 10

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NICK MINECCIUSAG PAO

Hundreds of members of the Fort Detrickcommunity, Soldiers, families and friends, gath-ered under blue skies and warm autumn weath-er on the Blue and Gray Field Oct. 29 for FortDetrick’s Fall Fest.Attendees had a variety of activities to take

in; two moon bounces, animals for feeding andpetting, pony rides, face painting, games, foodandmusic provided by The Jazz Ambassadors ofthe U.S. Army Field Band.

The Jazz Ambassadors played a variety ofsongs, including big band swing, Latin, contem-porary jazz, standards, Dixieland and patrioticselections. At the end of the day they played Re-treat as the flag was lowered.“This is such a great day, I can’t believe they

were able to put together something that has ev-erything for people from grandparents to grand-kids,” said Shawn Coulter, a senior program an-alyst with the U.S. ArmyMedical Materiel Devel-opment Activity. “It’s such a beautiful day, this issomething really special. I’m glad I brought thefamily here today, and will be looking forward toit again next year.”

Fort Detrick CommunityGathers for Fall Fest 2013

The U.S. flag is lowered in front of Bldg. 810 as The Jazz Ambassadors play Retreatduring the Fort Detrick Fall Fest, Sept. 29. Photo by Nick Minecci, USAG PAO

4-year-old Brooke has the bounce house to herself at Fort Detrick’s Fall Fest,Sept. 29. Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMRMC PAO

When Americus, a 2-year-old potbelly pig, isn’t entertaining kids at FortDetrick’s Fall Fest, she lives on a farm in Jefferson, Md.

Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMRMC PAO

Tracy Chrovian, a Fort Detrick MWR volunteer, organizes garden herbs with herhusband and daughter. They distributed the plants to Fall Fest attendees, hop-ing to encourage a new crop of gardeners.

Photo by Ellen Crown, USAMRMC PAO


JULIUS L. EVANSNMLC PAO

Capt. Mary Seymour replacedCapt. James B. Poindexter III asCommanding Officer of the NavalMedical Logistics Command onSept. 5.

In a ceremony featuring specialguest speaker Rear Adm. DonaldR. Gintzig, Deputy Surgeon Gen-eral (Acting), Bureau of Medicineand Surgery, Capt. Seymour ac-cepted the reins of command withthe simple phrase, “I am ready torelieve you sir.”

Rear Adm. Gintzig explainedNMLC’s unique role at the event,sharing that the command en-sures that all forces remain afloatand military treatment facilitiesaround the globe have world-classmedical equipment on-hand totreat our nation’s warfighters andtheir families. He thanked the out-going commander for his dedi-cated service stating, “Bernie hasdone everything we have asked ofhim and he has done it efficiently,on schedule, and in many instanc-es, on or under budget.”

During his tenure, Poindexteroversaw the acquisition of threemobile Magnetic Resonance Imag-ing systems sent to Afghanistan toaid in the diagnosis and treatmentof mild traumatic brain injury.“Nothing like this had ever been at-tempted before and Bernie ensuredit went off flawlessly,” said Gintzig.

“It has truly been an extraordi-nary honor and privilege to serveas the commanding officer of theNaval Medical Logistics Com-mand over the last three yearsand I could spend considerable

time today talking about our sig-nificant accomplishments andvalue to Navy Medicine,” saidCapt. Poindexter said in a heart-felt speech. He expressed hisconfidence in Seymour’s abilityto lead the command along itsjourney towards continued pro-cess improvement and enhancedoperational relevance.

Seymour accepted her posi-tion having previously servedas Comptroller at the AnnapolisNaval Medical Clinic, and as De-partment Head for the MaterialsManagement and ManagementInformation where she noted shedeveloped a passion for being alogistician, or “logtroller,” as shejokingly referred to the role.

“NMLC has proven that it is anagile force capable of providing lo-gistics and acquisition support toNavy and Marine Corps customersat home and abroad and a willingpartner to its Air Force and Armycounterparts, ensuring that today’swarfighters are always the first pri-ority,” said Seymour stated in herremarks. She added that as the com-mand embarks on its new journey,resource constraints and the De-fense Health Agency transition willinevitably impact the way it con-ducts business, presenting unique

challenges and opportunities.Seymour admitted that, for

now, those challenges and oppor-tunities will include re-acclimatingherself to the day-to-day activitiesof overseeing the administration ofindividualized, state-of-the-art so-lutions to meet customers’ medi-cal materiel and healthcare serviceneeds world-wide.

Prior to working in Annapo-lis, Seymour served as the NavyPersonnel Command’s technicaladvisor for all staff corps promo-tion selection boards and as the

branch head for all officer selec-tion boards, in Millington, Tenn.She was Director for Resources atthe U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spainand U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicineand Surgery.

Seymour attended the NavalPostgraduate School in Monterey,Calif., earning a Master of Sciencedegree in Management specializ-ing in financial management. Sheearned her second Master of Sci-ence degree in National SecurityStrategy from the National WarCollege in June 2013.

Seymour Takes Helm of Naval Medical Logistics Command

Rear Adm. Gintzig presents Capt. James B. Poindexter III with a Legion of Merit Award for hissuccess as the outgoing NMLC Commanding Officer. Photos courtesy of NMLC

Capt. Mary Seymour thankedceremony attendees.

Forest Glen Fire Department Staff Recognized

On Oct. 2, the staff at Forest GlenFire Department were recognizedfor their actions during a fire onApr. 2, where mutual aid was pro-vided to Montgomery County foran apartment building fire withthe report of persons trapped. Onarrival, the crew from Engine 754assisted with rescue and evacu-ations of the building occupants.For their life saving efforts, pic-tured from left to right, firefighterKaren Montgomery, firefighterCurtis King, firefighter Jon Hollenand Captain George Keefer, wererecipients of a unit citation awardpresented by Chief Steve Lohr,Montgomery County Division ofFire and Rescue.

Photo by Fire Chief Brian Wheeler


Pooch Plunge

Family and MWR hosted “Pooch Plunge” on Sept. 21at the Fort Detrick outdoor pool. The event broughtmore than 25 canines that enjoyed one last dip beforethe pool is winterized and closed for the season.

Photo by Alisa Hill

CAPT. MARK T. ANDERSONCO. A, 53RD SIGNAL BATTALION COMMANDER

International partners from Belgium, Canada, Denmark,Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, joinedUnited States representatives of Company A, 53rd SignalBattalion, at the Alpha Company Global Satellite Centeron Fort Detrick, Sept. 23, to discuss a memorandum of un-derstanding between the international partners related toglobal satellite communications.

The MOU is a 20-year agreement, established in January2012, with three main objectives: to cooperatively enhancethe WGS System capability through addition of a ninth sat-ellite; to enhance the basis for long-term cooperation inmilitary satellite communications that is mutually benefi-cial and promotes interoperability amongst strategic allies;and to develop and document cooperative concepts of op-eration, operating instructions and procedures.

The agreement provides the foundation for Canada,Luxembourg (and Belgium as a Third-Party via Luxem-bourg sponsorship), the Netherlands, and New Zealand, tobecome partners in the Wideband Global Satellite System.

Alpha Company executes transmissions and satellitecontrol for WGS satellites. By providing these controlcapabilities, Alpha Company supports assured accessto WGS system resources for the International Partners.The MOU provides these international partners access toWGS resources commensurate with their contribution tothe program.

This means each international partner contributed fund-ing that correlates with the amount of WGS system resourc-es provided. Alpha Company enables the MOU partnershipby providing transmissions control capabilities.

In addition to hosting the Project Status Review, Al-pha Company led an operational controller discussion.Participants from each nation engaged in a dialogue withWSOC Controllers, which included best practices and les-sons learned.

Company A, 53rd SignalBattalion Host International

Partners to DiscussSatellite Communications

CHARLES HARRIDAYUSAG INSTALLATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT OFFICE

The Fort Detrick Installation Safety Management Of-fice and Telemedicine and Advanced Technology ResearchCenter co-hosted the first ever Fort Detrick Bike Night onAug. 29. The night brought together retired or active dutymilitary, and Department of Defense civilian motorcyclistenthusiasts.

Organizers sponsored Bike Night to provide a fun andsocial environment for motorcyclists of all ages, experienceand affiliations. The gathering provided senior motorcy-clists the opportunity to mentor new riders and share theirriding encounters and knowledge. Most riders believe thatsharing stories and exchanging safety information will low-er high-risk behavior.

Riders also enjoyed competitions including a slow rolland bragging rights for the cleanest ride.

Bike Night BringsExperienced andNew Riders Together

For more news from other bases aroundthe Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com

due for a pap smear or mammogram to schedule an ap-pointment Oct. 21-25, by calling 301-619-4674.

Flu Vaccination: DOD civilians and eligible militarybeneficiaries may receive influenza vaccinations in build-ing 1507, Oct. 15-17 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Eligibledependent children and families may receive vaccinationsOct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Group Discussions: The clinic will begin offering dis-cussion groups starting Nov. 6, on topics ranging frompain management to coping with chronic illness. Formore information please contact Capt. Patricia Alvarez at301-619-4674.

ArmyWellness Center Assessments: On Nov. 7, the clinicis hosting personnel from the Carlisle Barracks Army Well-ness Center at Fort Detrick. Staff will be available to meetwith soldiers, dependents, retirees and DA civilians to as-sess their health and nutrition and provide managementtechniques empowering participants to maintain a healthylifestyle, prevent illness and seek care as required. Individu-als interested in enrolling in the program may contact Sgt.1st Class Randolph Canzater at 301-619-4661.

WELLNESS, continued from page 3

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HEATHER MCDOWELL DUONGUSAMRMC PAO

The U.S. Army Medical Re-search and Materiel Commandhosted its quarterly awards cere-mony followed by a potluck at Bldg.810, Sept. 23, handing out awardsto more than 25 military and civil-ian recipients.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr.,kicked off the ceremony emphasiz-ing the importance of recognizingthe extraordinary achievementsand dedication of awardees, or “su-per stars,” as he proudly referred tothem. Awardees received honorsranging from the prestigious Meri-torious ServiceMedal, presented toCol. Dan Kral, Lt. Col. Philip Smith,and Maj. Sarah Goldman, to cer-tificates representing five yearsof service. Other awards handedout at the ceremony included theArmy Achievement Medal, theCommander’s Award for CivilianService, the Certificate of Appre-ciation, and several other awards.

Honoree Dr. Katherine Moore,who received the Commander’sAward for Civilian Service, echoedthe sentiments expressed by otherrecipients when she remarkedhow she attributes her successesto a strong and enthusiastic team.

Reflecting on his award, Wal-ter Orellana shared, “I would liketo thank my MRMC family for thesupport they have shown me, en-abling me to receive this recogni-tion of achievement. This awardexemplifies ‘team’ because thecombination of the command and

my family made this all possible.”Ceremony attendees continued

to celebrate team camaraderie ata tailgate-themed potluck imme-diately following the ceremony.Staff members brought their favor-ite foods, from chicken and sand-wiches to cupcakes and brownies.

Headquarters Celebrates Quarterly Awardees

USAMRMC hosts its quarterly awards ceremony Sept. 23 at itsheadquarters in Bldg. 810. Walter Orellana (center), joined by hisdaughter Adriana Orellana, accepted his Certificate of Achieve-ment presented by Capt. Kathryn Repucci (right) and handed outby Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr. (left).

Photo by Heather McDowell Duong

CAREY PHILLIPSUSAMMDA PAO

The U.S. Army Medical Re-search and Materiel Commandannounced the award of eightcooperative agreements to twoconsortia in support of the Re-storative Transplantation Re-search Program.

This program, which is partof the Clinical and Rehabilita-tive Medicine Research Program,is funded through the AssistantSecretary of Defense for HealthAffairs, Defense Health ProgramResearch and Development Office.

As part of its regenerative andrestorative research, USAMRMChas supported 10 hand transplantsand four face transplants duringthe past five years.

“This innovative work has thepotential to make a significant im-pact on improving the function,wellness, and overall quality of lifefor injured military service mem-bers, veterans and the Americanpublic,” said Kathleen Berst, act-ing director of the Regenerative

and RestorativeMedicineManage-ment Team at the U.S. Army Medi-cal Materiel Development Activity.The first consortium is led by Emo-ry University and supported by theUniversity of Maryland, the Chris-tine M. Kleinert Institute for HandandMicrosurgery at the Universityof Louisville and the Children’sHospital of Philadelphia.

The second consortium is ledby Johns Hopkins University andsupported by the MassachusettsGeneral Hospital and the Mc-Gowan Institute for Regenera-tive Medicine at the Universityof Pittsburgh.

The consortia will focus onseveral research topics, includingimmune tolerance to enhance thepatient’s acceptance of the trans-plant, new techniques to lengthenthe time surgeons have to trans-plant the tissue, and processes tomake monitoring of such trans-plants uniform across the institu-tions that perform the surgeries.

RestorativeTransplantationResearch CooperativeAgreement Awarded

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“A time trial, using a four-man teamwithout gear in a secure environment toload a litter bearing a 200-pound soldier,took more than four minutes and involvedsome safety issues, such as the litter teamlosing balance while ascending the step lad-der,” said Lee.

“Once the litter is inside the ambulance,maneuvering the casualty and litter on tothe litter support arms is very awkward,because space is limited,” said Lee. Ifsoldiers did not need to climb the stairswhile loading the litter and then readjustthe litter onto the litter support arms, thephysical demands would be lessened onthe litter team.”

The MSS PMO mission is to develop,procure, and sustain the best medical evac-uation, combat casualty care support, andoperational and preventive medicine solu-tions for the combat soldier.

“The solution is the MRAP MaxxPro Pluslong wheel base vehicle with the litter assistsystem retrofitted from the MaxxPro DashDXM variant of MRAP vehicles,” said Lee.“The loading and unloading takes less thana minute and is much safer and easier touse than the current system. Using the Dashambulance litter loading system wouldeliminate the difficulty of climbing stairs toload the litter.”

The Army Medical Department verifiedthe load time at a review in Detroit, whenthe kit was first installed.

The Vice Chief of Staff of The Army se-lected the MRAP III study course of actionon Mar. 14. Currently, 301 MaxxPro Plusvehicles with independent suspensionsystems will be converted to ambulances.AMEDD worked with the Joint MRAP Vehi-cle Program and found that the MRAP Dashlitter loading system was an acceptablecourse of action for the Plus ambulance.

“AMEDD has a contract in place throughTank Automotive Research, Development,and Engineering Center to install a retrofit-ted Dash system into a government-ownedPlus ambulance for user evaluation, coor-dinated with the Joint MRAP Vehicle Pro-gram,” said Lee. “Work is expected to befinished 4th quarter of FY13.”

Why not use the very maneuverableMaxxPro Dash ambulance itself?

The Army Test and Evaluation Commandcompleted the limited user test of the DashDXM ambulance with the independent sus-pension system in November 2011 at YumaProving Ground, Ariz., in accordance with theDirector of Operational Test & Evaluation-approved test plan. The ambulance kit wasinserted into theDashMRAP vehicles in FY12.

DOT&E provided an operational as-sessment of the Dash DXM ambulance inAugust 2012: The patient compartmentis small, and litter births are not longenough to accommodate patients tallerthan 5 feet 11 inches. The small interiordoes not store enough medical equipmentand hampers the ability of the medic totreat patients. Aligning the litter into the

rail system is often difficult while loadingpatients into the Dash ambulance. On theother hand, the Dash ambulance vehicleis reliable and survivable.

The Dash litter loading systemwill be ret-rofitted into a government-owned MaxxProPlus vehicle with independent suspensionfor test and evaluation. The MaxxPro Acqui-sition Program Management team plans totake the demonstrator vehicle design andcomplete an engineering change proposalin January 2014 for potential production ofretrofit kits.

AMEDD and Navistar Defense, builder ofthe MaxxPro line of vehicles, through TAR-DEC/Primus, are working together to createa demonstrator Plus ambulance retrofittedwith a Dash litter loading system to conducta limited user test.

To better handle the tough terrain, US-AMMDA worked with Navistar Defense toretrofit vehicles with an independent sus-pension system that dampens the roughride and is critical to prevent further dam-age to wounded warriors, especially to thosewith traumatic brain injuries.

According to John Akalaonu, deputyprogram manager for the Navistar DefenseMaxxPro family of vehicles, the solid axleswere replaced by putting theMRAPMaxxProBase vehicle body onto a new rolling chassiswith independent suspension and bigger en-gine to create the long wheel base MaxxProPlus that will be used for the 301 new ambu-lances. The Dash, which was designed to belighter, smaller, and with a shorter turning

radius, has a shorter wheelbase.“The chassis swap gained 18 inches in

length,” saidScottZion,MaxxProchief engineer.The litter can comfortably carry Soldiers

taller than 6 feet 3 inches (the Army standard).“The litter loading sequence takes about 15seconds,” said Akalaonu. “Unloading is aboutthe same,with amaximumof 20 seconds. Twopeople are required to load and secure a pa-tient in the long wheel base ambulance.”

The litter trolley is wider in the proto-type to handle more kinds of litters, and thealignment is adjustable. Magnets along thetrolley rails help keep the litter aligned andin place. The landing brackets have been in-creased, and the litter arms are stationary.

The rear dual-wheeled design helps carryincreased payload, such as the ambulancekit. The Plus was further modified to accom-modate additional armoring formore protec-tion against explosively formed penetrators.

“Medical Research and Materiel Com-mand has always worked closely with theprogram managers at Tank-Automotive andArmaments Command to design, develop,build, test andfield ambulances for theDoD,”said Lee. “TheMaxxPro Plus ambulance withthis new litter loading system is truly a stateof the art vehicle for medical evacuation.”

“We have now achieved our objective re-quirement,” said Hawbecker. “TheMaxxProPlus ambulance retrofit is a move forwardto safeguarding medics and their woundedwarriors at point of injury.”

ASSIST, continued from page 5

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