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From the Desk of:
Col. Francisco Rentas, Director, ASBPO
 In this issue of the Focal Point, we encourage everyone who is eligible to roll up your sleeves and donate blood, introduce you to the new blood donor center facility at Fort Benning, Ga., and we see how one unit is "fueling life" at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Around this time each year, we begin to look forward to spending more time with our loved ones and friends. For some ill or injured service members worldwide, they need your donation to help ensure that they can continue to look forward to the same thing. Join us this summer; save the lives of your brothers and sisters in arms by donating blood to the Armed Services Blood Program.
Warm regards,
COL Francisco Rentas |
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This Summer, Support Your Brothers and Sisters in Arms
Falls Church, Va., July 2, 2012- -The sum mer months are in full swing and the Armed Services Blood Program wants to remind everyone that your brothers and sisters in arms still need you! "It is common for blood donations to decrease over the summer; however, the need for blood does not," said Col. Francisco Rentas, director of the Armed Services Blood Program. "This year, we want to make sure you know that your donations directly support your brothers and sisters in arms-whether they are serving overseas or at home." Read the entire press release on the ASBP website. |
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New Blood Donor Center Facility to Open at Fort Benning, Ga.
Back in May 2011, the Army Corps of Engineers broke ground for a new blood donor center facility at Fort Benning, Ga. On July 24, 2012, just over a year later, the Armed Services Blood Program, Martin Army Community Hospital and Fort Benning will host the grand opening of the state-of-the-art facility. The new LTC Eugene R. Sullivan Memorial Blood Center will be located on Sand Hill, Building 3380, 2nd Infantry Division Road, and will allow the staff to better collect, test, store and ship blood products to service members, veterans and their families worldwide.
Read the entire article on the ASBP website.
Photo: The new LTC Eugene R. Sullivan Memorial Blood Center will open on Fort Benning on July 24, 2012. |
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Team Members Receive Army Surgeon General Coin
On June 19, 2012, Col. Frank Rentas, director of the Armed Services Blood Program, on behalf of Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, surgeon general and commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Command, proudly recognized two of the Armed Services Blood Program team members, Steve Blalock of VMD Systems Integrators and Brad Smith of DESE Research, for their outstanding support and dedication to the military blood program. Read the entire article on the ASBP website.
Photo: Steve Blalock (left) and Brad Smith (right), contractors for the Armed Services Blood Program, received the Army Surgeon General's coin and a letter recognizing them for their dedication to the military blood program on June 19, 2012. |
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No Uniform Required
The ASBP Focal Point civilian hero of the month
 For Kari Etchells, a member of Blue Star Mothers of Americas, Inc., sending care packages is a great way to support the military, but she has another simple way of supporting her son, who is currently stationed at Fort Carson--donating blood to the Armed Services Blood Program. Etchells said donating blood means "saving a life, versus sending a care package, so service members can have the opportunity to come home." Read the entire article on the ASBP website. Photo: Stephanie Tyson, a military spouse and veteran proudly shows off her pint of O-negative blood at the 7th annual Fort Carson, Colo., blood drive. Tyson donated to the Armed Services Blood Program in recognition of her deployed husband.
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Picture This!
The ASBP Focal Point picture of the month  Can't donate? That's okay, because we still need you! There are many ways to support the Armed Services Blood Program, even if you are ineligible to give blood. For example, baking these awesome cupcakes with camouflage liners and bringing them to a military blood drive in your area. This would be a great treat for anyone to have after rolling up their sleeves to donate blood for ill or injured service members, veterans and their families worldwide. Find more about these cupcakes and other great ideas for your next blood drive by visiting our Pinterest page, today!
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Checkin' in with the:
Wright-Patterson AFB Blood Donor Center, Ohio
The airmen of the 434th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana have quite a bit in common with the Armed Services Blood Program.
While the comparison might seem like a stretch, consider this: Miles above the earth, the KC-135R Stratotankers circle and wait for military aircraft in need of fuel to continue their assigned missions. When the aircraft in need arrive at its location, the in-flight refueling technician operates a winged and telescoping boom with precision, flying the tip of it into the receptacle of the receiver aircraft at speeds sometimes as high as 350 knots. Once the connection is made and the needed fuel can be transferred from the tanker's body tanks to the receiver aircraft-extending the time they can be in the air to complete their mission.
"It's a great feeling," said Master Sgt. Timothy Stibbe, an in-flight refueling technician in the 74th Air Refueling Squadron. "Giving what we have in our jet to extend the life of other airmen's missions-sounds a lot like what the [Armed Services Blood Program does.] Our missions are very similar in a way, so I bet you feel great, too!"
Read the entire article on the ASBP website.
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 | | ASBP Featured Video |
In this month's video we feature a compilation of photos that demonstrate what the Armed Services Blood Program is all about.
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