The summer months are here, bringing with them family vacation time, a break from school, and a break from the challenge of cold weather for those of us that live and work in cooler climates. The summer also brings, as many of you know, a decrease in blood donations. This means we must remain vigilant in our efforts to collect, process, ship and transfuse blood for ill or injured service members in need.

 

To that end, I am pleased to announce the launch of our 2014 summer campaign. This year's campaign is educational in nature; designed to help our military family better understand who we are, exactly what we do, and the ways in which we save lives worldwide.

 

As we prepare for the campaign's launch on July 1, I encourage everyone to remind friends and family how important their support is, whether you donate blood, volunteer, or simply spread the word. Your support guarantees mission success for the ASBP.

 

In this month's issue, you'll meet Maj. Tawanda Harris and Denise Chavez. Blood donations helped saved Harris' life as she battled to overcome illness. Chavez was named the Lackland Blood Donor Center civilian of the month for her dedication to the ASBP.  We also welcome the ASBP's newest group of military blood bank fellows and check in with the ASBBC-PNW to learn about a blood drive aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.   

 

In closing, my heartfelt thank you to everyone for welcoming me as the new ASBP director. For those readers who are part of the ASBP community, please continue to share with us your great success stories, experiences and achievements. Stand tall, be proud! You are a member of the Armed Services Blood Program, and what you do is important to our warfighters, our beneficiaries, and to me.

 

This first month has been exciting, and I look forward with anticipation to the many wonderful things we will accomplish, working together, in the months to come.

 

Respectfully,

Capt. Roland Fahie

An old proverb says to really understand someone you have to walk a mile in his or her shoes. No one understands that better than Maj. Tawanda Harris. During a recent blood drive, she shed some light on why this way of thinking means more to her today than ever before. Read her story.

Join us in welcoming aboard to the latest group of military blood bankers! These wonderful Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen recently graduated from the Specialist in Blood Banking Fellowship Program. Many of the program's graduates have gone on to win the ASBP's Lifetime Achievement Award, so we are looking forward to seeing the great things they will accomplish in their careers.

Pictured from left to right: Army Capt. Joshua Kuper, Navy Lt. j.g. Matthew Coon, Army Capt. Joseph Cheser, Navy Lt. j.g. Tamara Belin, Army Capt. Veronica Ortiz and Air Force Capt. Brian Cruz.

Thanks to Josh and Angelica Kuper for sharing this great photo with us.

Learn more about the SBB Fellowship.

               

What is a little longer than the Eiffel Tower lying on its side, produces enough power to provide electricity to a small city, floats on water and has crew members that save lives? The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). Read more about this floating city with big hearts.

Vascular Solutions, Inc., has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity to develop a freeze dried plasma product for use in battlefield treatment of severe hemorrhage. The agreement will form the basis for the Army to develop a freeze dried plasma product over the next four to six years. Learn more.