Greetings! Welcome to the July edition of Focal Point. On July 1, the Armed Services Blood Program proudly launched its 2015 summer campaign by encouraging everyone to Jack into the Blood Grid and Infuse Life.

 

All donors are connected to the larger mission of saving lives; and each blood, platelet or plasma donation infuses life into ill or injured service members, veterans and their families at home in the U.S. and around the world.

 

It is not uncommon for blood donations to drop during the summer months. As the weather warms up, service members take leave and families take well-deserved vacations. However, the blood supply must be replenished as blood is perishable, while the need is not.  

 

All blood types are needed and walk-in donors are welcome at most donor centers. To find a blood drive near you, visit www.militarydonor.com and conduct a search using your zip code. Jack into the Blood Grid this summer, and help the Armed Services Blood Program infuse life to patients in need, whenever and wherever they need it.

  

In this issue, in addition to launching our summer campaign, you will read about the great support that the ASBP provides throughout U.S. PACOM. We also say farewell to Lt. Col. Ken Pell after 30 years of dedicated service to our program, welcome our noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Sgt. 1st Class John Ahern, and congratulate our newest blood bank fellows. I am honored to serve with each and every one of you because you are the Armed Services Blood Program!  

 

Respectfully,

Capt. Roland Fahie 

The ASBP encourages all blood donors around the world to Jack into the Blood Grid and Infuse Life this summer. Learn more. 

Join us as we welcome Army Sgt. 1st Class John Ahern to the team. Ahern, who serves as the ASBP's noncommissioned officer-in-charge, has a distinguished 12-year military career and one goal in mind: "to have a positive impact on the personnel I serve with and the mission that we accomplish together as a team." Read more. 

 

Army Capt. Nathan Baker, Air Force Capt. Linda Beeman, Navy Lt. Fae DeForrest, Army Capt. Vincent Duncan, Army Maj. Juan Guzman, Navy Lt. Jacob Hasty, Army Capt. Pavel Munerman, French Army Capt. Thomas Pouget, and Air Force Capt. Erica Robinson graduated from the Specialist in Blood Banking Fellowship Program June 23 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, ASBP director, attended the ceremony to recognize and congratulate the graduates. Pouget is the fellowship's third international student, but the first from France. See more photos.