Neurologist brings brain injury expertise to Iraq

Oct 23, 2008
BY Pfc. Michael Schuch
1st Armored Division

Lt. Col. Margaret Swanberg checks the pupils of Spc. Michael Woywood while demonstrating a military acute concussion evaluation at Forward Operating Base Hammer in Iraq. Photo by Pfc. Michael Schuch, 1st Armored Division

Medics and doctors maintain the health and safety of Soldiers. Lt. Col. Margaret Swanberg, the only Army neurologist deployed to Iraq, brings especially important skills to the combat theater.

Roadside-bomb explosions have been a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries that can vary from compression and bruising of the brain to damage to the nerves that send signals from the brain to the rest of the body.

Swanberg serves as the officer in charge of the Sgt. Robertson Aid Station at Forward Operating Base Hammer. Her dedication to the job benefits Soldiers all over Iraq, as she trains medics throughout the country on military acute concussion evaluation, or MACE.

The MACE technique allows medics and doctors to tell whether Soldiers show signs of traumatic brain injuries by asking a series of questions. The questions test long-term and short-term memory, as well as basic motor functions.

“The symptoms [of traumatic brain injuries] include headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears and the ‘thousand yard stare,’” Swanberg said. “These are all indicators that the Soldier could be the victim of a traumatic brain injury, and that person should be screened.”

For six years before her deployment, Swanberg worked as a behavioral neurologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., treating patients who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Being the only Army neurologist in the country is a huge responsibility, but Swanberg said she feels more than up to the task.

“I provide consultation [to unit medics and doctors] through e-mail and in person, and if need be, I am able to fly to Baghdad and even to the [forward operating bases] to evaluate and treat the Soldiers,” Swanberg said. “Without having a neurologist in country, the Soldiers would have to be sent back to our medical facilities in Kuwait or even Germany for treatment. That can take a month or longer to get the Soldier back in his unit.”

AW2 opens its doors to more wounded warriors

Oct 28, 2008
BY Elizabeth M. Collins

Sgt. Maj. Brent Jurgersen talks about changes to the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program. Photo by Elizabeth M. Collins

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 28, 2008) - The Army Wounded Warrior Program has expanded it’s criteria so more severely wounded, ill and injured Soldiers can participate, the program’s leaders said in an interview Friday.

Program director Col. Jim Rice and Sgt. Maj. Brent Jurgersen said that Soldiers with a combined disability rating of 50 percent will be eligible for the program as long as the injuries are combat-related.

For example, if a Soldier has a 10-percent rating on his hand, 20-percent on his leg and 20-percent due to traumatic brain injury, he would now qualify for AW2 if those injuries were combat-related. In the past, Soldiers were required to have a 30-percent disability rating for a single injury or illness.

“As we were laying out the criteria for the Army Wounded Warrior Program in a briefing for senior leaders, one of the responses was that they thought maybe the program wasn’t as inclusive as it needed to be. That they had, in their visits to Army installations, come across Soldiers and families who needed the support of programs like the Army Wounded Warrior Program,” said Rice. He and Jurgersen pointed out that those Soldiers may be more in need of assistance than the wounded Soldiers who were traditionally eligible for the program, founded in 2004.

“It is the right decision to make,” said Jurgersen. “This population captures what our mission is and that is to take care of the most severely wounded and ill Soldiers and their families. This change in eligibility criteria just kind of capitalizes on that…so we can reach those Soldiers who have that need.”

Soldiers with a disability rating of 30 percent for a single injury or illness, whether combat-related or not, remain eligible for the program as well. These Soldiers have typically lost a limb, vision or hearing, have suffered severe burns or have severe post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. About 3,400 Soldiers are currently enrolled in the program.

Newly-eligible Soldiers don’t have to do anything to enroll in AW2. The program will contact them, and even if Soldiers and their families don’t want to participate or need assistance, program officials said AW2 will keep them on the rolls and periodically check in.

With a ratio of 30 Soldiers and families to one advocate, AW2 can assist Soldiers with everything from finding medical care, to getting disability benefits from Social Security and the Veteran’s Administration to finding employment and educational opportunities, said Rice.

Even something as simple as helping Soldiers move can make a huge difference to them, said Jurgersen, who speaks from experience. He became AW2’s senior enlisted advisor after two severe combat injuries. After an infection left him temporarily unable to use a prosthetic, AW2 found three college students to help set up his new house.

Jurgersen was wounded in 2004 in Iraq when a bullet ricocheted through his face, his jaw and down his throat. After extensive rehabilitation, he decided to rejoin his unit in Iraq, only to be hit with a rocket-propelled grenade three weeks before they were supposed to return home. The attack killed one Soldier and left Jurgersen with a skull fracture, injuries to his right hand, right leg and enough damage to his left leg to require amputation.

“When I woke up I really thought my life was over as I knew it,” he said. “Here’s a person who prided himself in his career, his physical fitness and his capabilities of leading Soldiers and just like that it’s gone. But you learn. I’ll never forget one of the people who walked into my room. He was a double amputee from the Vietnam era. He walked in, and maybe it was the drugs, but I never noticed anything. He sat down and we were talking and he said, ‘I’m a double amputee myself.’ It kind of made you think.”

The program means so much, he said, because Soldiers like him are proud. He said he would never have asked for help if AW2 hadn’t recognized he needed some.

“I could tell you stories all day long. I could tell you stories of a young lady I met in California who spent the last four years either in a military hospital, a VA polytrauma hospital or a civilian hospital, who went home for the first time … She went from being in a coma for six months to walking me out to my car. Those things are great. I met a young man on the same trip. Also, spent the last four years of his life in a hospital or a polytrauma, quadriplegic from the neck down, blows in a tube to move his wheelchair around. But for the first time in his life, he is looking to find a caregiver and an apartment for himself,” Jurgersen said.

Both he and Rice pointed out that the AW2 program works with families as well, and in fact that family members are often their primary contacts.

The program is distinct from the Warrior Transition Units around the Army, although about 800 AW2 Soldiers are in WTUs as well. The majority, however, have already transitioned to civilian life, and a small percentage have returned to active duty.

Chief: Dwell time increase will enable Army to balance

Oct 30, 2008
BY Dave Melancon

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. discusses trends for future deployments and the Army’s structure with officers and noncommissioned officers of U.S. Army Europe’s 172nd Infantry Brigade during an informal meeting in the unit’s headquarters in Grafenwoehr, Germany Oct. 29. Photo by Dave Melancon

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany (Oct. 30, 2008) — Soldiers and their families can expect to spend more time together between deployments thanks to continuing success in Iraq and the steady growth of the Army’s ranks, the service’s top officer said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. visited with Soldiers and family members of U.S. Army Europe’s 172nd Infantry Brigade in Germany Oct. 29. During a series of three roundtable discussions and a lunchtime meeting with the brigade’s officers, noncommissioned officers, Soldiers and Family Readiness Group leaders, he said dwell time — the amount of time a Soldier or unit remains at home station between deployments — will grow from 12 months to 24 over the next three years.

“As the demand for our forces stays at what it is now, we are growing the Army by about 75,000 (Soldiers) between now and 2010, and we will gradually add more units,” Gen. Casey said. “So because of the growth and the demand being held steady, the time that Soldiers stay home between deployments gradually increases.”

Dwell time is expected to increase from 18 months in 2009 to 24 months in 2011, he said.

Casey said the increase in troop strength will be completed by 2011. At that point, about 15 brigades will be prepared to fight irregular conflicts and 14 more trained for other missions.

About 80 percent of the Army’s brigades have been converted to modular formations in the largest organizational change the Army has seen since World War II, Casey told junior officers and senior NCOs here. These modular units are trading their Cold War-era skills for those needed for 21st-century conflicts ranging from conventional battle to asymmetric warfare.

The effects of continuous deployments accumulate and are wearing Soldiers and their families down, the general said.

“We’ve got to give our folks more time at home so they can fully recover from the repeated deployments,” Casey said.

Units also benefit from longer times between deployments, he added, because leaders have more time to train their Soldiers to fight in conventional and unconventional warfare.

Units with a dwell time of 18 months or less should continue to train for the unconventional fight, Casey said. Units with more than 18 months at home station should enhance their conventional warfare skills.

“We have to build that depth into our force so we can truly operate across the spectrum of conflicts,” he said.

The change in dwell time is one part of bringing the Army back into balance, Casey said.
“We are deploying at a pace that we cannot sustain either from the standpoint of sustaining the all-volunteer force or the strategic flexibility to do other things,” he said. “So last year we started a program that would put us back into balance.”

The program will take about four years to complete, Casey explained. The Army has to continue to support, sustain and care for its Soldiers and Families as it prepares, trains and equips units to fight in current and future conflicts - all while continuing to transform the force.

Casey pledged that the Army will continue its commitment to the Army Family Covenant, noting that funding for Family programs will increase to $1.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2009.

Casey said he wanted to observe how the 172nd has prepared for its upcoming deployment to Iraq with only 12 months to get trained and ready.

“I am very impressed with (how) the leaders, the Soldiers and the Families are dealing with a difficult thing,” he said. “I am very proud of the commitment that I see in the eyes of everybody I have talked to. They believe in what they are doing, and they are going to make a difference.”

Casey also discussed issues concerning medical care for Soldiers and their Families, the possibility of bonus payments to Soldiers whose tours of duty are extended under the Army’s “stop-loss” program, difficulties faced by some family members in obtaining USAREUR licenses, and mental health programs for Soldiers and Family members.

As he prepared to join several junior enlisted Soldiers for a lunchtime meeting, Casey praised leaders throughout USAREUR for putting in the “the extra effort that it takes to hold things together” in an overseas environment.

“It is always a little harder when you are outside of the United States to do things,” he said.
“I believe the command is very focused on ensuring they have the support that they need. I certainly saw it in spades as I went around today.”

During his stay in Europe, Casey will also meet with leaders of the new U.S. Africa Command and discuss combined operations with senior European military leaders during the annual Conference of European Armies in Heidelberg, Germany.

(Dave Melancon serves with the U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office.)

1,215 servicemembers re-up in Iraq

Jul 04, 2008
BY Marine CPL Frances L. Goch

Servicemembers pay tribute to all 50 states during the reenlistment ceremony and 4th of July celebration. There were 1,215 servicemembers reenlisting and all 50 states had a servicemember reenlisting at the ceremony. Photo by Marine CPL Frances L. Goch

• Servicemembers from all over Iraq gathered in the Al Faw Palace rotunda at Camp Victory, Baghdad, to reenlist and celebrate Independence Day.

  All 1,215 servicemembers celebrated by raising their right hands and pledging to continue defending the “land of the free” in what is the largest reenlistment ceremony since the all-volunteer force began in 1973 according to Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin L. Hill, command sergeant major, Multi-National Forces - Iraq.

  “Volunteering to continue to serve our nation, while deployed - is both noble and inspiring,” said Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general, Multi-National Forces - Iraq. “It is, as award citations often state, in keeping with the finest traditions of our military services.”

  Petraeus presided over the ceremony and led the airmen, Marines, sailors, and Soldiers in their oath to defend their country against all enemies both foreign and domestic on this day of celebration of America winning its independence.

  “We recognize the sacrifices they make and the sacrifices their families and communities make as they serve in Iraq,” Hill said. “These servicemembers know the cost of war and they are still reenlisting.”

  Accumulatively servicemembers pledged more than 5,500 years of additional service to their country.

  “It makes me feel proud to serve this great nation,” said Spc. Zackary Cunningham, mechanic, 602nd Maintenance Battalion, Tactical Base Balad, who plans on making the Army a career.

  The reenlistees have every right to feel proud according to Petraeus.

  “You and your comrades here have been described as America’s new greatest generation, and, in my view, you have more than earned that description,” Petraeus said. “It is the greatest of honors to soldier here with you.”

Multi-National Corps – Iraq

Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory

APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RELEASE No. 20081028-07

Oct. 28, 2008

School reopens in West Adhamiyah

By 2nd Lt. Josh Woodke

Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – The Al Tajadud School in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad was officially reopened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 26, after undergoing a two month long renovation. Omar Rahmani, vice chairman for the Adhamiyah District Advisory Council was on hand to cut the ribbon.

Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, with $220,000 from the Government of Iraq, facilitated the rebuilding of this important infrastructure, which included new classrooms, new roof and floor, a completely new electrical network, and additional bathrooms with a complete sewer network. The outside was painted tan with a green trim and a play ground was installed in the courtyard, complete with a basketball court and volleyball net. 

“There have been some challenges to get schools funded and rebuilt here in Iraq,” said Capt. Patrick Soule, commander for D Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, currently attached to 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment.

The school, built in the 1960s, was in desperate need of work after being used as a mortar platform by terrorists and criminals during several years of fierce fighting.     

“The school was in bad shape when it was recommended to us by the local NAC (Neighborhood Action Committee). You could tell it was pretty shot up,” said 1st Lt. Rosita Rodriguez, team chief of C Company, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, currently attached to 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “It was notorious for finding caches.”

The school’s headmaster said the new facility is a complete turnaround from less than a year ago confirming that terrorists used to lob mortars from the courtyard of the school. 

During the celebration, the children entertain the guests through a poem recited in Arabic, a traditional Iraqi song and lines recited lines in English they had learned from their textbooks. 

When the ceremony concluded, Soule, Rodriguez and Rahmani handed out backpacks to a line of eager children. 

Rodriguez was happy with the turn out and the importance this school opening has had on the people.

“It impacted the children and the community. They are very grateful for this school,” Rodriguez said.

Soul said he believes education is the cornerstone that will help rebuild Iraq and give the Iraqi people confidence in their government and the local leaders. 

“It’s a good step forward,” Soule said, “putting money back into the schools and investing in future generations.”

The school is a two-session school, each one having its own name. The morning session is Al Tajadud School, which is a boys and girls elementary school. The afternoon session is called Al Abda School, which is an all-girls junior high school. 

A  poll by the Military Times newspaper group suggests that there is overwhelming support for John McCain among U.S. troops in every branch of the armed forces by a nearly 3-1 margin.

According to the poll, 68 percent of active-duty and retired servicemen and women support McCain, while 23 percent support Barack Obama. The numbers are nearly identical among officers and enlisted troops.

Click here to see the raw data.

The Military Times, which publishes the Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times, polled 80,000 subscribers from Sept 22 to Sept. 29. The non-scientific survey gathered 4,300 respondents — all of them registered and eligible to vote.

A racial divide was immediately evident among the respondents. Nearly eight in 10 black servicemembers chose Obama, while McCain captured 76 percent of white voters and 63 percent of Hispanic voters.

Click here to see more on this story from FOX News.

Numbers among men and women respondents were also visibly different. Men overwhelmingly said they would vote for McCain, 70 percent to 22 percent. But among women the margin was much closer: 53 percent support McCain, while 36 percent support Obama.

U.S. troops also said in the poll that they prefer McCain to handle the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — 74 percent said McCain would perform better, while just 19 percent said Obama would.

Four years ago the Iraq War was the single most important issue on which the military voted. But the war now ranks third in importance to these voters. The most important issue among the respondents was character (42 percent), followed by the economy (25 percent) and the Iraq War (16 percent).

There was a racial divide on these issues, as well. Black servicemembers said the economy was the No. 1 issue that affected their vote, and white troops said character was paramount.

The Military Times offered certain caveats for its poll, which was open only to its 80,000 subscribers. Responses were entirely voluntary and were not focused on a representative sample of the public, as scientific polls are. The troops polled were also somewhat older than average enlisted servicemembers and included more officers than is representative of the military as a whole.

Yet judging by the numbers, it appears that the Democratic party has not made many inroads into the traditionally Republican military.

Sesame Street military tour to continue, expand

By Robin Hoecker, Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes online edition, Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Robin Hoecker / S&S Elmo sings to the military families at Fort Belvoir. Robin Hoecker / S&S Kids rush to the stage after the song, “You make Elmo proud.”

The popular Sesame Street Experience for Military Families tour is nearing its end, but the show will go on if Sloan Gibson has his way.

Gibson, who took over the presidency of the U.S.O. in September, announced Tuesday plans to continue the show next year and expand it to travel to more bases in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

“We still have some fundraising to do, but I’m committed to it, as I told the audience today,” he said. Sloan appeared with Sesame Street Workshop CEO Gary Knell before the morning performance at Fort Belvoir. About 700 people, children and adults, attended the event.

The live muppet show is similar to the Broadway show, Sesame Street Live, but with a smaller cast and songs tailored for children of military families. In one song, You Make Elmo Proud, the red muppet praises kids for helping their parents and being strong when one parent is away.

“I’ve seen grown men in full uniform grab their kids and tears well up in their eyes,” said Glen Taylor, Assistant Company Manager, who has been traveling with the tour since it began in July.

The show accompanies the Emmy nominated DVD series, Talk, Listen, Connect, that helps families cope with deployed parents.

“When my husband was in Iraq, we watched it almost every day,” said Kelly Stobie who attended the show with her two-year-old daughter, Katherine Grace.

Sloan said the response to the Sesame Street Experience has been very positive.

“Just go to the front row and look back at the faces of the children and the parents,” Sloan said. “That’s all the feedback you need to know how important this is.”

This year’s tour has already visited 36 bases in the U.S. Upcoming performances include:

·         Andrews Air Force Base, October 16-17
·         Fort Dix, October 18
·         Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, October 23-24
·         Pittsburgh JARS, October 26
·         Fort Drum, October 28-29
·         Fort Scott, November 2