Nurse holds infant in onesie in her arm.

Oct. 3, 2024

2025 Changes to the TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Are you expecting a baby in 2025? Have you considered getting breastfeeding counseling or support from a labor doula? If so, you should know about some changes coming to the TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration on Jan. 1, 2025, including expansion overseas.

In a demonstration of cooperation between Defense Health Agency, East, medical facilities, Winn Army Community Hospital provided critical care support to Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center (DDEAMC) following the impact of Hurricane Helene throughout Augusta, Georgia. In the late hours of Sept. 29, six patients requiring continuity of care were transferred from DDEAMC to Winn Army Community Hospital via medical evacuation helicopters from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Two nurses from DDEAMC accompanied the patients to provide in-flight care and additional staff support to Winn. Fort Stewart paramedics, Winn medical personnel, and 3rd CAB flight crew transfer a patient from the helicopter to a gunnery for movement to a waiting ambulance. Col. Margaret Berryman, the commander and director of Winn, praised the successful transfer of the patients and the additional staff from DDEAMC to her facility, emphasizing the strength of the military healthcare system. "The successful transfer of six patients from DDEAMC to our ‘Winning’ team’s care the other night via 3rd CAB HH-60M Black Hawks is a testament to the exceptional capabilities and dedication of our healthcare teams at both facilities,” Berryman said. “This collaborative effort underscores the importance of teamwork and mutual support within the military healthcare system, even in the face of ongoing challenges like the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We are confident that DDEAMC would be there for us if the tables were turned, and this transfer serves as a powerful reminder of our unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality patient care."

Oct. 3, 2024

Winn ACH, 3rd CAB soar to DDEAMC’s rescue after Hurricane Helene impacts patient care

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Six patients were safely transferred from Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center (DDEAMC) to Winn Army Community Hospital (Winn ACH) following severe infrastructure damage at Fort Eisenhower caused by Hurricane Helene. The patients were flown via HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, after power outages and facility disruptions at Eisenhower left the hospital in need of immediate support to continue providing critical care.

From left to right, Chief Petty Officers Jordan Varney, Tyler Goodrich and Jephray Prejusa advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer during a ceremony Friday, September 27 at Miller’s Landing. Prejusa is assigned to Cherry Point’s Aviation Survival Training Center, Goodrich is assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 and Varney is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 14.

Oct. 4, 2024

Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point Celebrates Chief Promotions

MCAS Cherry Point — Sailors serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in late September 2024.

Petty Officer First Class Emily Page, left, embraces Petty Officer Second Class Vanessa Schofield after pinning her new rank upon her during a ceremony celebrating her meritorious advancement Tuesday, October 1, 2024 aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point. Both Scofield and Page received meritorious promotions during the surprise ceremony.

Oct. 4, 2024

Cherry Point Sailors Receive Meritorious Promotions

MCAS Cherry Point — Two Sailors serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point meritoriously advanced in rank Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The 55th Dental Squadron held a ceremony for this year’s graduates of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency course at the 55th Medical Group in Bellevue, Nebraska, July 26, 2024. The AEGD Program board chose six 55th DS dentists to participate in this year’s course to increase their knowledge in all dental specialties and become general dentists. “The AEGD-1 residency is incredibly rigorous,” said Capt. Christina Siek, 86th Dental Squadron general dentist. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much over the last year from some incredible mentors, and to have made connections that will last me the rest of my Air Force career.” The residents learned how to perform periodontal surgeries, orthodontic procedures, root canals, crowns, and fill cavities throughout the year-long program, which costs $1.1 million annually. Some bases have dental facilities with less resources and therefore less capabilities, which requires service members to see off base medical providers for complex procedures. The program prepares new dentists to face those challenges and increase the capabilities in environments with less resources. After graduation, the students went to their next base as providers who are prepared to perform their duties in any capacity, said Tech. Sgt. Kalen Sanchez, 55th DS AEGD noncommissioned officer in charge. The class graduates were sent to bases in need of general dentists including Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany. “The learning never stops,” said Col. Lee D. Williames, U.S. Strategic Command’s, command surgeon, and guest speaker for the event. “The world is your oyster. Celebrate today, and tomorrow go out and get it.”

Oct. 4, 2024

Residents graduate general dentistry program

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — The 55th Dental Squadron held a ceremony for this year’s graduates of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency course at the 55th Medical Group in Bellevue, Nebraska, July 26, 2024.

Mass casualty exercise tests hospital’s emergency response capabilities

Oct. 4, 2024

Mass casualty exercise tests hospital’s emergency response capabilities

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Evans Army Community Hospital tested its emergency response capabilities Sept. 19, 2024, as part of Mountain Medic 2024, a U.S. Northern Command joint readiness exercise involving both active and reserve medical forces from the Army, Air Force and Space Forces in the Colorado Springs community.

BAMC holds special promotion ceremony for three four-legged service members

Oct. 7, 2024

BAMC holds special promotion ceremony for three four-legged service members

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS — With a nose bop and paw salute, Brooke Army Medical Center promoted three of its five facility dogs

The Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point honor guard presents the National Colors at the clinic’s Navy Ball on Friday, October 4, 2024 at the Havelock Convention Center, Havelock North Carolina. Sailors, Marines and civilians serving aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point gathered for the formal to celebrate the 249th birthday of the U.S. Navy.

Oct. 7, 2024

Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point Celebrates Navy’s 249th Birthday with Ball

MCAS Cherry Point — The Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point community gathered Friday, October 4, 2024, to celebrate the 249th Birthday of the U.S. Navy.

Pink breast cancer awareness bracelets and a ribbon pin are displayed at Wilford Hall's Mammography Clinic, JBSA-Lackland, Texas, on Oct. 3, 2024, as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Oct. 7, 2024

Shining a light on Breast Cancer Awareness

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual observance focused on raising awareness and encouraging early detection of breast cancer.

Dr. Lester Martínez López (left), the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, presents retired U.S. Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, director of the John P. Murtha Cancer Center at Walter Reed, with the Distinguished Service Award at the 2024 Military Health System Research Symposium.

Oct. 7, 2024

Military Health System Research Symposium honors Dr. Craig Shriver

WRNMMC, Bethesda, Md. — The Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) recently honored retired U.S. Army Col. (Dr.) Craig Shriver, director of the Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, with the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and significant contributions to military medicine.

Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS!