Photo By Master Sgt. Warren Wright | Col. Scott Murray, the commander of the 16th Sustainment Brigade, conducts an...... read more read more
Subscribe
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Members of the local media, along with seven regional government and health officials, were given a behind-the-scenes tour and subsequent chance to speak with organizers during a visit to the controlled monitoring area on Smith Barracks Nov. 21.
On site to provide information on the purpose and capabilities of the CMA were representatives from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 30th Medical Brigade, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz.
“It’s important for us to be as open and honest as we can so that we can maintain and continue to grow our relationship with the German community,” said Col. Scott Murray, the commander of the 16th Sust. Bde.
“We cherish our relationships with the German community, “he added. “We have a long lasting relationship, and we’ve worked together for years. They’re not only our partners, but they’re our family members.”
Soldiers based in Germany and conducting operations in Africa will be medically cleared as showing no signs of symptoms prior to departing Africa. Once they land at Ramstein Air Base they will once again be cleared by medical personnel before transport to the CMA for 21 days to ensure the safety of their family members, fellow Soldiers and members of the community. The use of the CMA site at Smith Barracks is pending host nation approval.
"Even while in Africa, service members are being monitored for symptoms of Ebola twice a day,” said Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto, a 21st TSC spokesman. “Any Soldier identified as having symptoms of Ebola will not be transported to Germany, instead they will be transported to the United States for treatment.”
These precautions are being undertaken even though the Soldiers in Africa are not expected to be placed in a position where they could be exposed to the Ebola virus.
“Our Soldiers are very low risk because they will be conducting operations such as construction, communications and logistics,” said Lt. Col. John M. Motszko, the commander of the 16th Sust. Bde.’s Special Troops Battalion. “They are not providing patient care - there is almost zero exposure.”
Visitors to the facility were given the opportunity to view the various recreational activities available to service members during their stay at the CMA. They also toured the residential rooms, on site medical facility and dining area before sitting down for a questions-and-answers session.
“It was a great day,” said Murray, following the tour. “We met our objectives specifically to be open and show [the media] what we’re up to and to give them the confidence that we’re doing everything that we can to protect our communities, protect our family members as well as protect our service members.”
For more information on the controlled monitoring area, please visit www.army.mil/article/137951.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2014 10:43 |
| Story ID: | 148464 |
| Location: | KAISERSLAUTERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Baumholder CMA organizers give facility tour to local VIPs, Media, by MSG Warren Wright, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT