Give to the Red, White and Blue

Photo By Jason Ragucci | Sgt. William Walker, 27th Engineer Battalion, participates in the apheresis program at the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) office on Fort Bragg, N.C., May 28, 2015. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Ragucci, Delta Company, 3rd Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne))  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

05.28.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Ragucci 

3rd Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne)

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - What does a Soldier say back to someone when they are thanked for their service? They can simply reply, "thank you for your support." But, what can a Soldier do to help support another military service member?

Giving the ultimate support that values more than money is donating blood through the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP). This program is different from the already known services supplied by the Red Cross. "We collect from the military for the military," said spokesman of Fort Bragg's ABSP, Linda Ellerbe, "We are able to collect, process and ship military blood anywhere in the world in a limited amount of time."

Soldiers can receive a Certificate of Achievement which is worth five promotion points when meeting the additional eligibility requirements for the apheresis program. Apheresis is a medical procedure that involves removing whole blood from a donor or patient and separating the blood into individual components so that one particular component can be removed. The remaining blood components then are re-introduced back into the bloodstream of the patient or donor. All apheresis donations are by appointment only.

Anyone over the age of 17 with a common access card (CAC) and weigh more than 110 pounds is eligible to donate to the ASBP. They are located next to the North Post Exchange. Their mission is to provide blood product collection, processing, storage, and testing for military treatment facilities in the North Atlantic region, while providing unwavering support for all combat and foreign operations.

Many Soldiers on Fort Bragg can no longer donate blood due to deployments, immunizations or tattoos; but, this does not mean they cannot show their support in other ways. Organizing a unit blood drive, asking others to donate, volunteering at blood drives, or simply watching friends' children so they can donate, play a big part in the ultimate support.

Military family members may have hemophobia, the fear of seeing blood; but, that did not stop Ellerbe. She is a military spouse who has been working with the ASBP on Fort Bragg for 10 years. "I was really intrigued about the job and the program," said Ellerbe, "All that I knew about blood was that I would pass out when I see it, but this has been one of the most fulfilling jobs I've ever had."

Northern Regional Command Blood Manager, Capt. Joshua Kuper, is responsible for all the blood from north, Fort Drum, to south, Fort Bragg, and from the west, Fort Knox. "I provide guidance and oversight for all the transfusion services for the ASBP office to all military treatment facilities in my region," said Kuper, "I am also in charge of all the blood on Fort Bragg which includes the transfusion service at Womack Army Medical Center and the Blood Donor Center."

Kuper has joined the ASBP less than two years ago and has determined that exsanguination, severe blood loss, is the leading cause of death on and off the battlefield. "With all the advancements in medicine, scientists have been unable to artificially make a product that can mimic the lifesaving properties of blood," said the Fort Bragg Chief of Blood Services, "I wanted to do a job that would help Soldiers return home to their loved ones."

The ASBP was created in 1952 when President Harry Truman designed a tri-service organization representing all three branches of service, Army, Navy and Air Force to begin pushing blood as far forward to the point of injury. The mortality rate has decreased since World War II from 50 percent, to 10 percent during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. "With the advancements we have made in the ASBP, anyone receiving blood or blood products in a combat area will receive blood through this program," said Kuper, "More than 1.5 million units of blood have been transfused for battlefield illness and injury."

All Soldiers follow the seven army values and still want to give back to their brothers and sisters in arms. Donating the time and attention to the ASBP is a great way to show support. Loyal employee at Fort Bragg ASPB, Linda Ellerbe, explains, "To see a blood recipient walk through that door and say thank you, for what you do, is the greatest reward a person can have!"

• Date Taken: 05.28.2015
• Date Posted: 05.29.2015 15:39
• Story ID: 164940
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US