Photo By Capt. Robert Gallimore | Sgt. 1st Class Kelvin Curry, of Headquarters Company, 30th Medical Brigade, leaves the...... read more read more
By Capt. Robert Gallimore
30th Medical Brigade Public Affairs
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – “These glasses are clearer than the pair I gave them for the prescription!” Capt. Jessica Cowles exclaimed as the visually impaired 30th Medical Brigade officer dons her new pair of prescription glasses.
Right now, brand new spectacles can be fabricated inside an up-armored, containerized optical laboratory mounted on to the back of a light medium tactical vehicle, or LMTV, parked on an unimproved helicopter landing zone at Grafenwoehr Training Area.
The 8th Medical Company (Logistics) based out of Baumholder, Germany presents an unparalleled combat multiplier, which they deployed forward from their home base in Baumholder to Grafenwoehr Training Area in support of Exercise Combined Resolve IV.
CbR IV is a Joint Multinational Training Command, U.S. Army Europe-directed exercise held from May 9 – June 26 at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas in southeastern Germany and includes about 4,700 participants from 13 nations.
The small company of more than 50 Soldiers includes two optical laboratory specialists as part of a small section known as the optical fabrication element. In 10 to 15 minutes, these two Soldiers are able to produce a well-fitted pair of spectacles authorized for use in all U.S. Department of Defense uniforms on the spot.
Service members needing bifocals should expect a turnaround of about 24 hours. A spectacle prescription dated within the past year is ideal, but if a Soldier is in theater and needs glasses critically, any personal prescription will suffice so long as it includes the pupillary distance, which is the distance between the centers of the pupils of each eye. Having the correct pupillary distance ensures that the optical centers of the lenses will line up properly over the Soldier’s pupils. Glasses made without the correct pupillary distance may be less comfortable, can cause eye strain, or even induce discomfort, distortion, or headaches.
Capt. Cowles’ birthday occurred on May 25 while her unit, the 30th Medical Brigade supports CbR IV. The 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional)’s executive officer was able to coordinate with their subordinate unit, 8th MLC to fabricate a new pair of glasses for use in tactical environments as a birthday present for Cowles. She arrived at 3:40 p.m. to drop off her current pair in order to attend a meeting. By 4:20, she returned and was immediately handed a freshly produced pair of black framed spectacles by the unit’s commander, Capt. David Rodriguez.
During a walkthrough by some Belgian Army soldiers on May 27, the optical fabrication team took off a Soldier’s glasses as they arrived to the unit’s area of operations. Inside the 8th MLC’s supply warehouse tent in the middle of the tour, Spc. Crystal Baza took the Soldier aside to size frames to his face. By the time the tour came to the “expand-o van,” the unit’s nickname for the optical lab vehicle, Spc. Cameron Brown was cleaning off a pair of brown frames with the Soldiers prescription fitted and ready for wear.
“Unbelievable. I did not think that these would be so good, but wow!” stated the Belgian soldier, thoroughly impressed with the fast and accurate work of the two Soldiers.
Baza and Brown are the two optical laboratory specialists who have been wowing visitors with this unique and expedient capability.
“No matter how experienced or great you are, anyone can mess up,” said Brown as he was asked how important each piece of equipment was to every pair they produce. Spc. Brown oriented the tour to the small 20-foot by 6-foot laboratory.
He explained each machine’s importance to making spectacles as he produced another pair like it was by muscle memory.
“After almost five years of doing this job for Soldiers, I love the satisfaction of helping people most of all,” explained Baza when asked what she loved most about her job.
Together, the two specialists have 10 years experience in optical fabrication between them.
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2015 15:03 |
| Story ID: | 164811 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, RP, DE |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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