FORT KNOX, Ky. - The Armed Services Blood Program is conducting a blood donation drive here, which started June 27 and ends Aug. 10. Cadets and cadre participating in this year’s U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadet Summer Training are donating blood along with other members of the Fort Knox community.
Four Army blood donor centers from Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Gordon, Ga., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. are running the blood drive in rotations for ASBP.
Staff Sgt. Margaret Strecker, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Fort Leonard Wood rotation, said, “Blood is very unique because the only way you can get blood is to donate it.”
Linda Ellerbe, Fort Bragg blood donor recruiter for ASBP, explained that blood donated during the drive is going to service members on the frontline. She is always looking for more Soldiers to donate. “Wherever there’s a group of Soldiers, I’m running right behind them.”
Spc. Ryan Pritchett, who is working in supply and logistics for Task Force Wolf during CST, was apprehensive about donating blood as he had previously had a bad experience during his last donation. “I’ve been uncomfortable about going back for several years now.”
For people who are afraid to donate blood, be it a fear of needles or pain, Strecker encourages them to try anyway.
“We have the best phlebotomists around,” she assures potential donors. “We do this every day so we’re used to dealing with a lot of different situations. We can handle anything that comes our way.”
Pritchett took a chance and donated blood and plans to donate again. “That was a good experience,” he said. He encourages his fellow Soldiers, “Just go out and do it. It’s for a good cause. You’re helping out Soldiers and other people in need.”
The Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center, which is running the first four-day rotation and another at the end of July, is made up of Army Reserve Soldiers, who are mobilized stateside for a year, making it unique from other Army donor centers.
Strecker is starting her third straight year with the unit after extending her deployment twice. “I love my job,” said Strecker. “Most of all, I like what we do because blood saves lives.”
| Date Taken: |
06.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: |
06.30.2015 16:56 |
| Story ID: |
168675 |
| Location: |
FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: |
151 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, Soldiers and cadets donate blood to the frontline, by SGT Anshu Pandeya, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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