Two become one

Photo By Sgt. Jasmine Higgins | Col. Christopher Gruber, left, deputy chief of staff, Regional Health Command-Pacific, and Command Sgt. Maj. Tabitha Gavia, chief clinical non-commissioned officer, Regional Health Command-Pacific, right, conduct the casing of the Western Regional Medical Command colors at the French Theater on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 29, 2016. The Western Regional Medical Command finalized its merger with the Regional Health Command Pacific on Jan. 8, 2016, an action that took more than a year of planning and coordinating. “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to serve here on JBLM,” said Col. Ronald T. Stephens, deputy commanding officer, Regional Health Command-Pacific. “It’s a great opportunity for my family, and I’m looking forward to integrating into the community and working with the team here – both the JBLM team as well as the region team.” (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Jasmine Higgins, 28th Public Affairs Detachment)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

01.29.2016

Story by Sgt. Jasmine Higgins 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Customs and traditions in the military play a large role in showing thanks to the past. From change of command ceremonies to pinning a fellow service member when he or she advances to the next rank, these events, although part of Army tradition, often symbolize something more within the unit performing these actions.

On Jan. 29, Soldiers and civilians gathered together to bear witness to one of the Army’s many traditions, the casing of the colors of the Western Regional Medical Command at the French Theater on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

“We conducted a casing ceremony with the Western Regional Medical Command because the Army Medicine Department is doing a medical transformation and rebalance to the Pacific,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent, commanding general of the Regional Health Command-Pacific. “We are merging the Western Regional Medical Command and the Regional Heath Command–Pacific into one medical enterprise.”

The WRMC officially merged with the Regional Health Command-Pacific, on Jan. 8, 2016, and was renamed RHC-P (JBLM).

“Today was about paying tribute and honoring all the hard work and the huge phenomenal legacy that the Western Regional Medical Command had in providing support to JBLM and its subordinate organizations," said Sargent.

After the colors were cased and packed away, the ceremony concluded by taking a moment to welcome Col. Ronald T. Stephens, deputy commanding officer, Regional Health Command- Pacific, to JBLM.

“I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to serve here on JBLM,” said Stephens. “It’s a great opportunity for my family, and I’m looking forward to integrating into the community and working with the team here – both the JBLM team, as well as the region team.”

The merger between WRMC and RHC-P is a part of the U.S. Army Medical Department’s reorganization that began last year, and many, including, Brig. Gen. Sargent, are already predicting positive results.
“Our ability to be able to go out and help in multilateral and multinational engagements across the regions from a medical perspective is going to be huge,” said Sargent.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2016
• Date Posted: 02.02.2016 10:31
• Story ID: 187691
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US