7218th MSU transfers authority to 7251st MSU at Fort Bliss

Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Col. Pamela Lawson (foreground), commander, 7218th Medical Support Unit, and Lt. Col. Steven Ross, commander, 7251st MSU, stand at parade rest during a Transfer of Authority ceremony where the 7218th MSU relinquished authority of medical operations at the Soldier Resilience and Readiness Center to the 7251st MSU at the Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museum, May 4. The 7251st MSU, based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will conduct medical support operations at the Fort Bliss SRRC under the designation of Company E, Troop Command, William Beaumont Army Medical Center.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

05.21.2018

Story by Marcy Sanchez  

William Beaumont Army Medical Center

The 7218th Medical Support Unit (MSU) relinquished authority of medical operations at the Soldier Resilience and Readiness Center to the 7251st MSU during a transfer of authority ceremony at the Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museum, May 4.

The 7218th MSU, based out of, Louisville, Kentucky, were assigned to the SRRC since June 2017. Their mission included providing medical, dental and readiness support to service members and civilians deploying, redeploying, mobilizing and demobilizing.

“True strength begins with your command team,” said Lt. Col. Steven Knapp, commander, Troop Command, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, addressing Soldiers of the 7218th MSU. “You’ve had an exceptional command team with a strong work ethic and compassion to patriotism.”

Over the course of the 11-month deployment, the MSU processed over 70,000 Soldiers for deployment/ redeployment as well as improving and streamlining administrative processes during the SRRC procedure.

“If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done,” said Col. Pamela Lawson, commander, 7218th MSU. “The 7218th (MSU) did exactly that and made a remarkable difference in (Soldier Readiness Processing).”

In addition to ensuring Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers are medically ready, the 7218th MSU also contributed to expanding the SRRC from one to three buildings across Fort Bliss.

“The mission was fast, furious and a challenging adventure, one I’m so proud and honored to have been a part of,” said Lawson.

During the unit’s deployment to Fort Bliss, Soldiers took advantage of training opportunities available including Basic Leader Course, Air Assault School, various professional development opportunities and eight even earned the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency. Soldiers from the unit also engaged in numerous community service projects, including blood drives, food drives and other events to give back to the El Paso community.

The 7251st MSU, based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will conduct medical support operations at the Fort Bliss SRRC under the designation of Company E, Troop Command, WBAMC.

“I strive to complete the mission that (the 7218th MSU) started, we came together as a team, we trained as a team and we will perform our mission as a team,” said Lt. Col. Steven Ross, commander, 7251st MSU. “You have to have an effective team to have an effective mission, and we will do that.”

• Date Taken: 05.21.2018
• Date Posted: 05.21.2018 11:51
• Story ID: 277738
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US
• Hometown: LOUISVILLE, KY, US