Leaving their Mark, Art in Deployment

Photo By Maj. Demietrice Pittman | Sketch for TF MED KFOR 26 completed and ready for painting.  

KOSOVO

12.21.2019

Story by Maj. Demietrice Pittman 

Task Force Medical

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - It is dark and cold and several members of the Task Force Medical (TF MED) team deployed to Kosovo are huddled together. Contrary to what you may be thinking, they are not on a night mission or doing recon, they are huddled around a computer trying to level a projector. Contrary to what you might be thinking, they are not working on a medical project but trying to project a sketch on a T Wall in order to paint a life size face of a Lynx.

What is a T-Wall exactly? A Bremer wall, or T-wall, is a twelve-foot-high (3.7 m) portable, steel-reinforced concrete wall of the type used for blast protection throughout military deployed environments. T-Walls were 9 inches thick and could weigh as much as 6 tons. Once set in place, they were not going anywhere anytime soon and would become a permanent fixture of the landscape on American Bases. Units in other wars would paint elaborate images on aircraft and vehicles, the units of today decorate the T-Walls. The T-Walls are painted to represent the unit in that area, to honor fallen comrades or simply to just add a little color into the otherwise dusty and brown scenery. The team working on the project consists of the veterinarian, food inspector, dental hygienist, licensed practical nurse (LPN), XRay technician and supply sergeant.

“We worked hard to come up with an image to represent our team and our time in country,” noted Sadie Martin, an XRAY technician with TF MED.

The medical team chose the Lynx because it is the national animal of Kosovo. They also included the country of Kosovo in the background on top of the Red Cross which is the traditional symbol for medical personnel across the world.

“In a deployed environment, we have limited supplies so we had to think outside of the box and find ways to acquire the art products needed to develop the sketch and how to get it on the wall.” said Jessica Rivers, dental hygienist.

The Soldiers with TF MED are deployed to provide medical care for the military, civilian and contractors assigned to Kosovo to help assist in making it a safe and secure environment. They are definitely helping make their mark on the healthcare of the force and with the art work leaving a little bit behind to be remembered for their efforts.

• Date Taken: 12.21.2019
• Date Posted: 12.26.2019 02:53
• Story ID: 356885
• Location: ZZ