Photo By Keisha Frith | Staff Sgt. Judson Heard stands beside Lt. Col. Calvin Knox, following the Soldier...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, NC -- Soldier saves life while volunteering for a program that helped him with his own transition back to active duty. Staff Sgt. Judson Heard is a squad leader and adaptive reconditioning non-commissioned officer-in-charge (NCOIC) at the Fort Bragg Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU).
Heard volunteered for this program to give back because he benefitted greatly from the program when he was facing a medical challenge. During that time, Heard was assigned to the Fort Stewart Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) now SRU.
“I had been a Soldier in transition back in 2015 to 2016 at the WTB in Fort Stewart,” said Heard. “I didn’t know anything about what the unit was, or what they did, but after getting there I loved it.”
During his time there, he was amazed by the services and care that were provided regardless, of the spectrum of injuries and diagnosis that they came in with. Now Heard views his actions at the SRU as a labor of love.
A labor of love that was demonstrated recently when he was contacted by a Soldier in need. According to Heard a Soldier who was in despair reached out to him. The Soldier admitted to possibly hurting them self. Heard quickly responded to the Soldier in a few minutes and recognizing the situation, got the Soldier the medical help needed.
“I went to the Soldiers’ room and when the Soldier opened the door there was obvious signs of distress and confusion, but first I asked, are you ok?” Heard said. “The Soldier said yes but obviously weren’t, I said ok we need to go to the hospital.”
The Soldier did not object and was able to receive the needed care.
These stories do not always end like this, however, Heard gives credit to the fact that they take time to work with the Soldiers, understanding who they are and learn about their different personalities. The relationships that the SRU team have built with the Soldiers is what made this Soldier feel comfortable and safe enough to reach out for help in a time of need. It also helps them to quickly recognize if something is wrong and get them help.
According to Heard when this particular Soldier reached out to him he could tell that something was wrong and did not hesitate to reach out because Soldiers are the mission.
This is one thing that all his peers reinforce as often as possible that the Soldiers are the mission and they are there for them 24/7.
“We are here for their recovery,” said Heard.
Not all Soldiers can return to active duty, however, they do their best to help them with their transition which might be different for each one.
Heard continues to praise the program and encourages others to volunteer who may have the same passion that he has for helping Soldiers.
“It’s a phenomenal program. Once you get into it and you see what it does, and the intent of the program, it is really hard to not be drawn in by the people who support it and who are willing to work to help these Soldiers.”
"In the last two years, there has been about 500 Soldiers that have entered into the program, currently there are about 164 Soldiers who are actively receiving care,” Lt. Col. Calvin Knox former Battalion Commander, Fort Bragg SRU.
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 07.15.2022 09:27 |
| Story ID: | 424910 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldier Giving Back to SRU Saves Life, by Keisha Frith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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