Photo By Leticia Hopkins | Command Sgt. Maj. Rebecca Booker, right, Medical Readiness Command, East command...... read more read more
FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and U.S. Army Medical Command commanding general, re-designated the first of four Regional Health Commands as the Medical Readiness Command, East Sept. 8 on Fort Belvoir.
During RHC-Atlantic’s re-designation ceremony, the MRC, East command team cased RHC-A’s colors and uncased MRC, East’s colors symbolically signifying the end of RHC-A’s mission and the start of MRC, East’s mission.
“You know that the sun rises in the east, and so, how fitting that the very first MRC to uncase the colors in the Medical Command and to fly and hold them high is right here in the ‘Ready Now’ command,” Dingle said.
Although the re-designation isn’t effective until Oct. 1, Dingle said that MRC, East’s new mission began that day.
“Your mission as a medical readiness command begins today,” Dingle said. “Your colors are flying high with a new focus, a new pride, a new strength.”
He also mentioned that the re-designation marks MEDCOM’s compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act that re-directed MEDCOM’s focus and priority to Soldier and medical force readiness.
“The bottom line is that we will provide trained and ready forces that are prepared to deploy today, fight tonight and return our Soldiers to duty tomorrow,” Dingle added.
Prior to concluding his remarks and expressing his confidence in the team, Dingle charged MRC, East to provide regionally ready and globally responsive medical forces, provide command and control and sustain world-class health services and support.
“I have no doubt that MRC, East will lead the way with ready and trained forces. … You are the quintessential example and a living example of why Army Medicine is Army Strong,” Dingle said.
Brig. Gen. Mary Krueger, MRC, East commanding general, followed Dingle’s remarks with her own.
In her remarks, Krueger thanked attendees and those who organized and participated in the event, provided an overview of the command’s history, and stated that the region has been committed to Total Force Readiness.
She also mentioned the importance of the staff ride that she and the region’s command teams participated in recently to learn more about U.S. Army Maj. Jonathan Letterman’s contributions to battlefield medical care.
“The reason this was so poignant for where we stand on this historic day is because [Major] Letterman set the example for transformational change on how we provide medical care on the battlefield,” Krueger said.
She told the audience about his task to revamp the Union’s medical services during the Civil War and listed a few of his accomplishments, which included the first ambulance corps, battlefield triage, tactical field care and an evacuation process.
“And perhaps, most importantly, he brought value,” Krueger added. “He earned the trust of the combat leaders and was invited to the table and sat in the headquarters just as we do today to ensure that the Soldiers serving their Army had the very best medical care in the world.”
Krueger further stated that they will maintain that commitment as they transform to meet the Army’s needs, that the team’s commitment and contributions will be the foundation for MRC, East’s success, and that they intend to leverage the team’s talents to support the Army’s modernization strategy.
“We will put people first,” Krueger said. “We will build tomorrow’s medical warrior today; we will embrace innovation and partnerships to ensure world-class medical care, both in garrison as well as on the battlefield.”
Following both generals’ remarks, attendees were asked to stand for the singing of the Army Song, which was led by the U.S. Army Band’s “Pershing’s Own,” a brass quintet that also performed the national anthem, before the official party departed. The event was narrated by Reese Brown, the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital public affairs officer, and U.S. Army Chaplain, Capt., Drew McGinley, a 7th Infantry Division chaplain, gave the ceremony’s invocation.
Krueger and Command Sgt. Maj. Rebecca Booker, who have been the region’s command team since June 2021, will continue to lead the region.
In addition to MRC, East, Dingle is scheduled to re-designate the other three RHCs to MRCs in September and October.
• Sept. 13: RHC-Central to MRC, West
• Sept. 30: RHC-Europe to MRC, Europe
• Oct. 18: RHC-Pacific to MRC, Pacific
All four MRCs will serve the same mission. The approved consolidated Medical Readiness Command mission states that MRCS will provide regionally ready, globally responsive medical forces, health service support, and force health protection to conserve the fighting strength, enable the readiness and health of the Army and designated activities, and integrate and liaise at echelon for the provision of health service support and force health protection to the Total Army. They will also provide command and control to medical department activities, medical centers, Dental Health Command, Public Health Commands, and Soldier Recovery Units.
A mission that Krueger accepted on behalf of the region during her remarks.
“Sir, Command Sergeant Major, Medical Readiness Command, East is ready now to conserve the fighting strength of the greatest Army this nation has ever seen,” Krueger said. “We accept your challenge to ensure that the cry of ‘medic’ on the battlefield never goes unanswered. …
“Ready Now. Army Medicine is Army strong.”
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2022 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 430366 |
| Location: | FORT BELVOIR, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 869 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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