Army preventive medicine improves conditions at remote base

Courtesy Photo | Army Sgt. Kristy Giagnocavo, a preventive medicine technician with 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), takes water samples at Contingency Operating Site Ubaydi, Iraq, during autumn 2009. The environmental recommendations Giagnocavo made to the leadership of 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, resulted in vastly-improved living conditions for paratroopers living at Ubaydi. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)  

IRAQ

12.29.2009

Courtesy Story

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs

By Capt. Steve Johnson, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), Multi National Force — West

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE UBAYDI, Iraq — Army medics knew they had a lot of work to do when they first visited Contingency Operating Site Ubaydi, a remote base in Al Anbar province, Iraq, in the fall of 2009.

"Ubaydi had rodent infestations and problems with sand flies. Additionally, their [kitchen sanitation facility] had problems with sanitation and waste disposal," said Sgt. Kristy Giagnocavo.

Giagnocavo is a preventive medicine technician with 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), specializing in disease and non-battle-injury prevention. Her duties include environmental surveillance of air, water and soil. Detailed reports from her preventive-medicine inspections provide recommendations and guidance to leaders that help keep paratroopers fit to fight.

Lt. Col. Xavier Brunson, commander of 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, took immediate action after reviewing Giagnocavo's initial assessment of Ubaydi, where he would have paratroopers stationed.

Realizing the impact of disease and non-battle injuries, Brunson said, "Ensuring the health and welfare of our paratroopers is of paramount concern to the leaders of this battalion. Having the ability to call on the specialized training and abilities of Sgt. Giagnocavo... means that unlike the Union Army in the Civil War who lost over 200,000 [soldiers] to disease and pests, we are able to preserve our unit's strength by the application of preventive medicine."

On her follow-up visit to Ubaydi, Giagnocavo was satisfied that her initial assessment encouraged corrective action. The kitchen-material sanitation facility, housed by a tent without flooring, was plagued by dust contamination on pots and pans.

"[The battalion] solved the problem by building a hard structure with floors and shelving for cooking material," she said.

Another area of concern was Ubaydi's living quarters. Previously, paratroopers slept next to Hesco barriers and complained of sand flies and other insect problems. Hesco barriers, made of a collapsible wire mesh and fabric liner, are filled with sand and provide protection from blasts and small arms fire.

"They're an attractive habitat for sand flies," said Giagnocavo.

Paratroopers came up with a clever fix and an added bonus. "They used plywood to contain the barriers, which also added some much-needed shelf space," she said.

With approximately two weeks of preventive-medicine missions each month, Giagnocavo's job is enduring but fruitful. "The best part of my job is seeing improvements made from my recommendations," she said.

As a result of her efforts, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Paratroopers are a healthier and more capable force.

• Date Taken: 12.29.2009
• Date Posted: 12.29.2009 14:23
• Story ID: 43261
• Location: IQ