Public Health

The ASBP Great Lakes Blood Donor Center (BDC), located at Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Illinois, was recently granted an FDA license to produce and distribute pre-pooled cryoprecipitate, becoming the first in the DoD capable of producing this vital blood product. Cryoprecipitate, or “cryo” for short, is a concentrated dose of clotting factors made from blood plasma. One reason cryo is important is because it used to manage bleeding in individuals whose blood does not clot correctly. While other sites produce single donor Cryoprecipitated AHF (antihaemophilic factor), only ASBP Great Lakes is licensed to produce Pre-Storage Pooled Cryoprecipitated AHF. This product is made by mixing five single donor cryoprecipitate AHF products into a larger dose before it is placed into frozen storage.

Using pre-pooled cryo has multiple advantages. The forward deployed medic can more quickly transfuse pre-pooled cryo. This is because they will no longer be required to thaw and pool 5 or more sperate units of cryo before transfusion. They can instead use the pre-pooled cryo produced at ASBP Great Lakes to have a larger dose available faster. Every minute counts during a medical emergency, and this time saved can lead to better patient outcomes and ultimately more lives saved. The DoD producing its own pre-pooled cryo can also offer advantages in terms of standardization, product availability, inventory management, and overall transfusion safety.

As a center within the ASBP – the official blood program of the DoD – the Great Lakes BDC has a multifaceted mission of providing quality blood products for service members, their families, and veterans. Adding pre-pooled cryo to that mission further increases the responsibilities of the center.

“Our mission is to supply blood products to our troops down range, and then supporting the transfusion services of the Department of Defense,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Collins, Department Head, Great Lakes BDC.

“Being able to supply concentrated clotting factors [here at home or in] austere environments in a forward deployed situation where they have these requirements [clotting factor needs] and they see those traumas, that’s where the service members benefit,” Collins added.

Cryo contains concentrated clotting factors made from plasma. This process of separation happens when plasma is removed from a whole blood donation, separated, frozen, then just barely thawed at a controlled temperature. This results in the creation of a precipitate in the thawed plasma.

“The liquid remaining is the plasma product which is used to make noninjectable product. The ‘left over’ is that concentrated cryoprecipitate, and then that’s what we actually freeze again,” said Collins.

The precipitate remaining in the bag is made of clotting factors that are separated from the plasma, creating a cryo-poor plasma product. Precipitate remaining in the bag is a concentrated mix of clotting factors called cryoprecipitate, and that is what is needed to cause blood to clot even in the most difficult situations. This process combines the precipitate into pools from five individual units of cryo, and then it is frozen for storage up to one year.

External and internal injuries activate the clotting system in our blood, and this is tightly controlled to both stop bleeding around an injury but also not allow clotting to spread to other places. When patients are severely injured or bleeding a lot, their clotting factors can become depleted.

Cryo replaces some of the required clotting factors and helps the body return to normal hemodynamics (how your blood flows through your blood vessels).

There is a cost benefit to producing cryo in-house at the blood donor center, Collins added. Now, the DoD can get this lifesaving product from the ASBP Great Lakes BDC with no additional cost or go outside to civilian sources.

“It’s going to increase our work because we are going to be the sole supplier [of pre-pooled cryo] to the Department of Defense,” said Collins. “The increase is welcomed as it is our goal to keep the frontline strong.”

The only way to know your donation will definitely go to the military, directly supporting service members on the battlefield, is to donate with the ASBP. The program is tasked with the collection, processing, storage and transportation of blood and blood products to ill or injured service members, their families, retirees, and veterans worldwide.

Not all donations can be turned into cryo, but every donation is needed regardless for various other reasons. Interested donors can contact their local BDC and check if they are eligible to donate crucial blood products. Enhance readiness and enable the creation of cryo and other lifesaving blood products by scheduling a donation at www.militarydonor.com. You can also contact the Great Lakes BDC directly at (224)-610-2118 to learn about their next blood drive.

About the Armed Services Blood Program

Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program is the official blood program of the United States military. Our mission is to provide quality blood products and support to military operations worldwide; from the battlefield to the local hospital, whenever and wherever needed. The ASBP collects, processes, stores, transports, and distributes blood products to service members, their families, retirees and veterans in peace and war. In an ASBP Enterprise view—Military Health Affairs, Defense Health Agency, Service Blood Programs and Combatant Commands—we operate under common goals, metrics, procedures, and work together to shape the future.

The ASBP is one of four organizations tasked with providing a safe blood supply to the Nation. Our program also works closely with our civilian counterparts in times of need to maximize the availability of this national treasure.

To find out more about the ASBP or schedule an appointment to donate, please visit www.health.mil/militaryblood. To interact directly with ASBP staff members or get the latest news, follow us @militaryblood on Facebook and Twitter, and @usmilitaryblood on Instagram.

Alaska’s service members can now complete a Living Pattern Survey, which runs through Dec. 31, giving them the chance to provide critical data that may counter decreases in their future Overseas Cost-of-Living Allowance.

Recent reductions in OCOLA include a four-point decrease for service members in Anchorage. This reduction equates to hundreds or thousands of dollars a year in a state with notoriously high costs of living. Other areas in Alaska such as coastal communities with service members

saw an even higher reduction in OCOLA, which significantly impacts their financial quality of life.

“I’m an E-3 and a first-time parent, so covering the basic needs of my infant absorbs so much of our budget already,” said Airman 1st Class Dustin Smyth, a firefighter assigned to the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron. “My family relies on things like COLA because we are a single-income household and we need to have someone home because of my irregular shifts.”

After the first two points of a four-point decrease in OCOLA was implemented on Nov. 16, beneficiaries now have the opportunity to counteract the reduction and potentially increase their purchasing power in the future if enough people participate in the survey.

OCOLA is a non-taxable allowance designed to help service members stationed outside the contiguous United States maintain equal purchasing power to those stationed in the Lower 48 states.

These surveys are held every three years, and this year’s results will be the basis for COLA rates through 2025, affecting current and future service members until the next survey in 2026.

Military leadership across Alaska are urging service members to participate in the survey to gather accurate, up-to-date information on the state’s cost of living, and to help provide financial relief to the local community.

The survey can be found at https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Community/se/2511374556FF6A0F

For more information on the previous OCOLA reduction for Alaska service members can be found at https://www.jber.jb.mil/News/Articles/Display/Article/3566352/ocola-decrease-to-affect-jber-service-members/

The 86th Airlift Wing Chaplain Office is a team that is here for all. Chaplains themselves are often seen around the base engaging and embedding with teams to assist with the welfare of service members and to gauge the overall morale of units. While they are out in the community, the unsung heroes of their office are working behind the scenes to ensure their mission goes forward unhindered. They are religious affairs Airmen and work to support Airmen and their families.

These Airmen work side-by-side with chaplains in most of the functions they support. From sermons in the chapel to counseling Airmen and their families, religious affairs Airmen are critical to the overall success of the U.S. Air Force’s mission.

“Religious affairs Airmen handle a lot of the administrative work the chaplains office gets,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Devon Grejczyk, 86th AW religious affairs airman. “We handle a lot of the stuff chaplains cannot handle due to them being out with units and other tasks they have. We make sure they stay focused and can keep doing what they do best.”

Chaplains are the face of their organization. Some may think they are what U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathan Smith, 86th AW chaplain, calls “a one man band.” He says this could not be farther from the truth.

“We rely heavily on our religious affairs Airmen for a lot of what we do,” Smith said. “If it was not for them I would not be able to do most of what I do for the community.”

Chaplains are sometimes known for providing privileged counseling, where Airmen, civilians and family members may speak to chaplains with full confidentiality and without fear of reprisal. However, Smith says many do not know religious affairs Airmen can do the same.

“We can perform some of the same tasks that chaplains can,” Grejczyk said. “I see people who are a little afraid to talk to officers, so we can assist people if we are needed. I love to help people and for them to have a safe area to speak freely. We also have an area where you do not have to talk and is just for quiet contemplation.”

Many Airmen and their families belong to faiths and religions from around the globe. By law, the U.S. Military has to accommodate their requests. Grejczyk says the 86th Chaplain Office is more than willing to help.

“We help a lot of Airmen and their families find their preferred religious services,” Grejczyk said. “A lot of people think we just provide for the larger faiths, but we provide all sorts of services ourselves and find places of worship for other forms of faith.”

Chaplains at the 86th AW are typically embedded with units on base. As Smith says, “We keep our fingers on the pulse of the organizations’ morale and welfare.”

“We cannot expect our members to take care of the mission if they are struggling,” Smith said. “We and our religious affairs Airmen try to stay involved and up to date with our assigned units. We want them to know we are here for them and their families.”

Not only does their office provide support to their assigned units, they are heavily involved with the base community by providing activities to bolster the welfare of all members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

Grejczyk says he stays involved with his unit by giving them opportunities to get out into the KMC and visit famous local areas such as castles, caves and ruins.

Smith and Grejczyk said the best part of their job is human connection. They love to get out and meet people and make their day better, they explained.

“It is all about the people,” Grejczyk said. “Everything we do is for the people here. Without them, none of the great work the Air Force does would be possible. I know that goes without saying, but it is true. I love what I do because of them and I hope the Airmen and their families here know we are here for them.”

Tucked away on base is the unassuming metals technology shop. The exterior gives no clue to the mission critical work that goes on behind those walls.

Metals technology Airmen produce parts and tools for different units around their respective bases. Whether for aircraft or Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE), ammo or other maintenance back shops, metals tech supports their missions by creating what’s needed to keep the 142nd Wing flying effectively and efficiently.

One of the primary benefits of their shop is the ability to fabricate parts much faster than it would take to order them from a manufacturer. A part that may take five days to be shipped to the unit could be made in a much shorter period of time. This expedites the ability for maintenance Airmen to get aircraft back in commission.

“We have the ability as a unit to say, ‘hey stop what you are doing. We need to have this part made,’ and then have that part made in hours or even minutes,” said Staff Sgt. Nathan Carssow, an aircraft metals technology craftsman with the 142nd Maintenance Squadron.

Another huge benefit of metal fabrication is being able to bridge the gap when parts are needed which are no longer being produced or manufactured. Recently the unit fabricated an aluminum stringer for an F-15C Eagle tail cone. The fact that the metal fabrication shop was able to make this part saved the wing money and reduced the aircraft’s repair time.

In fiscal year 2023, the metals tech shop assisted in generating $1.2 million in Air Force Repair Enhancement Program (AFREP) funds. AFREP is aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency across the Air Force, and the metal fabrication shop plays a prominent role in this effort.

With the notable and measurable impact the metals tech shop has on the wing’s readiness and mission success, metals technology Airmen understand the importance and impact of their daily work.

“In the more intricate parts of our job, if an aircraft is in need of something, like the bushings, it’s not going to fly until our shop finishes the project,” said Tech. Sgt. Nate Brown, a 142nd Maintenance Squadron metals technology craftsman. “ …When a job is serious enough to need metals tech, it’s not going to fly until we finish the project that’s been given to us.”

The metals tech shop is able to create all the different parts and tools by using an array of manual lathes, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) mills, 3d printers, welding tools, and various other tools that allow them to shape metals into useable parts and tools.

A common task the metals tech shop performs here is removing stuck screws from jets. According to Brown, this is a relatively easy task, but it is crucial to keeping airframes flying. This contrasts with the technical knowledge and unique set of skills needed to produce aircraft grade parts, starting with metals and ending with a polished part that keeps the plane in the air.

Despite being tucked away and out of sight for the most part, the metals fabrication shop provides mission critical support throughout the 142nd Wing. Without this cost-and-time-saving capability, the mission could not be carried out as effectively or efficiently as it is.

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Military families have long made sacrifices unique to them while supporting their loved ones in uniform. These sacrifices are sometimes compounded when both parents serve. Some of the challenges might include multiple moves, deployments, or long workdays.

The Brennan family is a dual-serving, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Army family with duties that include helping Soldiers connect to family support resources, helping Soldiers during a crisis, and ensuring they stay informed. They do this all while maintaining their own strength as a family unit.

1st Sgt. Robert Brennan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, met his wife, Staff Sgt. Amanda Brennan, sexual harassment response victim advocate, 1st TSC, while they were serving in the Army in 2007. They have four children – Bailey, Chloe, William, and Alexandra, who followed her mother’s lead last year and enlisted in the Army.

Pfc. Alexandra Brennan serves as a religious affairs specialist with the 1-29th Infantry, 316th Cavalry, at Fort Moore, Georgia.

She remembers moving a lot, but also making new friends with each new school. This helped build her resiliency and adaptability, leading her to become the third Brennan in her tight-knight family to enlist.

“My parents made it really easy for us to adjust,” Alexandra said.

“We were all involved in sports and many other activities,” she added. “As I look back on it now, I think it was part of what helped smooth over the constant changes that the Army dealt us.”

Both Brennans recall enlisting help from their extended family through six deployments, two rotations to Korea, countless temporary duty assignments, schools, and field rotations.

“Our families are the real superheroes and MVPs,” Amanda explained.

“They have been here for us through it all and continue to be our rocks as we progress in our dreams,” she added.

During Amanda’s first deployment, Robert embarked on his second.

“My in-laws, Kevin and Teresa Brennan took in our oldest two children for an entire year, all while running their business,” Amanda said.

“They ensured that the kids attended school and drove them to their sporting events and other activities. They did it so effortlessly that the kids just continued their ‘normal routines’ while they waited for us to return,” Amanda said.

Amanda also expressed how the Army has helped her family in many ways. It offers them stability with finances and insurance; it has made them resilient; and it allowed them to build strong bonds within their immediate family unit. Additionally, they’ve formed such close relationships with other Soldiers who Amanda describes as “adopted aunts and uncles.”

“These people were at one time just ‘battles’ to our left and right but are now family through and through,” she said.

“We weren’t always able to move on to our next assignments together, but the Army ensured that we were always cared for,” she added.

“They did this with all the programs provided along with the support we’ve received from amazing command teams at each duty station,” she applauded.

Robert doesn’t just ensure that his family is cared for and is connected to available programs and resources, but he shares the responsibility of connecting Soldiers and families to programs to support their needs.

The first sergeant does this by pushing out information with the help of the unit’s platoon sergeants during formations and by distributing flyers and communicating face to face.

“I also use the Soldier and Family Readiness Group Facebook page, our Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers representatives, as well as using Fort Knox Garrison information channels,” Robert said.

“It is very important to me, and our entire command team, that our Soldiers AND their families are cared for,” the first sergeant said. “This includes everything from Soldiers getting time to take care of medical appointments for their family members to support during significant life events,” he said.

Twenty years in the Army has taught the first sergeant that when families are taken care of at home with a great support network – the unit benefits.

The Brennan Family will continue serving together and celebrating their successes. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been something they’ve both been able to share as a family.

By Sgt. Jang, Young Jae

Navigating legal battlefields with unwavering dedication, Capt. Justice Kaufman, a seasoned trial counsel at Eighth Army, stands as a testament to commitment shaped by a deep-rooted military upbringing. In a recent interview, she offered profound insights into her journey, the intricacies of her role, and the ethical compass guiding her decisions.

Growing up as a “Navy brat,” Kaufman’s early years were steeped in a military atmosphere, with her father’s extensive 24-year service in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Despite initially considering the Navy, fate led her to the U.S. Army, a decision she now regards as serendipitous.

Reflecting on her family’s legacy, she shared, “I have several grandfathers. One was drafted, a couple of them joined up willingly. But we can trace a lot of military service in my family back fairly far.”

Her path into the military was not only influenced by familial tradition, but also fueled by a desire for a more purposeful career following a stint in what seemed like a “dead-end job.”

“I just decided I wanted to do something a little bit more meaningful. So I decided to go to law school,” she explained.

The pivotal decision to join the Army, despite an initial inclination towards the Navy, was a fortunate turn of events that she now cherishes. In her role as a trial counsel, Kaufman provides legal counsel on a broad spectrum of military justice matters, particularly cases involving Soldier misconduct and litigating severe misconduct in courts-martial. Addressing the demanding nature of her role, she emphasized the significance of maintaining a balance between personal and professional life.

“I try to leave work here. It’s not always possible. I’ve definitely received calls on weekends and had to come in,” she said, highlighting the challenges of navigating the high-stakes nature of her job.

Acknowledging the intricacies of Soldier misconduct cases, Kaufman encounters not only legal challenges, but also moral dilemmas. Her acute sense of empathy allows her to recognize the trials young Soldiers face in acclimating to military life.

“A lot of Soldiers do unwise things because they’re young and they’re here; they’re independent for the first time and they have money and they don’t know how to handle themselves,” she noted.

However, she emphasized the necessity of maintaining a professional boundary, suspending emotional judgments while upholding the principles of good order and discipline.

Kaufman’s approach aligns with the four constants of the JAG Corps: principled counsel, mastery of the law, stewardship of the profession, and servant leadership.

Reflecting on the impact of mentors, she highlighted the influence of Lt. Col. Emily Roman, saying, “She is a powerful woman.”

The mentorship she received played a pivotal role in shaping her approach and encouraging her to take her seat at the table, both literally and metaphorically.

“I respect Lt. Col. Emily Roman a lot. I used to work in national security law where I was sitting at meetings, advising and listening during exercises. Usually, those meetings are at a fairly high level with the staff sections up at headquarters; so lots of O-5s and O-6s. When I first joined, I just wanted to stay in the background. And I remember one day, I came into a meeting and sat right behind Lt. Col. Roman. There were plenty of chairs at the table, and she looked at me and said, ‘Take your seat at the table.’ That may not mean anything out of context, but to me, that was very powerful. She told me, ‘you’re here now; this is your job; you’re the attorney in the room.’ And it’s especially important as a woman, I think, in this organization to take your seat at the table.”

Kaufman may not readily express personal pride, she finds fulfillment in the meaningful work she undertakes. Her most rewarding moments revolve around providing legal assistance during her tenure as a special victims counsel, where she had the privilege of supporting soldiers facing traumatic experiences.

“Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s difficult to feel competent…What I find most valuable about my job is simply the opportunity to engage with so many different kinds of people. That includes (everywhere from) O-6 down to [private first class] who had suffered a sexual assault. It’s not necessarily one moment I can be most proud of, but I can look at the whole of the advice that I’ve offered. And I think I can be quietly proud of that because I can definitely pinpoint at least some parts where I have helped somebody.”

Looking ahead, Kaufman envisions a sustained military career, drawing inspiration from her family’s enduring legacy of service. Her commitment to principled counsel and mastery of the law positions her as a leader deeply respectful of military traditions, actively contributing to shaping its future positively.

Capt. Justice Kaufman’s journey stands as a compelling narrative of dedication to her role as a trial counsel, marked by a delicate balance of empathy, ethical considerations, and an unyielding commitment to the constants of the JAG Corps. Her story serves as an inspiring testament to the enduring values of service and integrity within the U.S. military.

NATO’s Kosovo Force recently conducted a ceremony that provided the city of Viti’s Department of Health, Emergencies and Services in Viti, Kosovo, with protective equipment and communication devices.

“The entire fire department is thankful to KFOR for the equipment we received today,” said Hetem Jakupi, Viti Fire Chief. “This will really help our daily operations.”

The items that were provided to the department were seven phones and 20 waterproof boots.

The effort was led by K20, a Liaison Monitoring Team as well as a Civil-Military Cooperation team under Kosovo Force Regional Command-East.

Civil-military cooperation is a joint function comprising a set of capabilities integral to supporting the achievement of mission objectives and enabling NATO commands to participate effectively in a broad spectrum of civil-military interaction with diverse non-military actors.

“First responders are vital in every community – we rely on the sacrifices of first responders to protect their neighbors in need during emergencies,” said Col. Rita Holton, Deputy Commanding Officer for Regional Command East. “I want to thank every man and woman on the force for their service and their commitment to everyone in their community. It is truly a blessing to be able to support your selfless service in some small way and we hope that this gift will help you support all those in need in your community.”

KFOR RC-E, composed of Soldiers from ten contributing partner nations, is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999.

Convoying equipment for hours in Indonesia, the roads became too tight to accommodate the large trailers required to transport the U.S. Army Caterpillar D6 and D7 Dozers.

“There wasn’t enough turning radius on some roads, because the roads were so small and narrow,” said Sgt. Shane Crawford, a heavy equipment operator, with the 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command “There were houses, big cement blocks, mailboxes, just all kinds of stuff [in the way].

The team was left with no choice but to unload the two dozers and drive them to the job site. The dozers weigh between 50,000 pounds, and 65,000 pounds and the dozers metal tracks would damage the unimproved roads.

We would lay down the plywood in front of the dozer, and then drive it forward 5 to 10 so the tracks wouldn’t damage the ground, he said.

“I remember my muscles hurting so bad after carrying piece of plywood over and over for the dozer to drive on,” he said. “We did this for a mile until we made it to the job site.”

“We were so sweaty and hot,” he said. “It was just terrible, and we didn’t have only one [dozer], we had two dozers, so we had to do it twice.”

When posed with the decision to stay in the military, Shane Crawford chose to take his career to new heights – at the top of a volcano.

A year before joining the Army, Shane graduated high school in 2016, after which he spent a year bouncing from job to job in De Graff, Ohio, which is located 46 miles from Dayton, Ohio.

“I worked at a factory job; I worked at Walmart, third shift stalking and as a cashier; I work[ed] in a cigarette factory, which was terrible; I worked as a dishwasher for a little coffee shop, [and at] a little diner,” he said.

Not knowing what he wanted to do with his life, and hoping from job to job, he finally decided that he wanted to join the military.

“I looked more to the military because I had some buddies that were in the military,” he said. “So, I would just talk to them and ask a few questions, try and see what branch I’d want to join.”

Shane went to an Army recruiter with his twin brother, Shawn. The recruiter offered them the opportunity to stay together through basic training, advance individual training, and at least one year at their first duty station.

“The buddy system is what made me and my brother want to join the Army instead of the Navy,” he said. “Why not do that instead of joining a branch that splits you up?”

While they expected to be together during their first year at Fort Drum, New York, they ended up staying together the entirety of their first contract until they reenlisted, both for Hawaii.

“We hang out during the weekends, watch football together, [play] video games together, workout together, travel together,” he said. “My brother and I are best friends; everyone is shocked when they see that we are in the same platoon and have been in the Army together our whole career.”

Although being together with a sibling can have its perks, it can also have its downsides.

“Honestly, it’s been a headache because anytime we have stuff going on, like, [administrative] paperwork or anything that involves DOD ID numbers or personnel information, we always get mixed up.” said Shane. “We had to get a COVID test done three times because they thought [we were] one another.”

But this time while in Indonesia, Shane had everything in place to reenlist. Meanwhile, Shawn was back in Hawaii and on the fence about staying in the Army.

“Going through life, me and my twin, that’s all I really had,” said Sgt. Shawn Crawford, who serves in the same unit as his brother. “Being able to experience the Army together with my twin brother just makes it a whole lot better.”

While Shawn was in Hawaii debating his next big move in life, Shane was in Indonesia for Exercise Super Gauruda Shield 23 constructing a road with his fellow engineers, the Indonesian National Armed Forces Army, and Marines.

While U.S. military bases, in the United States, have restricted access to civilian populations, in Indonesia, at Fort Puslapar where the road was being constructed, was different. The local population uses the same roads that military vehicles use.

“While working, the locals can come up and just talk to you,” said Shane. “The vendors would drive up on a moped with a big bucket or a basket attached to the bike and try to sell food, drinks, candy, knives, and hats. If you didn’t want anything, they would just stand there and wait until you did.”

The road stretched through a small village, so that came with its own challenges.

“[The road] ran behind a bunch of local houses, and right through local farmland as well,” he said. “The kids would be playing soccer on the road, and there was wildlife all around. The cows in the field would stare menacingly at us all day. I would do my best not to disturb them.”

Though the animals were less than enthused about the construction work, the locals had a completely different reaction.

“They would always wave at us, and they would have really big smiles on their faces,” he said. “They always seemed happy that we were there. I don’t know if it was because its different … or if it was because we were helping construct and improve the road.”

Before they improved the road, the local people who used the unimproved road would struggle to get around.

“Their wheels used to get stuck in the sand and it wouldn’t be that easy for them to move,” he said. “Especially with all the stuff on the back of their mopeds, like crops, food, drinks, and sometimes a whole family. That’s going to be hard, because it was all sand. Now that it’s all rock and it’s all aggregate, it’s a lot easier to transport stuff and travel.”

Though Shane knew that he wanted to reenlist it was 1st Lt. Reilly Rudolph, his platoon leader, who brought up the location idea. She suggested the top of Mount Ijen.

“I thought it would be a good idea … I’ve never been reenlisted while on a mission and in a different country,” he said. “So, I thought, that’d be pretty cool. You know there was one downside to it, my wife couldn’t be there. So, I asked her if it was okay, she said ‘that’s fine, you don’t need to worry about it, just do it.’”

Working on the road improvement project by day, when the evening would come, he would sit down with his computer and email his retention noncommissioned officer to work on finishing his reenlistment packet.

“When my retention NCO sent me my reenlistment packet, it was all my brother’s information,” he said. “If I wouldn’t have noticed, I would have accidentally reenlisted my brother, which wouldn’t have been such a bad thing.”

The big day came, Mount Ijen looking down at him.

“During our Indonesia mission, the whole platoon hiked to the top of the volcano, to one of two places in the world where blue fire is visible,” said Rudolph.

“There were so many people,” said Shane. “I was just motivated, very motivated, because I was the one that carried the flag up to the top as well.”

With headlamps of the crowds illuminating the trail ahead. Shane’s unit endured the long hike up Mount Ijen. It takes an average of two hours to hike up the 3 miles of steep switchbacks.

“It was a strenuous hike that we did in the middle of the night,” said Rudolph. “[Shane] Crawford refused to stop as he proudly carried the American Flag that he’d use for his reenlistment in his backpack.”

“I love the Army,” said Shane. “I love just the madness it involves every day of so many things going on. That you can handle at your own level to the best of your ability. I like to do it for the people back home. I like to do it for my wife. I like to do it for myself. I’ve had opportunities that would not have been available if I had not joined the Army.”

His legs bringing him up the soft well-worn path of the trail hiked on by many before him, Shane started reflecting on what brought him to this moment.

“Growing up I didn’t really have much,” said Shane. “So, what I own today has all been through the Army because of the Army. If it wasn’t for the Army, I wouldn’t be going to college. I wouldn’t be getting a degree. I wouldn’t have a car. Now, I wouldn’t be married. I wouldn’t be progressing in a career, so quickly. And I wouldn’t have all the opportunities that I’ve had while being in the Army.”

Reaching the top of the mountain, looking out over Indonesia, they are surrounded by bright green foliage with the golden sun peaking above the horizon, bringing warmth to the freezing heights of the volcano. All the while, the deep bright turquoise acidic sulfur pit pluming clouds of gas out into the sky.

“It was crazy, because we had the whole platoon there,” said Shane. “I’m the one that’s reenlisting with my hand out. I’m just trying to listen, and it was freezing. So, I was shaking trying to re-enlist. In the background behind her [Rudolph], there was a bunch of civilians.”

“My favorite memory with [Shane] Crawford is having the privilege of reenlisting him at the top of Kawah Ijen,” said Rudolph. “Sergeant Crawford is such a special individual, so I wanted to make sure we could make his reenlistment memorable.”

“People watched from all different countries,” said Shane. “Just staring at me with an American flag behind me, and when I was done, there was a bunch of civilians that came up and even said congrats to me. And I had no idea of where they’re from, who they are, just random people coming up and saying, congrats, from all around the world. It was insane.”

The flag was folded up and put back neatly in Shanes backpack, a proud symbol of America, displayed at the height of his career.

“I’ve done a lot of reenlistments, but this is one that I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Rudolph. “It was a great day celebrating a great Soldier.”

Back in Hawaii, Shawn Crawford, the indecisive twin brother, was left with a tough decision after seeing his brother reenlist.

“So, I never really thought if I wanted to reenlist or not,” said Shawn Crawford. “Then my brother reenlisted over in Indonesia, so I took it as he is going to stay in, so I might as well keep on the grind and stay in as well – become a better leader, and just a person and a man as a whole.”

Knowing that his brother had reenlisted, that ignited the flame that was waiting to be fueled in Shawn. He chose to stay in the Army with his brother, and though they are not going to be in the same unit, they both reenlisted for Germany at bases an hour apart. While the Crawford brothers continue to lay down the foundation for their careers, the road project back in Indonesia was completed in August 2023.

VICENZA, Italy – During the recent flu vaccine campaign at Caserma Ederle, Taylor Campbell used her skills as a registered nurse to volunteer with the American Red Cross, offering shots to community members.

Campbell, who has five years nursing experience, helped the U.S. Army Health Center – Vicenza, accomplish its mission and keep the community healthy. For Campbell, volunteering in healthcare allows her to maintain required hours for licensing even if there is not a paid position for her.

“While I’m relatively new to the area and to volunteering here, the clinic and Red Cross have made me feel very welcomed,” Campbell said. “There is something for everyone, and if you’re able to give a little bit of your time, it can be a very rewarding experience.”

When Amy Branch, an Army spouse, brought her children for a flu shot, she was among the hundreds of people Campbell helped. Having volunteer staff made the process more efficient – she waited just 10 minutes. Without Red Cross volunteers, something like that wouldn’t have been possible, not only here in Italy, but Army wide,” Branch said.

“Volunteers really are at the heart of what the Army does, but especially here in Vicenza, there are so many things, like a flu shot clinic that wouldn’t happen if you didn’t have volunteers,” Branch said.

Volunteers work in nearly every aspect of U.S. Army Garrison Italy. Whatever the job seeker’s skill, there is likely a place on post to volunteer – to gain valuable experience, network for potential job openings and to give back to the Vicenza Military Community.

When Suly Egante arrived in Vicenza, she struggled to find her groove – a new place with limited job opportunities. The Army spouse and mother of two stepped out of her comfort zone to volunteer. She found meaningful experiences at Army Community Service, the Ederle Fitness Center, the USO and the Vicenza Women of Color. Then she turned her skills at multimedia production to the garrison’s public affairs office, who produce The Garrison Outlook – a mobile news site with associated social media. Her videos resonate with community members, helping make others aware of garrison services, events and activities.

“The feeling that you get for doing something you aren’t getting paid for is completely different than having a job and getting paid for it,” Egante said. “There is this gratification that is like, I’m doing something for the world, my community and for people I know, my friends.”

Ruth Ponce-Batts, the garrison’s volunteer program manager, knows the importance of volunteering. A military spouse for the past 21 years, she has volunteered across multiple duty stations for 11 years. When the opportunity came knocking to help people in her community to volunteer, she jumped on it. Now, from her office at ACS, she helps others.

“Volunteering, especially here in Italy, it gives you the opportunity to connect with people,” Ponce-Batts said. “Sometimes when we move over here it’s our first time overseas, and you can be the most resilient person, but it’s still an adjustment to come here, and it gives you that opportunity to talk to other people, know what’s out there, find out all the resources that are available.”