Public Health

Senior leaders from the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence and other units on Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston served Thanksgiving Dinner to service members, retirees, and families at the Rocco and Slagel Dining Facility. Named Operation Thanksgiving, Mission Green Tab, the tradition gives leaders an opportunity to thank the troops and families for their service and strengthens the bond among the military community.

Special thanks go to the staff of the dining facilities on the Fort Sam Houston. For Thanksgiving this year they served over 5,000 service members and 250 families. The planning for such an undertaking begins in August. The staff of 285 prepares 1010 lbs. of turkey, 710 lbs. of ham, and 836 lbs. of prime rib along with multiple bible and cross cakes, and a variety of pies; approx. 8000 servings in total. The DFAC staff is honored to serve the brave men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. Please join MEDCoE in thanking them for their commitment and support.

Joint Base Langley-Eustis is leading the charge in revolutionizing military readiness. One of its tenant units, the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training, has introduced the “Sleep Domain” as a critical component of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System. This initiative recognizes that quality sleep is just as vital as physical training and mental resilience for mission success.

As the proponent for the H2F system, CIMT focuses on five interconnected domains: Physical, Mental, Sleep, Nutritional, and Spiritual. Together, these domains aim to prepare Soldiers holistically for combat challenges.

“The units with embedded H2F performance teams will evaluate Soldiers and provide tailored coaching to address individual needs,” said U.S. Army Maj. Erin Stone, CIMT Mental Domain Lead. “This includes guidance on pre-sleep routines and techniques to calm the mind, optimizing rest for peak performance.”

The integration of sleep education into Field Manual 7-22, the Army’s H2F doctrine, underscores the importance of rest in Soldier readiness. According to Stone, sleep has historically been undervalued, often sacrificed for physical training or mental toughness.

However, recent research reveals that sleep is essential for cognitive function, emotional regulation, and recovery. Chronic deprivation can impair decision-making, elevate stress, and increase injury risk—factors that directly impact performance under pressure.

The Sleep Domain empowers Soldiers at all levels with practical tools like sleep tracking technology and personalized coaching. Soldiers learn to establish consistent sleep routines and overcome challenges like shift work and deployment environments.

“Dominance on the battlefield will go to whoever can reset and recover the quickest,” said Stone. “Practicing sleep hygiene and fatigue management in garrison builds a foundation for success in combat.”

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patrick Murphy, H2F Officer in Charge for the 7th Transportation Brigade, also highlighted the mission-critical nature of sleep, confirming that in combat, sleep deprivation can compromise safety by slowing reaction times and impairing judgment.

“Adequate rest is more than recovery—it’s foundational to readiness. It ensures Soldiers can perform at their best, whether on the frontlines or supporting vital operations,” said Murphy.

As the Army rolls out embedded H2F teams across units, JBLE’s efforts set a benchmark for integrating sleep health into a comprehensive approach to fitness and operational readiness. By prioritizing rest, the Army is equipping its Soldiers not just for physical endurance but for mental and emotional resilience—a necessity for modern warfare.

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT) awarded a $8.72 million fixed price indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract modification, Nov.26, 2024, to IAP Worldwide Services, Inc. for base operations support (BOS) services at U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Greece.

The contract modification provides for an additional 12 months of BOS services while exercising option year seven for recurring and non-recurring work under the previously awarded basic contract and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $63.97 million.

“Overall, Base Operating Service contracts are essential to the success of military operations,” NAVFAC EURAFCENT director of public works Juan Jimenez Arocho said. “BOS contracts include services, such as utility system operations, facilities management and repairs, transportation and many other services that keep the installation operating on a daily basis.”

BOS provides the resources to operate the bases, installations, camps, posts, and stations of the Military Departments and the Defense Health Program. These resources sustain mission capability, ensure quality of life, enhance workforce productivity, and fund personnel and infrastructure support.

Facilities management is a crucial aspect of BOS. It involves the maintenance and upkeep of the physical infrastructure of the installation. This includes everything from repairing buildings and roads to managing utilities and waste disposal.

BOS services to be performed in this contract includes management and administration, harbor security, galley operations, unaccompanied housing, facility management, facilities investment, custodial services, pest control, integrated solid waste services, grounds maintenance, utility management, wastewater, and transportation services.

This option period will be from Jan.1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed at NSA Souda Bay, Greece.

The Department of Defense contract announcement can be read at https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3979543/

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command is the naval shore facilities, base operating support, and expeditionary engineering systems command delivering life-cycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned to fleet and Marine Corps priorities. NAVFAC EURAFCENT supports fleet commanders by providing engineering assessments and agile acquisition strategy, constructing and maintaining shore infrastructure, and maximizing force readiness to enhance warfighter capability. NAVFAC EURAFCENT serves as the engineering link between the shore and the Fleet in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility.

For more information, contact NAVFAC EURAFCENT public affairs at +39 366.695.8800 or [email protected]

DONGDUCHEON, South Korea – On a cold winter morning, just one degree below zero, 20 Camp Casey volunteers delivered 2,000 coal briquettes to households on the neighborhood of Sangpae, Dongducheon city, South Korea, Nov. 23. The annual event has been supported by U.S. Army Soldiers in the area since 2007.

Early that morning, Dongducheon Volunteer Center and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) volunteers began to deliver the 2,000 briquettes to several homes in Sangpae-dong. The volunteers worked side-by-side in the frigid winter morning air, warmed by their generous hearts of friendship and cooperation.

“A philosopher said that volunteer service is the greatest thing,” said Hyong, Nam Sun, the Dongducheon Volunteer Center chief. “No matter how great or small the value of service, the service itself is great. This is because we reach out to those in need with a warm heart and encourage them to always live in a positive way in this world.”

A South Korean charcoal briquette, or “yeontan,” has been used as an affordable way to heat homes since the mid-1950s. There are still several homes in Sangpae-dong that haven’t been upgraded to more modern boiler heating systems.

A standard briquette weighs about 3.5 kilograms, or 7.7 pounds, and has 22 holes drilled into its topside to facilitate more efficient and steady burning with an average household burning one to three briquettes per day.

The group of Yongsan-Casey volunteers was comprised of U.S. Army Soldiers, Korean Augmentation To the U.S. Army (KATUSA) Soldiers, and civilians assigned to Camp Casey and Camp Hovey.

“Volunteer opportunities like this make me feel pretty good,” said Sgt. Andrew Greider, Area I BOSS president. “More often than not, Soldiers are usually very enthusiastic about being able to help the local community. Many express an eagerness and willingness to go out and do more volunteer work and are always looking for new ways to help wherever they can.”

The coal distribution event is just one of over 118 community relations events organized by the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey community relations office within the past 12 months to promote cross-cultural understanding and improve the quality of life for Soldiers, family members, and civilians.

“As a community relations officer of USAG Yongsan-Casey, it is a great honor to support U.S. Soldiers who want to help the local community and support those in need,” said Kim, Song Ae, the U.S. Army Yongsan-Casey community relations officer. “It is always a pleasure to participate in volunteer work that makes people happy and makes our community a better place.”

After the event, the volunteers were treated to a heartwarming bowl of jajangmyeon, a popular South Korean noodle dish topped with thick black bean sauce, diced pork, vegetables and spices. Several engaging conversations naturally occurred as the volunteers shared a meal with Sangpae-dong citizens, creating a unique and culturally immersive experience.

“A lot of the Soldiers stationed at Camp Casey are new to the Army, and it will be their first time not being with their families during the holidays,” said Greider. “Helping out during the holiday season gives Soldiers a safe place to go out and can relieve some of their stress and worries.”

The community relations event is an outstanding example of the Army value of selfless service and strengthened the bond between Yongsan-Casey Soldiers and the surrounding community.

By: Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO – Sailors assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and embarked elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returned to homeport in San Diego and Camp Pendleton, this week after a deployment to the U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleet areas of operations.

As part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th MEU (ARG-MEU), more than 2,500 Sailors and Marines participated in a wide range of joint and combined exercises and provided foreign disaster support, showcasing the ready and responsive combined-arms team of the Navy and Marine Corps.

“The tactical expertise, professionalism, and stealth of the Sailors and Marines who make up our amphibious force team is unmatched, and that was proven time and time again throughout our deployment to the 7th Fleet area of operations,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Tate Robinson, commodore of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5. “From exercising and training alongside our allies and partners to supporting foreign disaster response missions, our Navy and Marine Corps team demonstrated the true flexibility and maneuverability of the ARG-MEU construct, and I could not be more honored to serve alongside each and every member of this team.”

During deployment, Boxer and the 15th MEU participated in exercise Ssang Yong. The exercise strengthened the Republic of Korea-U.S. alliance through bilateral, joint training, contributing toward combined amphibious capability in defense of the Korean Peninsula.

In September, Boxer also sailed alongside and participated in a personnel exchange with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kongo-class guided-missile destroyer JS Kongo (DDG 173) and conducted three replenishments-at-sea with the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Polar-class sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa (A11) before returning to the Republic of Korea to participate in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Day celebration. As part of the celebration, Boxer and the 15th MEU welcomed more than 245 visitors to the ship for tours, giving the Sailors and Marines an opportunity to showcase their equipment, expertise, and professionalism while building relationships with the local community.

Later in September, the H-1 Helicopter detachment from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165, Reinforced temporarily transferred to the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), marking the first time a full H-1 detachment operated from this class of ship. The detachment, consisting of UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper helicopters, conducted day and night close-air support training missions with live ordnance, enhancing the capability and capacity of the MEU’s Marine Air Ground Task Force.

After departing the Republic of Korea, Boxer and the 15th MEU rapidly shifted course to head to the Philippines at the direction of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) efforts in foreign disaster response operations following Typhoon Krathon (locally know as Julian) at the request of the Philippine government. The Boxer ARG-MEU provided critical logistics support, transporting much-needed foreign disaster response supplies to remote locations in the Philippines alongside USAID, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and personnel from I Marine Expeditionary Force’s Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA). The foreign disaster response mission exemplified the benefits of the unique construct of the ARG-MEU, providing commanders the flexibility to respond to crises with air and sea-based connectors, ultimately enhancing maneuverability and ability to respond whenever and wherever called upon.

Following foreign disaster response in the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes, Philippines, the BOX ARG-MEU remained in the region to participate in Exercise KAMANDAG 8, an annual Philippine and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing shared defense and humanitarian capabilities through realistic training scenarios and information exchanges. This year’s iteration included participants from Australia, France, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

“Together, the entire 15th MEU and the three ships of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group have demonstrated an exceptional level of versatility, resilience, and operational capability,” said Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer, 15th MEU. “From crisis response during foreign disaster relief to supporting 10 theater exercises, the accomplishments of our amphibious force reflect the skill, resilience, dedication and professionalism of every Marine and Sailor. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and the lasting impact this deployment will have on future operations in the Indo-Pacific working with our allies and partners.”

Boxer is the flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group. In addition to Boxer and the 15th MEU Command Element, units assigned to the ARG-MEU during the deployment included the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 11, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 5, Assault Craft Units (ACU) 1 and 5, Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 1, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/5, Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 15, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) (reinforced) 165, and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225 with embarked F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Harpers Ferry and Somerset returned to San Diego, Aug. 13 and Oct. 18, 2024, respectively.

Throughout the deployment, Boxer executed more than 3,500 launches and recoveries of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, completing more than 2,100 flight hours in support of the 15th MEU Air Combat Element, VMM-165 (REIN), VMFA-225, and the HSC-23 detachment. Embarked aircraft on Boxer include MH-60S Nighthawk helicopters, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, AH-1Z Viper helicopters, UH-1Y Venom helicopters, and F-35B Lightning II vertical and/or short take-off and landing aircraft.

Boxer’s air department team received more than 350 pallets of food, stores, and equipment via vertical replenishment (VERTREP) and over 1 million gallons of JP-5 via underway replenishment (UNREP) and in port replenishment. Additionally, the Amphibious Air Traffic Control Center (AATCC) conducted more than 500 instrument approaches, both day and night, while the flight deck and hangar deck conducted more than 2,100 aircraft movement evolutions and 240 aircraft elevator movements in direct support of daily operations.

Boxer completed eight underway replenishments in the Indo-Pacific region with the Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oilers USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) and USNS Yukon (T-AO 202), the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ships USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) and HMNZS Aotearoa, , and USNS Yukon, transferring more than 5 million gallons of fuel over the deployment period.

Boxer and the 15th MEU transited over 3,200 nautical miles in support of deterring aggression, crisis response, presence operations, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. Boxer conducted routine port visits to Guam, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

The 15th MEU is based at Camp Pendleton and is part of I Marine Expeditionary Force. As a premiere global crisis response force, 15th MEU is trained and ready to operate within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility with the Navy’s U.S. 3rd Fleet.

Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego. Commissioned Feb. 11, 1995, Boxer is the sixth ship to bear the name. Boxer’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.

As an integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic and relevant training necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s timeless role across the full spectrum of military operations—from combat missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

In every military unit, various sections tackle specific jobs and mission sets. The military intelligence section, commonly known as “intel,” plays a crucial role in maintaining vigilance and threat awareness. Comprised of multiple specialties, the section works together to create and disseminate military intelligence products.

“There are so many things you can learn,” said Spc. Liberty Grant, a geospatial engineer assigned to Alpha Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 34th Infantry Division.

“You’re really only limited by how much you want to learn and your own imagination.”

A typical day in the “intel” section is driven by production timelines and scheduled briefings. Soldiers collaborate to produce a daily military intelligence update that provides a shared understanding of the current situation within the unit’s area of operations.

“I also don’t mind the tedious aspects of map-making and get a lot of satisfaction from finished products,” added Grant.

Recognizing the high-pressure environment, leadership has implemented creative and social outlets to boost morale amongst Soldiers. Soldiers have had opportunities to participate in group activities such as craft projects, group sports, and other physically challenging activities.

Recently the section came together to paint rocks, creating fun and uplifting decorations for their office.

NRC Omaha Change of Command Ceremony

Story by MC1 (SW/AW) Harry Andrew D. Gordon

Cmdr. Douglas Williams relieved Cmdr. Andrew Potts as the commanding officer of Navy Reserve Center (NRC) Omaha. The ceremony was held at the Chief Deyvonndra Jones Drill Hall in Omaha, Neb., Nov. 22.

NRC Sioux Falls staff, family and friends were in attendance along with presiding officer Capt. Christopher Peppel, commander, Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command Everett, and guest speaker Capt. Ruth Lane.

The ceremony commenced with a welcoming of guests by the Master of Ceremonies, Chief Yeoman Nicholas Emanuel, the presentation of colors, National Anthem and an invocation by Cmdr. Davy Lee.

Potts passionately spoke about his tour and the work of the Navy Reserve Sailors assigned to the NRC and his Staff.

“Serving in Omaha has been very rewarding. It’s been a privilege to be part of the tight-knit Navy community during my three years here, and it’s been an honor to work with such a group of motivated Sailors serving at the furthest Navy Reserve Center from sea water,” said Potts. “It hasn’t been an easy tour, but I couldn’t be prouder of my staff and their strong performance. They persisted in keeping Omaha Sailors ready despite challenging conditions including substantial building damage from flooding and a subsequent renovation.”

Guest speakers Lane and Peppel spoke about the importance of readiness in our current global climate and how important the Navy Reserve mission is to our country.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of Potts’s end of tour award, remarks and the reading of orders.

Potts reflected on his tour and welcomed Williams as the new commanding officer.

“It’s tough to be leaving a group of Sailors that I’ve experienced so much with, but I’m confident that Cmdr. Williams will be a great commanding officer and continue the tradition of strong performance in Omaha.”

Williams responded emphasizing how thankful he was for the outstanding work of Potts and his staff. He also addressed the staff preparing them for the future as the Navy Reserve mission is more important than ever.

“I appreciate everything Cmdr. Potts and his staff have done to prepare our Navy Reserve Sailors to be effective reservists but we cannot rest on our achievements,” said Williams. “Instead, we need to continue to strive for more and elevate our standards. Our enemies are not compliant, and we shall not be either.”

Williams continued his comments on the importance of readiness.

“What we do in the Navy Reserves helps safeguard the security of our family, friends and Country,” said Williams. “It all starts here with us. We lay the foundation that our Sailors stand on when they hit the Fleet. They cannot do their jobs and be effective without us doing ours and doing it well.”

NRC Omaha currently has 11 Staff and 259 Navy Reserve Sailors assigned to the command. The mission of the Navy Reserve is to provide the Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint Forces with operational capabilities and strategic depth during times of peace or war. The Navy Reserve’s top priority is warfighting readiness.