ASYMCA Honors Military Medical Personnel

Press Release | March 31, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) tonight honored the military men and women who administer lifesaving medical treatment to our troops on the front lines at the 5^th Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala. General Raymond Odierno, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, gave the keynote address at the event honoring corpsmen and medics from 10 branches of the active military, guard and reserve components. 2011 marks the 150^th anniversary of the ASYMCA, the leading provider of social and support services and programs to members of the U.S. military and their resilient families.

ASYMCA worked with the military services to select corpsmen and medics from the Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air National Guard and Army Guard, who accepted the awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics for their dedication and commitment to service.

“Our nation’s medics and corpsmen have evolved to meet the changing needs of their brothers-in-arm,” said Eugene Habiger, General, USAF (Ret.), chairman of the National Board of Directors of the ASYMCA. “These ‘Angels of the Battlefield’ are men and women who risk everything to provide aid, to be compassionate comrades and comforting brothers and sisters when our soldiers need it the most. Their unwavering heroism is something that moves me every year that I am fortunate enough to be in their company at this fine event, and as a retired airman, something I never took for granted in my many years of service.”

The following service members received awards on behalf of their fellow corpsmen and medics:

U.S. Army

Sergeant John C. Curtis, of Lisbon, Maine, accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Army medics. He has been deployed twice to Iraq and was selected to support a mission in a hostile area of Iraq. At 8 years old, Sergeant Curtis was inspired by his father to join the Army and continues the military tradition in his family that includes his father Darryl R. Curtis, U.S. Army; grandfather Romeo Binnette, U.S. Army KIA (Vietnam); grandfather Carroll Curtis, U.S. Navy (Ret.); and great grandfather Earle Grass, U.S. Navy (Ret.). He said his most rewarding moment in the military happened when he returned home and was greeted by the praises of his family and Battalion Commander. Sergeant Curtis was nominated for the Bronze Star with Valor Device medal for the combat events of June 28, 2008, when he treated casualties during an Iraqi attack. His past awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, and he was the first enlisted soldier to receive the D.A.I.S.Y. award.

Staff Sergeant Devon Poole, of Brown Deer, Wis., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Army medics. Staff Sergeant Poole was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his heroic efforts to save the life of is squad leader, who was shot in the abdomen by enemy fire. Using his own body as a shield, Staff Sergeant Poole was able to protect him from further injury, as well as later administer lifesaving aid and prevent him from going into shock. Perhaps a moment that stands out most vividly for Staff Sergeant Poole — an incident that he said demonstrates the significance of the role of the medic — was treating an Iraqi man’s daughter, whose forearm had been severely injured and side grazed by a bullet. Staff Sergeant Poole continues the military tradition in his family after his grandfather Technical Sergeant Fred Poole, U.S. Air Force (Ret.); father, Senior Chief Kurtis Bartelt, U.S. Navy; and brother, Sergeant Derek Bartelt, U.S. Air Force. He has been deployed to Iraq twice.

U.S. Marine Corps

Hospital Corpsman Third Class (FMF) Peter A. Gould, U.S. Navy, servicing the Marine Corps, and of Syracuse, Kan., was presented with the Silver Star on March 4, 2011, the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy. He attended the 5^th Annual Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Navy corpsmen servicing the U.S. Marine Corps. During a local security patrol, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gould’s squad was engaged from three different directions by an enemy force estimated at between 35 to 40 Taliban fighters. One of the Marines from the patrol was shot in the leg, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gould repeatedly exposed himself to accurate, medium machine gun and small arms fire to retrieve the wounded Marine and apply medical aid. By his bold leadership, wise judgment and complete dedication to duty, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Gould upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

U.S. Navy

Hospital Corpsman Third Class Shabir Nawabi, of Los Angeles, Calif., accepted an award on behalf of all U.S. Navy corpsmen. After moving to the United States as a refugee from Afghanistan, he said that he joined the U.S. Navy to “give back to the country that has adopted him as a son.” Over his four years of enlistment, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Nawabi has served on the USS Santa Fe and was deployed for six months to Kandahar Afghanistan.

U.S. Air Force

Staff Sergeant Abraham Jara, of North Hollywood, Calif., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield Gala on behalf of the medics of the U.S. Air Force. He is the first in his family to serve in the military and was inspired to join the Air Force after an Airman left a strong impression at a his second-grade “career day.” He was deployed to Panshir, Afghanistan, from June 2009 through March 2010. Staff Sergeant Jara received the Air Force Combat Action Medal after he secured the safety of the individuals in his vehicle, after encountering a small arms ambush while on a convoy. He said that one of the most rewarding aspects of being a medic is experiencing the gratefulness of the individuals or the family members of someone he saved.

U.S. Coast Guard

Health Service Technician Second Class Kevin Bishop, of Flomaton, Ala., accepted an award on behalf of his fellow U.S. Coast Guard medics. He was twice selected to support a U.S. Coast Guard mission in a hostile area of Iraq. He is assigned to the Special Mission’s Training Center, located on Camp LeJeune, N.C. Health Services Technician Second Class Bishop has used his law enforcement background, military experience and exceptional medical knowledge to identify and resolve unusual problems while deployed. He exhibited superb medical training skills by instructing 10 Iraqi students in basic medical skills, a difficult task complicated by language barriers. On another occasion, Health Services Technician Second Class Bishop led a SMTC color guard to represent the U.S. Coast Guard at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony.

U.S. Navy Reserve

Hospital Corpsman First Class (FMF) John Morrison, of Fleming Island, Fla., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of his fellow U.S. Navy Reserve corpsmen. He has served two seven-month tours in Iraq and is the recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, after his mission in Ramidi, Iraq. Hospital Corpsman First Class Morrison used his hospital background experience and exceptional medical knowledge to provide treatment after a mass casualty incident. He had just returned from time off after his tour in Iraq, but he said he assisted at the surgical site because lives were at stake. Morrison was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and spent his childhood in Satellite Beach Florida. Hospital Corpsman First Class has gained the nickname “Doc” from his fellow marines because of their trust.

U.S. Air Force Reserve

Command Technical Sergeant Christina Wiskowski, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., accepted an award on behalf of all the U.S. Air Force Reserve medics. She was studying pre-med in college before deciding to enlist and has since been deployed three times. She has received the Aerial Achievement Medal and twice was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, after her exemplary performance in two of her deployments. While deployed at Bagram AF, she flew in nine combat missions and safely transported 65 patients. During another mission in Afghanistan, Command Technical Sergeant Wiskowski and her unit, despite being physically and emotionally exhausted, safely evacuated patients from a fire and managed to replace equipment and continue on to their original destination.

U.S. Army National Guard

Sergeant Antoine A. King, of Elkton, Md., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield gala on behalf of all U.S. Army National Guard medics. He has served more than 14 years in the military, including three deployments. After a mass casualty on January 1, 2006, Sergeant King was one of the first medics to treat more than 25 casualties. He joined the Army National Guard because he wanted to save lives. His service has inspired his son, Stephen A. King, a Navy Corpsmen at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to enlist.

U.S. Air National Guard

Senior Airman Candice Cook, of Pittsburg, Pa., accepted an award at the Angels of the Battlefield Gala on behalf of all U.S. Air National Guard medics. She joined the U.S. Air National Guard three years ago and continues her family’s military tradition after her father and grandfather. Senior Airman Cook said that the military has offered her many educational opportunities, and she has gained valuable experience working in the medical field. Senior Airman Cook received the Army Commendation Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal for her tour in 2010, during which time she organized the equipment and coordinated the movements of each convoy.

Armed Services YMCA Named Recipient of WD-40 Company Initiative to Support Military Personnel

Press Release | March 16, 2011

Limited Edition WD-40 Military Collectible Series Can Sales to Provide Funding for Critical Programs

Washington, D.C. – The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) will be the recipient of a minimum of $100,000 from a WD-40 Company effort, launched today, to support those who serve or have served. The company will donate 10 cents from the sale of each of four limited edition cans with special artwork depicting service at sea, in air and on land. The can series will be available for sale at retailers across the country through Memorial Day.

In this 150^th anniversary year, the ASYMCA is dedicated to providing programs to support the men and women of America’s military, and their resilient families. The funds from the WD-40® can sales will be used to fund the more than 150 program centers around the country, designed to enrich the quality of life for those who are committed to a life of service.

“Partners like WD-40 Company are integral to the development and delivery of programs and services to our servicemen and women and their families,” said Mike Landers, Deputy National Director, ASYMCA. “We are grateful for their recognition of our organization as a ‘charity of choice’ for providing programs and services to our Heroes in uniform and their families, and we look forward to working with an organization who shares our commitment to this important group.”

The WD-40 Company has committed a minimum of $100,000 to each of three organizations that support the military. In addition to the ASYMCA, Wounded Warrior Project and Veterans Medical Research Foundation will also receive donations from the company. Each WD-40 Military Collectible Series can includes a code for consumers to unlock videos from actor and retired gunnery sergeant R. Lee Ermey training purchasers how to use WD-40 to solve everyday problems.

“The Armed Services YMCA has made a positive difference in the lives of military families for 150 years,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Company.  “The men and women it helps are both dedicated and resilient and we hope this program honors their commitment and supports their efforts in a tangible way.”

For more information about the WD-40 Company initiative, please visit http://supporttroops.wd40.com/.

For more information about the Armed Services YMCA and their dedicated programs for the resilient families of American servicemen and women, please visit www.asymca.org.

A Tribute to the Troops, Paul Newman

Politico | Dec. 2, 2010

Paul Newman believed in the vagaries of luck. Thankful for his own good fortune, the iconic actor wanted to improve the luck of others. It’s why he stipulated that 100 percent of the profits from his Newman’s Own food line would go to charity.

Now, two years after the actor’s death, sales of his products have raised $300 million in charitable donations. Newman’s Own Foundation is recognizing the milestone by donating another $2.5 million to charities dedicated to America’s service members, which CEO Robert Forrester announced at an elegant reception – “A tribute to those who serve” – at the Library of Congress.

Forrester, a longtime friend of Newman’s, told POLITICO, “Paul Newman would have had a very simple answer for why we’re doing this: Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Read more…

ASYMCA Meets all 20 BBB Charity Standards for 2010

Press Release | Oct. 6, 2010

ASYMCA is pleased to announce that it has met all 20 BBB charity standards for 2010.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance national charity carries a lot of meaning for both donors and charities.

For donors, the appearance of the seal in a charity’s mailings, on its website, in newspaper and magazine advertisements or elsewhere is a clear and concise sign that the charity meets the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability.

Donors may not know, though, that for charities, putting the seal in their materials is the culmination of a demanding process. Before national charities can even apply to use the seal, they must undergo evaluation by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, the nation’s most experienced charity evaluator. And the evaluation process is anything but superficial. It involves rigorous scrutiny of a charity’s governance, effectiveness, finances and solicitations and informational materials. The standards go beyond what government regulators require.

Only organizations that come through an Alliance review with a “meets standards” conclusion are eligible to participate in the seal program. Not all will decide to do so. Participation is entirely voluntary and involves licensing agreement and fee. But more and more charities report that the seal gives them an efficient way of demonstrating their commitment to accountability and ethical practices, the values that donors are looking for. This commitment is all the more credible when it is verified by the familiar and respected BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

“National charities that display the BBB Wise Giving Alliance seal can do so with pride,” says Art Taylor, President and CEO of the Alliance. “Not only are they attesting to their organizations’ adherence to sound standards, they are helping to increase donor confidence and strengthen public trust in giving.”

President Obama Visits Operation Kid Comfort Volunteers

Press Release | September 12, 2010

President Barack Obama joined Armed Services YMCA National Executive Director S. Frank Gallo RADM, USN (Ret.), right, and volunteers at Ron Brown Middle School in Washington, D.C., as they made quilts for Operation Kid Comfort, an Armed Services YMCA program that provides personalized quilts and pillows to children with parents deployed overseas. Operation Kid Comfort was a featured service project for the 2010 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Operation Kid Comfort is an ASYMCA national program with locations at Fort Bragg/Pope AFB, N.C.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; Alaska; Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and San Diego, Calif. (Photo: Americorps)

See more Americorps photos of the 9/11 Day of Service event here.

VIDEO: Quilts Comforting Military Children

Fox News | September 6, 2010

WASHINGTON – Three-year-old Hannah really misses her daddy. He has been in Iraq for almost a year.

“She’s a real trooper,” said her mother Shellie Jensen. “She knows her daddy is doing something real important. But it’s been a challenge.”

Hannah talks to her dad – on pretend and real phones – but her mom was looking for something else to fill the void. When she heard that volunteers with Operation Kid Comfort make quilts for military children with their parent’s photos on it, that sounded perfect to her.

“I thought a blanket would be a way … of Daddy hugging you. And knowing she’s been with him before and he’ll be back again, I think is what comforts her,” said Jensen.

Cathy Jung knows how comforting these quilts can be. She got one for her son Nathan when his dad was in Afghanistan.

“When [Nathan] needed that extra piece of security, he had something to hold on to while daddy was away,” Jung said.

Read more…

Overdraft Practices of Financial Institutions on Military Bases

Much is being written about financial consumer rights in general and “predatory lending” practices by certain financial institutions aimed at military personnel and their families in particular. Most notable is the 2005 Military Lending Act that succeeded in outlawing payday lending to military personnel and their families near military bases. This legislation came about as a result of very strong and active support from DoD because of their concerns about the negative impact of payday lending on troop readiness.

We at the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) are concerned with the total well-being of military personnel and their families. As we all know, financial literacy and good financial management are essential elements for our constituents to effectively negotiate the rigors of deployment and the unique challenges military life can bring. It is no secret that financial disruptions and ineffective money management are often at the core of family distress. While we recognize that financial management is above everything else a personal responsibility, we also recognize that unfortunately there are in fact financial institutions on military bases that have exorbitant fee policies that are not in the best interest of military personnel and their families.

One such fee policy is overdraft charges more commonly referred to as “bounced check or NSF fees.”  Overdraft abuses related to debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals are particularly harmful for at least two reasons; first, overdraft fees triggered by these transactions, which could easily be denied at the terminal, often take consumers completely by surprise. Second, an overdraft fee charged on a typical debit card purchase is vastly disproportionate to the amount of the overdraft itself. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation released a survey in January 2008 that broke down the average cost of overdraft fees to consumers and found that a typical $27 overdraft repaid in two weeks incurred an APR of 3,520 percent. Imagine the impact on a military mom buying a box of diapers or a cup of coffee without knowing her balance…

Overdraft charges represent one of the biggest slices of the short-term unsecured credit market.  It is bigger than credit card over-the-limit penalties, and much bigger than payday loans, bringing in $34.7 billion in revenue for banks and credit unions in 2008, compared with $7.3 billion for payday lenders. We at ASYMCA are neither “anti-bank” nor “pro-consumer.” We take what we consider to be a reasoned and measured approach that calls upon both parties to be responsible and accountable. In that regard, we are calling on both base commanders AND military families to become aware of and educated about potentially egregious on-base overdraft policies and call for their end. Below is a list of questions and responses that are relevant for open and honest dialogue. 

What do you consider to be industry “best practices” as they relate to overdraft fees, and on what do you base that belief?

Desired policy: In February 2005 the OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC and NCUA issued a definitive guidance entitled, Joint Guidance on Overdraft Protection Programs that outlines clearly and definitively standards for determining deceptive practices by banks relative to overdraft programs.

Does the institution offer a lower-cost form of overdraft coverage, such as a line of credit at a reasonable interest rate?  Does it present this option to customers before offering to enroll them in fee-based overdraft coverage and enroll everyone who qualifies for it in this lower cost option?

Desired policy:  Yes. Institutions should offer lower-cost forms of overdraft protection and enroll everyone who qualifies for it in this lower cost option and ensure that customers are educated about the product.

Does the institution charge overdraft fees on debit card and ATM transactions?

Desired policy:  No. These transactions should simply be denied at the point-of-sale for no charge.

Does the institution clear debit transactions in order from highest to lowest, which maximizes overdraft fees?

Desired policy:  No.  Institutions should clear transactions in real-time or in order from lowest to highest so that overdraft fees are not maximized.

Does the institution limit the number of overdraft fees a customer can incur in a given period?

Desired policy:  Yes.  Institutions should limit the annual number of times overdraft fees are charged per customer to six. At that point, institutions could continue covering overdrafts but only if they enroll the customer in a lower cost form of coverage like an overdraft line of credit.  If they do not qualify for a line of credit, overdrafts should simply be denied.

What percent of the institution’s total revenue is derived from fees charged to customers, as opposed to revenue earned via the customary deposits and lending business of banking institutions?

Desired Policy: Any dependence on fees that exceeds 10% of total revenue highlights a serious problem, and the institution should know that its customers are keenly aware of what is, and what is not, a healthy business model.  Many of the banking institutions now servicing our military and their families depend on the fees component of total revenue up over 70%, even 80%.

Read the Summer Newsletter

Catch up on the latest news and events happening at ASYMCA! Hear from our Chairman of the Board, see pictures from the last few months, and learn about the new and exciting things going on at our branches around the country. Read Spring/Summer 2010 Newsletter. Visit the Newsletter Archive for past editions.

Soldier’s Closet – Okla. YMCA Clothing Drive

YMCAs across Oklahoma are enlisting the support of their communities in a statewide clothing drive for the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) in Lawton.  Clothes donated at any Y location in the state from June 21 through July 18 will go to the Soldier’s Closet, a free store open to junior enlisted military families at Fort Sill.

The Soldier’s Closet served more than 2,500 Fort Sill soldier families last year.  The army post is expected to process and deploy a record number of troops this year, according to Bill Vaughn, executive director of the ASYMCA in Lawton.  The most requested items at the Soldier’s Closet are baby clothes and formal dresses.

“We have had a baby boom at Fort Sill and can’t keep baby items in supply,” Vaughn said.  “Ball gowns are also in high demand.  Our young soldiers are invited to several balls a year and formal dresses are expensive for young couples to purchase, so they turn to the Soldier’s Closet.”

Clothing donations can be dropped off at any Y location across the state during regular business hours.  Visit www.ymca.net for a complete listing of all Oklahoma Y locations.  For more information on the Soldier’s Closet or the Armed Services YMCA at Fort Sill, contact Bill Vaughn at (580) 355-5520.

Medal of Honor Recipients Launch PTS PSAs

At a time when suicides among Service members continue to rise, America’s Medal of Honor recipients are launching a public service campaign urging today’s military to seek help for post-traumatic stress (PTS).

The campaign, called “Medal of Honor—Speak Out!,” features nearly 30 video testimonials by recipients who survived the most harrowing experiences in battle, including severe physical wounds as well as emotional trauma. Their message—available at www.MedalOfHonorSpeakOut.org—is simple: Don’t let the enemy defeat you at home—make use of the resources available today for combat stress.

The “Medal of Honor—Speak Out!” website provides downloadable videos from the Medal of Honor recipients, a two-minute montage and branch-specific montages urging Service members to seek assistance for combat stress issues that may have become problematic in their lives. The public, military leadership, and news organizations are invited to download and share these resources with Service members and their families.

This is the first time a group of the 91 living Medal of Honor recipients have participated in a public service campaign that aims to encourage today’s Service members to stay both physically mentally strong and reduce the tragic number of military suicides.

“Each of America’s Medal of Honor recipients has seen the ugliest side of war,” said retired Air Force Colonel Leo Thorsness, a former Vietnam prisoner of war and president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. “Yet, when we returned home from Vietnam, Korea and WWII, the military had few tools to help. Today’s Service members have access to numerous online resources and crisis hotlines, which we hope they’ll use.”

Despite all of these resources to fight PTS, 65 percent of Service members say they fear being “seen as weak” for seeking help and half fear it will hurt their military career.

“Central to providing behavioral health care in the military is ending the stigma that a person is weak if they seek counseling when needed,” said David J. McIntyre, Jr., Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation board member. “Medal of Honor recipients know first-hand what today’s Service members need—the reassurance that it is OK to seek help.”

The campaign launches Saturday, May 15—Armed Forces Day. Established in 1949, the day was the result of a consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the various Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Days. However, observance of these days, especially within each particular service, still continues to this day.