Building momentum for the coming announcement of the National Center for Veterans Studies

What a day on Friday March 5th in Salt Lake City! (I know, I should have posted this on Saturday but we had fresh powder so I had to go skiing first) The National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah will be formally announced soon (date TBD) and in the coming weeks we have been building bridges with all the key players necessary to ensure that the Center meets the education and research needs of both the Department of Defense, and the State Department. I should back up...I'm on the Board, and Chairman of the National Advisory Board, and it has been my privilege to coordinate all our new Advisory Board members with such incredible backgrounds. And on Friday, we invited 3 DoD dignitaries to spend the day with us and see first-hand why the University of Utah is the perfect spot to create something completely unprecedented, and in fact, we intend to become THE most veteran-friendly campus in America.

Each of these 3 guests became our dear friends in one full day. MG Robert Kasulke, the Commanding General of the Army Reserve Medical Command; BG Loree Sutton, Director of the DoD Centers for Excellence for PTSD and TBI; COL David Sutherland, special assistant to the Joint Chiefs, Warrior and Family Support--all of them are uniquely talented and completely dedicated to Warrior care. First we met with the Governor of Utah, Gary Herbert, then met with the President of the U of Utah, Michael Young. We also toured the University's Orthopaedic Hospital which blew everyone away with the groundbreaking developments in improving prosthetics for amputees. We visited the VA hospital just a block away, driving right past Fort Douglas (bit of trivia, that's where the Olympic Village was staged for the 2002 Winter Olympics), and then spent a couple of hours with the Global Justice Think Tank at the College of Law--25 law students who have joined the Center's team to launch the National Service Academy that is part of the Center's mission. The ensuing dinner with our VIP guests was 100% an honor for me and the Board--what great people. We're so lucky to have them on our side!

American Airlines lives up to its name!

I was so glad that AA called me and let me know when the "Snowball Express" was stopping in Salt Lake City today to pick up some of the families of fallen heroes in my home town. All day, all over the country, some 8 planes have been picking up these families (I heard there are about 3,000 people in all!), giving them the royal Santa treatment they deserve, and taking them to Dallas for a fun-filled, VIP event, over the next few days. Thank you AA for doing this for these families. Take a look at these amazing three brothers (the twins are 7 and their brother in the middle is 5) all wearing their "My Dad's a Hero!" shirt their Mom made for them. Our country owes these families everything. What a privilege to meet so many of them today, especially my friends from Salt Lake City: Riikka, Collette, Jackie and Sharon. Such courageous women, and they're all great moms, doing a fantastic job raising their children on their own. They're all heroes.

Just got back from one week in Afghanistan and Kuwait

Since I'm on serious jet lag after getting back on American soil this afternoon, I'll keep this quick and try to write more later. I've always loved our fighting men and women, but never have I been more overwhelmed with pride and gratitude than in the last few days spending time with them, specifically in the Regional Command East of Afghanistan, and at the Ali Al-Salem Base (the Rock) in Kuwait.

Six of us Miss Americas, plus my good friend Jill Stevens who was Miss Utah and a finalist at Miss America, but more importantly, a combat medic in AFG 2004-2005 made the trek. This photo above on the right was taken on the C17 as we loaded up with 150 soldiers to head into Bagram. The corkscrew, combat zone landing added quite a bit of excitement, I tell you what. And an almost 5 hour flight (from Kuwait to Bagram) with all these guys jammed in there with NO leg room. And that's just the start of the hardships they endure.

The photo on the left reminds me of a significant moment for all of us. We had the opportunity to visit FOB Bostik, the northernmost forward operating base in AFG. These guys were among the remaining 45 or so survivors from the ambush on their Command Outpost just 20 KM away, 2 weeks ago...they lost 8 Soldiers. SGT Breeding (right behind me in the photo) told us what happened. Very sobering. What a privilege to spend some time with them and give them hugs. There were many others at the FOB that afternoon who we were honored to meet and let them know how deeply we care.

At every turn, and with every individual in uniform that I met, I felt blessed and in debt for their service, and I recognize the contribution that each one is responsible for, no matter their duty.

Highlights of my first trip to AUSA

When I was invited by LTG (ret) Don Jones, the AUSA 4th Region President, to join the Ft. Hood chapter at AUSA, I figured there is no better way to go than with the award-winning (Best Chapter 2009!) chapter from deep in the heart of Texas! They have recruited me from as far away as Salt Lake City. It was a great pleasure to meet General Casey, General Chiarelli, Sec. McHugh, and one of my role models, General Ann Dunwoody over the Materiel Command. It was also a very pleasant surprise to see MG Tony Cucolo who is deploying to Iraq in the next couple of weeks with the 3ID, since RMS is beginning a major project to help them document the Command and their 3ID proud history and I didn't think I'd be able to check in with him in person before they left...I have a VTC with them tomorrow in fact, to make sure they're good to go on their historical documentation that they will be collecting. They are up to their helmets with everything that has to get done, for sure.

Yesterday, General Casey spoke at the luncheon, detailing the priorities of the Army. Most civilians might be surprised to find out that "training and equipment" is actually the number 2 priority, not no. 1. The number one priority of the Army is to "sustain our Soldiers, their families and the Army Family Covenant" ...."to raise the mental fitness of our soldiers to the level of physical fitness" . I also spent some time with Army MWR folks who are assisting with the funding of the 3ID/ RMS flagship program for the Army, as well as MG Bergner, Chief of Army Public Affairs, and LTG Stulz, Chief of USAR. Very helpful to have everyone in one place!

It was a quick 2 days for me out in DC, but I met a whole lot of new friends, and I even committed to running the Army 10 miler next year....what was I thinking??

Congratulations to SPC Guy Mellor, Army Guard Soldier of the Year!!

There's Specialist Mellor in the middle....what a huge accomplishment for him to make Soldier of the Year! Since he's right here in my backyard (the Utah National Guard is headquartered in Salt Lake City), I had the opportunity to meet him at the presentation ceremony where all the Soldiers of the 1st Battalion recieved their post 9/11 interactive historical records.

To earn this great achievement, SPC Mellor competed at Fort Benning with all other Guard representatives...the 3 day event pushed competitors with ruck marches, written tests, marksmanship events and other tasks...all back-to-back with few breaks and very little sleep...averaging about 3 hours a night! Great job to all of you competing!

Photo above, L to R: MG Brian Tarbet (TAG, NGUT), SPC Guy Mellor, Sharlene Hawkes

Check out the Washington Times' article on Remember My Service!

The word is getting around...tell me what you think!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/13/preserving-our-troops-memories/?feat=article_top10_shared

Saving lives by "permanently shaping what they will remember"

When I received a letter from 2LT Liana Mayo last year after she completed some of the projects for the 96^th, I did not fully understand the importance of what she was saying at the time. “As an OEF/OIF veteran from the 244th EN BN, 96th RRC, I was the NCOIC for one of the first Remember My Service projects. I had no idea how much of a therapeutic experience it would turn out to be for my team and I. I was blown away at how much it helped us process our experiences overseas. At the time I was grief stricken over losing two of our comrades to suicide. I felt that if when we returned they could have undergone this experience that I literally stumbled upon, that perhaps they would not have been lost.”

Just last week, a local psychiatrist (Dr. Nathan Currier) who has spent 17 years working with veterans and is considered an expert in PTSD related issues, not only verified what 2LT Mayo wrote, but added his very compelling comments: “This project has the potential not only to save a great many lives by the prevention of suicide, but to also improve the quality of the lives of our active duty and veteran soldiers…the RMS program is integral to the success of mental health initiatives in the US Military to help Service members process their collective and individual legacy, and permanently shape what they will remember of their service for the rest of their lives.”

Click here to read full letter

We at RMS have always felt a sense of urgency to be the solution as Units struggle to figure out how to get their historical records organized, processed, duplicated, and ultimately shared; given the increasing messages from mental health professionals that it is critical to help troops process their experience from a factual, not emotional, context, we are more dedicated than ever.