Fort Bliss Monitor

31st ADA holds first
blood drive of new year

Capt. Teresa K. Kelley

Spc. Kevin Goforth watches as the medic prepares samples.

Capt. Teresa K. Kelley
31st ADA Bde. Public Affairs

TJan. 6, the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade held its first brigade level blood drive for the new year. The blood drive was held at Bldg. 2449 in order to give Soldiers, government employees, and family members a chance to donate blood.

The Armed Services Blood Program supports the blood drives held by the brigade, which ensures that the blood donated by Soldiers and their family members goes to help other Soldiers in need.

These blood drives are important for all units on post, but especially for 31st Bde. who needs all the support they can get. The 31st Bde. is one of the few units on post that deploys Soldiers to areas of hostility on a regular basis. In the past four months, the “Ready and Vigilant” Brigade has welcomed back both the 745th Forward Surgical Team from Iraq and portions of 3-2 ADA, which conducted a security mission for Operation Bright Star in Egypt for six weeks. This year the brigade is sending the 31st Combat Support Hospital on a rotation to Southwest Asia. With so many of 31st Bde.’s very own Soldiers deployed to various locations around the world, many Soldiers within the brigade feel that it is very important to give blood.

During the blood drive, the chairs remained full with people filling out paper work and giving blood. Even though historically the numbers for those who give blood during this time of year is usually low, the brigade held its own and remained busy the entire morning with those Soldiers who wanted to donate.

Shelly Crowley, the 31st Bde FRG assistant, added, “This is a time for giving and 31st Bde. continues to show its support and those Soldiers who can give donate each time.” At times, according to Crowley, the Army and other armed services have to buy blood from civilian blood donation services due to a lack of stored blood within the Armed Services’ supplies.

According to Crowley, during the month of December the Armed Services actually had to buy blood, and will probably have to this month. Therefore, it is extremely important that Soldiers give blood on Fort Bliss and that these Soldiers are given the opportunity to give in venues such as the blood drive that 31st ADA Bde. holds each quarter.

Many 31st Bde. Soldiers continue to support several causes and community events to include blood drives like these. Although the training schedule for the brigade has been full in the past couple of months, many Soldiers still feel the need to provide help where they can.

The next blood drive for 31st Bde. is scheduled for April.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 19, 2006

	31st ADA holds first blood drive of new year Capt. Teresa K. Kelley Spc. Kevin Goforth watches as the medic prepares samples. Capt. Teresa K. Kelley 31st ADA Bde. Public Affairs TJan. 6, the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade held its first brigade level blood drive for the new year. The blood drive was held at Bldg. 2449 in order to give Soldiers, government employees, and family members a chance to donate blood. The Armed Services Blood Program supports the blood drives held by the brigade, which ensures that the blood donated by Soldiers and their family members goes to help other Soldiers in need. These blood drives are important for all units on post, but especially for 31st Bde. who needs all the support they can get. The 31st Bde. is one of the few units on post that deploys Soldiers to areas of hostility on a regular basis. In the past four months, the “Ready and Vigilant” Brigade has welcomed back both the 745th Forward Surgical Team from Iraq and portions of 3-2 ADA, which conducted a security mission for Operation Bright Star in Egypt for six weeks. This year the brigade is sending the 31st Combat Support Hospital on a rotation to Southwest Asia. With so many of 31st Bde.’s very own Soldiers deployed to various locations around the world, many Soldiers within the brigade feel that it is very important to give blood. During the blood drive, the chairs remained full with people filling out paper work and giving blood. Even though historically the numbers for those who give blood during this time of year is usually low, the brigade held its own and remained busy the entire morning with those Soldiers who wanted to donate. Shelly Crowley, the 31st Bde FRG assistant, added, “This is a time for giving and 31st Bde. continues to show its support and those Soldiers who can give donate each time.” At times, according to Crowley, the Army and other armed services have to buy blood from civilian blood donation services due to a lack of stored blood within the Armed Services’ supplies. According to Crowley, during the month of December the Armed Services actually had to buy blood, and will probably have to this month. Therefore, it is extremely important that Soldiers give blood on Fort Bliss and that these Soldiers are given the opportunity to give in venues such as the blood drive that 31st ADA Bde. holds each quarter. Many 31st Bde. Soldiers continue to support several causes and community events to include blood drives like these. Although the training schedule for the brigade has been full in the past couple of months, many Soldiers still feel the need to provide help where they can. The next blood drive for 31st Bde. is scheduled for April.