Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

In an earlier visit with Soldiers, they expressed concern about the long waiting time required before they could be scheduled for an appointment for an MRI or CT scan. The following answers were provided by William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

The current MRI examination backlog has been reduced from approximately 30 days to approximately 14 days through a combination of expanded hours of operation and the hiring of additional technologists. We currently operate the MRI from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. We have added 16 hours of additional scan time on both Saturday and Sunday and are in the process of hiring a night shift technologist to operate the scanner from 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. This will provide a 24-hour operational schedule on weekdays and a 16-hour schedule on weekends.

We are currently upgrading our existing GE 1.5T MRI to the newest available software platform, which will both improve image quality and decrease the time it takes to complete the scans. The upgrade will be completed prior to the end of the calendar year with fiscal 2007 funds. We have been designated to purchase a second MRI scanner, which will require the construction of a second building, co-located next to the existing MRI, in fiscal 2008. This scanner will most likely be a state of the art 3.0T MRI which will help WBAMC evaluate patients with traumatic brain injury.

The continued expansion of operational hours of the existing MRI, the 1.5T MRI upgrade and the purchase of a second MRI scanner will significantly improve the timeliness of care provided to the Fort Bliss community and VA beneficiaries.

We currently operate a single four-detector CT scanner at WBAMC 24 hours a day. We have been funded for the purchase of second CT scanner, which should be installed by the end of this calendar year. The new scanner is a 64-detector state-of-the-art CT capable of advanced cardiac and neurological imaging. In fiscal 2008, the four-detector scanner will be replaced with a second 64-detector scanner, providing WBAMC and the Fort Bliss community with the most advanced CT imaging technology available. The cardiac imaging capabilities will allow WBAMC to continue to support the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy with cardiac scoring examinations in an improved capacity and offer new non-invasive diagnostic imaging alternatives to our patients.

Other questions were received from A Battery, 3-2 ADA Soldiers:

When will the bonuses for the 14E and 14T military occupational specialties end?

Under the current Selective Reenlistment Bonus Inventory Program, the 14E and 14T bonuses will expire no later than Dec. 31, and under the current SRB Enhanced Program, they will expire prior to Oct. 1 without further notice. The SRB is designed to increase the number of reenlistments in critical MOSs and is paid by specialty and grade within established zones. HRC conducts periodic analysis of each MOS in the inventory to ensure the SRB program is supporting its objective and adjusts the lists as appropriate. Once the Army has met its objective, the expiration dates could be earlier than posted for both MILPER messages. Soldiers with questions pertaining to bonuses and eligibility requirements addressed in the MILPER messages should contact their servicing career counselors for further guidance.

What is the latest news on Base Realignment and Closure?

With the start of fiscal 2008 on Oct. 1, Fort Bliss will see the activation of a Palletized Load System truck company, a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal company, and the re-flagging and growth of the 16th Military Police Battalion to the 93rd MP Bn. Fort Bliss is on track to accommodate these changes using existing facilities. Construction in the expansion area east of USASMA is on schedule to accept the arrival of another Heavy Brigade Combat Team next summer.

Construction of a new golf course clubhouse ($7.9 million) will be started in fiscal 2008 and a new mega-sized gym facility ($22.5 million) at Biggs Army Airfield for fiscal 2009. An expansion of 60 additional spaces at the RV Park will start in fiscal 2008 at a cost of $4.8 million. A new Post Exchange and commissary are in the design phase, which will be the largest complex in the Department of Defense. Later this year, GMH will construct 550 new homes, break ground on the construction of 368 apartments for single Soldiers, E-6 thru O-3. In addition, they will begin the first phase of the new housing to be built off Loop 375.

There are rumors about Patriot units deploying to other countries. How true are they?

There is nothing through official channels on deployment to those countries, but with the current state of the world, units should be prepared to respond to deploy anywhere in the world where their country needs them.

Maj. Gen. Robert P. Lennox
Fort Bliss Commanding General



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Aug. 16, 2007

	Troop Talk In an earlier visit with Soldiers, they expressed concern about the long waiting time required before they could be scheduled for an appointment for an MRI or CT scan. The following answers were provided by William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The current MRI examination backlog has been reduced from approximately 30 days to approximately 14 days through a combination of expanded hours of operation and the hiring of additional technologists. We currently operate the MRI from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. We have added 16 hours of additional scan time on both Saturday and Sunday and are in the process of hiring a night shift technologist to operate the scanner from 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. This will provide a 24-hour operational schedule on weekdays and a 16-hour schedule on weekends. We are currently upgrading our existing GE 1.5T MRI to the newest available software platform, which will both improve image quality and decrease the time it takes to complete the scans. The upgrade will be completed prior to the end of the calendar year with fiscal 2007 funds. We have been designated to purchase a second MRI scanner, which will require the construction of a second building, co-located next to the existing MRI, in fiscal 2008. This scanner will most likely be a state of the art 3.0T MRI which will help WBAMC evaluate patients with traumatic brain injury. The continued expansion of operational hours of the existing MRI, the 1.5T MRI upgrade and the purchase of a second MRI scanner will significantly improve the timeliness of care provided to the Fort Bliss community and VA beneficiaries. We currently operate a single four-detector CT scanner at WBAMC 24 hours a day. We have been funded for the purchase of second CT scanner, which should be installed by the end of this calendar year. The new scanner is a 64-detector state-of-the-art CT capable of advanced cardiac and neurological imaging. In fiscal 2008, the four-detector scanner will be replaced with a second 64-detector scanner, providing WBAMC and the Fort Bliss community with the most advanced CT imaging technology available. The cardiac imaging capabilities will allow WBAMC to continue to support the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy with cardiac scoring examinations in an improved capacity and offer new non-invasive diagnostic imaging alternatives to our patients. Other questions were received from A Battery, 3-2 ADA Soldiers: When will the bonuses for the 14E and 14T military occupational specialties end? Under the current Selective Reenlistment Bonus Inventory Program, the 14E and 14T bonuses will expire no later than Dec. 31, and under the current SRB Enhanced Program, they will expire prior to Oct. 1 without further notice. The SRB is designed to increase the number of reenlistments in critical MOSs and is paid by specialty and grade within established zones. HRC conducts periodic analysis of each MOS in the inventory to ensure the SRB program is supporting its objective and adjusts the lists as appropriate. Once the Army has met its objective, the expiration dates could be earlier than posted for both MILPER messages. Soldiers with questions pertaining to bonuses and eligibility requirements addressed in the MILPER messages should contact their servicing career counselors for further guidance. What is the latest news on Base Realignment and Closure? With the start of fiscal 2008 on Oct. 1, Fort Bliss will see the activation of a Palletized Load System truck company, a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery, an Explosive Ordinance Disposal company, and the re-flagging and growth of the 16th Military Police Battalion to the 93rd MP Bn. Fort Bliss is on track to accommodate these changes using existing facilities. Construction in the expansion area east of USASMA is on schedule to accept the arrival of another Heavy Brigade Combat Team next summer. Construction of a new golf course clubhouse ($7.9 million) will be started in fiscal 2008 and a new mega-sized gym facility ($22.5 million) at Biggs Army Airfield for fiscal 2009. An expansion of 60 additional spaces at the RV Park will start in fiscal 2008 at a cost of $4.8 million. A new Post Exchange and commissary are in the design phase, which will be the largest complex in the Department of Defense. Later this year, GMH will construct 550 new homes, break ground on the construction of 368 apartments for single Soldiers, E-6 thru O-3. In addition, they will begin the first phase of the new housing to be built off Loop 375. There are rumors about Patriot units deploying to other countries. How true are they? There is nothing through official channels on deployment to those countries, but with the current state of the world, units should be prepared to respond to deploy anywhere in the world where their country needs them. Maj. Gen. Robert P. Lennox Fort Bliss Commanding General