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Source: United States Coast Guard
01/03/2025 12:17 PM EST
The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to oversee the demolition of the La Trappe Creek Daybeacon 1 (LLNR 24955) and La Trappe Creek Daybeacon 2 (LLNR 24960) due to their deteriorating condition near La Trappe Creek, Maryland, in the spring of 2025.
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Source: United States Air Force
In this week’s look around the Air Force, we look back at three significant stories from 2024: SECAF highlights key accomplishments and emphasizes GPC, the Air Force realigns to maintain future competitiveness, and the DoD launches a new online housing feedback system to improve quality of life.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton welcomed the first baby of 2025 in the Labor and Delivery Department on Jan. 1, 2025.
The parents of Andreas E. Rutherford-Salazar are Lance Cpl. Alondra Salazar, from Simi Valley, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Deandre Rutherford, from Newport News, Va. Salazar is assigned to 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and Rutherford is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Okinawa, Japan.
Baby Andreas was delivered at 11:00 a.m. by the team of Navy Lt. Kiley C. Brady, Family Medicine Physician, Lt. j.g. Kyra S. Morissette, Mother and Infant Services Nurse, and Christin L. Martin, RN, and weighed 7.2 pounds and measured 21 inches in length.
Navy Capt. Jenny S. Burkett, hospital director, Navy Capt. Michael J. Barry, hospital executive officer, and Master Chief Petty Officer Wayne George, command master chief, visited the proud parents and their baby on Jan. 2, 2025, and presented them with gift baskets on behalf of C.A.R.E.S.
NHCP congratulates the new parents and Baby Andreas and wishes them a Happy and Healthy 2025!
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
In the midst of the vast Pacific Ocean, U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is revolutionizing mental health care for America’s warfighters with a groundbreaking program that’s already transforming lives and enhancing military readiness.
Since starting operations in March 2024 and being officially designated as a clinic on Dec. 10, 2024, the Military Health System’s first Crisis Stabilization Unit, the hospital has successfully treated 246 active-duty service members experiencing mental health emergencies— with only two requiring medical evacuation and four needing mental health admission. These remarkable statistics underscore both the program’s effectiveness and the hospital’s commitment to delivering world-class care to service members on Guam.
“The CSU initiative is dedicated to the psychological readiness of our warfighters who deserve quality care in a timely manner no matter the platform or location,” said Cmdr. Francine Segovia, director for mental health at USNH Guam.
The unit’s success directly supports the hospital’s mission of projecting forward-deployed medical power and delivering high-quality care to strengthen warfighter readiness in the Pacific region.
A New Standard of Care
Before the CSU opened, service members experiencing mental health crises faced limited options: either endure long wait times in a busy emergency room or schedule an outpatient appointment that could take weeks to secure. For those requiring more intensive care, medical evacuation off-island meant spending an average of four weeks away from their unit for treatment and travel and often required a non-medical attendant, resulting in up to eight weeks of total lost operational duties.
The CSU has dramatically changed this scenario by providing an alternative possibility for treatment. Operating as a “one-stop shop” for mental health care, the unit provides comprehensive services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring, referral, and transition services—all within a few hours.
“Given Guam’s location, medical evacuations may take a couple of weeks, and given the operational tempo, units may not be able to afford unplanned losses,” Segovia said. “The need for such a service came at the bequest of line commanders and patients who sought quality care no matter the platform or location.”
This innovative approach is based on evidence-based guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, one of the premier experts in the development of crisis care in the nation. The CSU is an alternative to emergency departments and psychiatric hospitalization and provides intensive, short-term stabilization for someone experiencing a behavioral health crisis that cannot wait until a regularly scheduled appointment. The preliminary data indicates improvement in access, reduction in costs, and deflection away from the emergency room and inpatient hospitalization.
Creating a Healing Environment
Understanding that environment plays a crucial role in mental health treatment, the hospital is collaborating with Defense Health Agency facilities experts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mental health interior designers to create a space optimized for healing and stabilization.
“That’s the first picture we want our mental health patients to experience when they come in for help,” Segovia said, describing plans for the unit’s carefully designed setting that avoids stark clinical aesthetics in favor of a calming, home-like atmosphere with thoughtfully chosen furniture, artwork, and lighting.
Excellence in Team-Based Care
The CSU’s success stems from its multi-disciplinary approach and the dedication of its staff, particularly its Navy Hospital Corpsmen with advanced training as behavioral health technicians. These vital team members have expanded their roles from administrative duties to providing safety assessments, comprehensive evaluations, brief interventions, and triage under clinical supervision.
“This has in turn honed their knowledge, skills, and abilities which will help our patients get the care they need when they most need it and prepare the respective BHT’s with the clinical skills they will need when deployed,” Segovia said.
Future Growth
As USNH Guam looks ahead, the facility is exploring opportunities to expand the CSU’s services. Currently serving active-duty personnel during normal business hours, future plans could include the 23-Hour Crisis Stabilization Unit model which would provide 23-hour crisis respite and observation services and extending care to dependents.
“The success of our Crisis Stabilization Unit demonstrates what’s possible when we reimagine how we deliver mental health care,” said Capt. Joel Schofer, director, USNH Guam. “As we look to the future, we remain focused on finding new ways to enhance the readiness and resilience of our warfighters through responsive mental health support.”
This innovative approach to mental health care delivery continues to evolve as the hospital looks for ways to better serve its beneficiaries. Mental health care plays a vital role in maintaining military readiness throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
“Mental health is physical health. Mental health emergencies should be taken just as seriously as any other medical emergency,” Segovia said.
Through innovative programs like the CSU, USNH Guam continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care that supports both individual servicemember well-being and overall military readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.
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U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is a 282,000 square foot military treatment facility (MTF) that supports the joint forces and strengthens the island by projecting forward-deployed medical power, delivering high-quality care, and forging strategic partnerships. The MTF and its staff of nearly 700 offers a broad range of primary and specialty medical services in support of more than 27,000 beneficiaries.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
During this holiday season, a number of Naval Hospital Bremerton staff members reminisced on years past, whether forward deployed, pulling a clinical rotation for another, or doing their duty best to put service before self for those in need.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rose Ann Lumoljo, NHB Primary Care leading petty officer, was stationed on the amphibious dock landing ship, USS Ashland (LSD 48), forward deployed to Japan from May 2021 to June 2023.
“It was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life,” exclaimed Lumoljo. “It was an unaccompanied tour and my first time being away from my family, especially my son.”
“Reflecting on the holidays I missed, I remember the heartache of knowing my 5-year-old son celebrated two seasons of holidays without me,” continued Lumoljo. “While it was difficult to be apart, I take pride in serving my country and honoring the commitment I made when I chose this path. This sacrifice has reinforced my resilience and deepened my appreciation for both my family and the mission I serve.”
For Amy Salzsieder, occupational health registered nurse and retired Navy [Reserve] Nurse Corps commander, her two deployments downrange in 2009 and then back again in 2014 at the NATO Role III Multinational Medical Unit, Kandahar, Afghanistan, both invoked memories.
In 2009 there were over 30 NATO and coalition countries supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Salzsieder noted how memorable it was witnessing all the different countries coming together to remember the holidays with traditions from their home country.
“You could walk around the base and see all the different decorations from different countries. The Lt. Dan band [Gary Sinise] was there putting on a concert around Christmas time,” recollected Salzsieder, also adding an evocative memory from that holiday time. Yet all was far from just tinsel and ornaments.
“We had a local Afghanistan child, a girl, about nine years old that we cared for four months trying to save her one good leg. Which we did. The other had to be amputated,” somberly shared Salzsieder. “We all pooled our money to get her an artificial leg so she could be sent back to her village. With the type of clothes women wear she could conceal her artificial leg and not be killed by the Taliban. At that time if the locals accepted help from us, they were usually [targeted and] killed by the local Taliban to discourage the locals coming to us.”
During her second tenure in 2014, Salzsieder was department head for the post anesthesia care unit, ICU and patient movement evacuation which by then was under U.S. Navy command. When asked if she was on call for Christmas eve or day, she replied, “It’s deployment. You work every day.”
As the premier trauma and casualty receiving center in Afghanistan, the Role III was constantly busy with an influx of patients. Salzsieder remembers a young U.S. Air Force radioman with a foot injury.
“He had to come to the hospital to have his wound washed out. He came almost every day in December and was like part of the ICU family. He was from Montana and his mom sent us all sorts of Christmas goodies. We all called his mom on Christmas to let her know he was well taken care of, and we all wanted her Christmas cookie recipes,” recollected Salzsieder.
Timothy D. Stewart, NHB command evaluator and Medical Inspector General hotline coordinator provided perspective on a member of his extended Navy Medicine family.
“I have known Steve Jackson since 2003 and came to realize that every holiday Steve had duty. He’s single and he gave back when he was active duty like no other,” shared Stewart, a retired senior chief hospital corpsman. “When I asked Steve why, he said, “what am I going to do, stay home with the cat?” As far as I can remember, Steve stood duty every Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. Since he has been civil service and no duty for him to stand, he has come to my house. With some arm twisting. But we have accepted him as family.”
America Morgan stood the watch at home when her spouse, recently promoted Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Eric Morgan, would be on occasion haze gray underway over the holidays. Family and friends would extend invites to her and their children. They also did their best – and then some – to stay in touch with their deployer.
“We would always make care packages to send. It was fun for us. It was a way to stay connected,” America said.
Retired Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Terry Lerma found himself on duty Christmas Eve 1984 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.
“I was the duty x-ray tech and worked in the Urgent Care Clinic when not performing x-ray exams. The entire base had shut down except for the commissary and galley for holiday stand down. That day, we had 60 patients come into the UCC. However, only six were admitted and treated. The other 54 were families that came to the clinic to bring cakes, pies, cookies, and more. By 8 p.m., two full exam gurneys were piled high with all the delicacies,” said Lerma.
At 10 p.m. when the night crew came on, Lerma and others adjourned into the x-ray duty room to enjoy the dropped-off desserts and exchange stories about Christmas.
“While it could have been a sad moment, one corpsman then declared, “The perfect Christmas normally is about being home with your family. But someone has to stand the watch today so others can be with their families. If we can’t be with our families, let’s surround ourselves with each other and be our family today. Merry Christmas everyone!” Her Christmas Eve comment has stuck in my memory to this day,” said retired Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Terry Lerma.
The annual tree lighting ceremony at NHB over the years has symbolically sent a beacon of light to those staff members deployed over the holidays that they are not forgotten.
The same holds true this season for those doctors, nurses, hospital corpsmen and support staff forward deployed far from home. They are recognized and remembered.
“Just sharing is remembering,” echoed Lumoljo.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune welcomed the first baby of 2025 for Onslow County, North Carolina. Stella Ray Esther Basham was born at 1:20 a.m. on January 1, 2025.
Baby Stella weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured at 18.7 inches in length. She is the daughter of Hospital Corpsman Second Class Elisabeth Basham, a native of Olathe, Kansas, and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Timothy Basham, a native of California, Maryland. Stella’s parents are both U.S. Navy Sailors at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (NMCCL). Stella is the second child for the couple whose first daughter who was also born at NMCCL.
The couple said Stella’s name drew inspiration from the stars with her middle name – Esther –also meaning “star.” Stella’s father said her original due date was later in January, but her early arrival is a “Hannukah surprise.”
The family thanks the teams with Labor and Delivery and the Mother Baby Unit for caring for both Stella and her mother. NMCCL congratulates the Basham Family on Stella’s birth and wishes them a safe and happy 2025!
NMCCL has provided more than 80 years of dedicated, passionate care for warfighters and beneficiaries at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the role of the good Samaritan fisherman and the timing of events. U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders conducted updated drift calculations, discussed with the Palau responders, but prior to updated search patterns being sent, the divers were located.
SANTA RITA, Guam — Eight divers reported missing on Dec. 26, 2024, near Peleliu Corner, a renowned dive site off Peleliu Island in Palau, were found alive by a good Samaritan on Dec. 27. The discovery came during a collaborative search effort led by Republic of Palau authorities with support from the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam assumed Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator responsibilities when the search area expanded beyond Palau’s territorial seas into the U.S. Coast Guard’s search and rescue region. Initial search efforts focused southwest of Peleliu based on local observations, but updated U.S. Coast Guard drift modeling suggested the group likely drifted northwest.
The JRSC discussed the updated drift calculations with responders, which would move responder efforts to the north where the divers were ultimately located. However, a local fisherman headed out for the day located the divers before updated search patterns were sent to responders. All eight individuals were found in good condition, rescued, and safely returned to Palau.
“The safe recovery of eight missing divers near Peleliu Corner is a testament to the incredible community spirit of Palau. A local fisherman’s vigilance and swift action ultimately brought the search to a successful conclusion, showcasing the vital role of Palau’s residents and their deep connection to their waters,” said Cmdr. Ryan Crose, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam’s search and rescue mission coordinator. “Search and rescue efforts are always a team effort, and we’re grateful for the swift action of Palau’s responders and community. Using our drift modeling tools, we were able to update search recommendations to refocus the direction of the efforts with the best available information.”
The divers, including seven tourists and one guide, were last seen diving at Peleliu Corner, a popular but challenging site known for its strong currents. The incident underscores the importance of collaborative efforts and advanced tools in search and rescue operations.
The U.S. Coast Guard worked with Palau’s Marine Law Enforcement Division, state rangers, and Pacific Mission Aviation during the search. JRSC Guam also coordinated the deployment of a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barber’s Point in Hawaii to assist, though the case was resolved before its arrival.
The weather forecast for Palau’s coastal waters was an east wind of 10 to 15 knots with wind waves up to 3 feet and northeast swells of 5 to 7 feet. Responders observed locally heavy showers and isolated thunderstorm activity.
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About U.S. Coast Guard Team Guam
U.S. Coast Guard Team Guam, comprising over 350 members across Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, focused on maritime safety, security, and stewardship in Oceania. The team includes U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and U.S. Coast Guard Base Guam and their sub-units, staffed by dedicated active-duty, reserve, and civilian personnel. With a significant presence in Guam, Saipan, and the Micronesia sub-region, this integrated team focuses on operations and logistics to support maritime safety, security, and stewardship in Oceania and maintains close ties with local communities.
For more information about U.S. Coast Guard actions, please contact CWO Sara Muir, public affairs officer, at sara.g.muir@uscg.mil or uscgforcesmicronesia@gmail.com.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
Hospital Corpsman Second Class Ashlyn Sanders finds her work aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point meaningful because of the impact she and her team have on base and local communities.
Sanders, the clinic’s Sailor of the Year for 2024, serves as the Leading Petty Officer of the Preventative Medicine Department.
Sailor of the Year honors recognize mid-career Sailors who exhibit a high level of proficiency in their skills and leadership while continuing to prepare themselves for leadership at higher levels of their rank and grade.
“Sailor of the Year was not just about my accomplishments, but also the accomplishments of my team,” said Sanders, a native of Anchorage, Alaska. “Without them, I would not have been able to accomplish half of what I did and they encourage me every day to be better.”
Sanders leads a team of Sailors responsible for monitoring the health safety of service members and civilians who live and work aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Her team’s duties aboard the base range from measuring the mosquito population aboard base to conducting food safety inspections at vendor establishments.
“What I enjoy most about working here [at the clinic] are the people I work with. There are so many motivated junior and senior Sailors who I learn from and, in turn, hopefully they are learning something from me,” said Sanders.
Sanders prepared for the Sailor of the Year Board by helping junior Sailors prepare for theirs. She held mock boards, querying them on a variety of topics including naval history, current events, policies and regulations. In conducting those mentoring sessions, Sanders reinforced her own knowledge.
“Surround yourself with likeminded Sailors who have achieved or want to achieve the same things as you,” she advises those junior to her. “Do the right things for the right reasons, always. The accolades and recognition will come when we do the things that are meaningful and right.”
Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)
Dec. 31, 2024
Release Number 20241231-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAMPA, Fla – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted multiple precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Sana’a and coastal locations within Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, Dec. 30 and 31.
On Dec. 30 and 31, U.S. Navy ships and aircraft targeted a Houthi command and control facility and advanced conventional weapon (ACW) production and storage facilities that included missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). These facilities were used in Houthi operations, such as attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In addition, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft destroyed a Houthi coastal radar site and seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Sea.
There were no injuries or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment in either incident.
The strikes are a part of CENTCOM’s effort to degrade Iran-backed Houthi efforts to threaten regional partners and military and merchant vessels in the region.
Source: United States Navy (Medical)
Sailors and Civilians serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point bid a fond Fair Winds and Following Seas to a staff member whose combined service to the U.S. Navy totals over three decades.
The retirement of Mr. Joseph Farland was celebrated Friday, December 13 aboard the clinic with facility staff and representatives from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s Fire, EMS and Police Departments.
“Enjoy what you do and be kind to others,” said the Falmouth, Massachusetts native about the career advice he gives to others.
Farland served 26 years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, four of them aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point before retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. He then served as the clinic’s Emergency Manager, Anti-Terrorism Officer and Force Protection Officer for ten years afterwards.
At the clinic, he trained staff to be prepared for a variety of emergency situations and equipped them with tools to deal with the uncertainty the future may hold for them in their personal and professional lives.
“It was fun. I enjoyed my daily interactions with my co-workers,” he said about serving in the U.S. Navy for so long. “I am one,” was his reply to why he continued working with Sailors.
In retirement, Farland plans to travel with his wife of over four decades and be actively involved in his eight grandchildren’s lives.