JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
The 5th Medical Recruiting Battalion teamed up with the Armed Services Blood Program to host a mobile blood drive at the Jimmy Brought Fitness Center, Oct. 30.
The blood drive was held during the unit’s Annual Training Conference to ensure the three medical recruiting companies and 14 medical recruiting stations had an opportunity to donate blood, many of whom are combat veterans and have needed blood themselves.
The Military Blood Donor Program is vital to the staff members of the 5th MRB. The unit is responsible for carrying out the U.S. Army’s medical recruiting and chaplain recruiting missions across the country’s central region, and they understand these efforts are directly tied to building readiness.
Lisa Swingholm, 5th MRB command secretary, coordinated the event with her husband in mind, as he is a blood banker responsible for running the Army’s Blood Program overseas.
“Every little bit helps. About 24 units of whole blood units were collected during the drive, equivalent to saving over 70 lives,” Swingholm said.
Once collected, the donated blood goes to military hospitals and contingency operations around the world.
Military blood drives are open to all service members, their family members, Department of Defense/Federal civilians, and retirees. For more information, call the Akeroyd Blood Donor Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, at (210) 295-4655.