Photo By Erica Fouche | Combined Joint Task Force Paladin’s Expeditionary Support Unit and 85th Medical...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – During the day they may be Combined Joint Task Force Paladin’s ever-faithful, on-site, on-demand expeditionary support unit, but after-hours they are transformed into a construction team with skills good enough to display on any Home & Garden Television home remodeling show.
The team is currently helping to build and decorate new rooms at Bagram’s Warrior Recovery Center, which treats half of the behavioral health cases throughout Afghanistan with its three-day restoration program, outpatient behavioral health clinic and its intense prevention education program. The construction project has presented an opportunity for all services to give stewardship to serve a mission that touches the heartstrings of all involved.
“When we realized help was needed, we immediately jumped at the opportunity to do whatever we could,” said Lt. Maximiliano Pino, CJTF Paladin CJ6, officer in charge. “We have sawed, hammered, nailed and painted barracks huts, [commonly referred to as B-huts], that will make this a more accommodating facility and increase quality of life for our recovery warriors.”
The Warrior Recovery Center receives an average of 450 patient contacts per month and with the addition of the new B-huts, the staff will be able to provide more adequate outpatient care to all service members in need of assistance.
“This expansion project includes separate relaxation rooms, a library, a small gym, chaplain services and separate rooms where patients can regain their mental strength needed to complete their missions,” said Maj. Barbara Traenkner, commander, 85th Medical Detachment Combat and Operational Stress Control. “We’ve had a great show of support from the Seabees and Lt. Pino’s crew. The Navy personnel have been essential in what we’ve been able to accomplish here.”
In addition to the Warrior Recovery project, Lt. Pino and his crew have lent their skills to other projects at Bagram aimed at soldier resiliency such as the volunteering at the only authorized in-theater rest and recuperation facility and installing Armed Forces Network cable for various commands across Bagram. They’ve also dedicated time to the Cat and the Hat program by reconstructing the facility to help provide a nurturing, safe learning environment for local Afghan children.
“This is a way we can give back to our Afghan community,” said Pino. “I personally volunteer a lot back home and believe it’s something that benefits those receiving the help but also those who give their time. I’m proud that I’m not forcing my guys to be here, this is something they truly wanted to help with.”
CJTF Paladin and its CJ6 crew will redeploy and return to Virginia Beach, Va., at the beginning of June, and while they are all excited to reunite with family, friends and real life in general - there are definitely certain aspects they will miss about their deployment.
“It’s been great to leave behind some sort of palpable mark on Bagram,” said Pino. “Our unit has had a successful tour and getting out and helping other service teams complete their missions has been extremely rewarding and has made this entire experience that more meaningful for all of us. Additionally I want to give a special thanks to Maj. Traenkner and her team at the 85th COSC for giving us this opportunity to serve our own!”
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2013 05:22 |
| Story ID: | 106832 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 486 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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