Photo By Shawntel Trowell | Despite pandemic challenges, Army Captain Matthew McDuffie, former commander of the...... read more read more
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During every Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) blood drive at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, many civilians arrive ready to roll up their sleeves for the troops. Most are prior service members, many of which have family members who also served, or they just want to do their part to support the military efforts. With certain missions over and a pandemic still laboring on, it can be difficult to motivate donors to come out to blood drives.
Army Capt. Matthew McDuffie was the commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), Garrison Command at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, consisting of two installations, North and South. He also served as the ASBP blood donor coordinator at the site. Taking the mission to heart, he accepted the ASBP goals as his own and helped motivate donors to come out for each drive he coordinated.
“This is Aberdeen Proving Grounds’ way of serving for our troops, while they are serving for us,” McDuffie said.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, McDuffie, an United States Military Academy West Point graduate, truly took the ‘bull by the horn’ in his role as blood donor coordinator, especially during the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-National Capital Region’s (ASBBC-NCR) 9th Annual Army vs Navy Blood Donor Challenge in 2019. “Beating Navy has been ingrained in me. Let me get to work.” he said. And he did just that.
That year, his exceptional performance with organizing blood drives allowed for Aberdeen Proving Grounds to win the Challenge’s Most Army Donations trophy amongst all Army installations in the entire National Capital Region. His hard work also led to the Army winning the 2019 Challenge overall. He stated, “Ok, now it’s time to beat the Navy on the field!”
During the pandemic, McDuffie worked closely with the Public Health Command and Garrison leadership to continue blood drives at Aberdeen. Since the ASBBC-NCR lost many sponsors during that time, he stepped up and helped increase blood drives to monthly. Acknowledging the year-round need for blood, he said, “There is not a pandemic on the battlefield.” At that time, only essential staff were allowed on the installation, but he was able to grant special blood donor passes at the gate to ensure teleworkers could come to the blood drive.
McDuffie has recently moved on to his new duty station, Vanderbilt University, and is studying for his masters. Approved to stay in the military while being in school full time, exemplifies how McDuffie has gone above and beyond as a Soldier and leader. Those same qualities, he brought to his role as an ASBP blood donor coordinator and got to work.
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.13.2021 08:30 |
| Story ID: | 410619 |
| Location: | ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 106 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From One Challenge to the Next, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Commander Knew How to Save Lives, by Shawntel Trowell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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