Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Harper | International Security Assistance Forces Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, senior...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – It began like most days at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here. The service members responsible for running the advanced “Level 3” trauma facility were performing rounds, preparing for shift changes, and as always, were prepared for possible emergency action.
Combat hospital workers expect the unexpected; however, on this day they had no need to worry. This day would turn out different, and different in a positive way.
The hospital’s men and women were treated to an unexpected guest March 19 when Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, the International Security Assistance Forces and United States Forces-Afghanistan senior enlisted leader, dropped by unannounced.
Capel was not there to summarily inspect the ranks or to make uniform corrections on a scheduled trip to the facility. He had planned on performing one of his most important duties as the ISAF commanding general’s senior enlisted adviser by circulating throughout the battlefield and reporting back to the commander on the needs, concerns and morale of the frontline troops.
“Make no mistake, you are on the front lines here,” Capel said to members of the hospital’s quick response emergency team.
The team members, Army National Guard soldiers from the 142nd Area Support Medical Company out of Connecticut, spoke openly with Capel about the challenges they face and the pride they take in accomplishing their mission. Capel thanked them individually and collectively for their hard work and dedication to saving lives.
“You never miss a beat. Why? Because you can’t afford to,” said Capel to the group.
The group members each received leadership coins from the ISAF command sergeant major.
“It was great that he took the time to really talk with us,” said Sgt. Neil Mulligan of the 142nd ASMC. “We’ve had other higher-ups come and visit, but this was different. You can tell he cared.
“It was a real morale boost for the guys. We were all pumped up,” he added.
Capel continued moving throughout the hospital’s halls, stopping to shake the hands of everyone from nurses to surgeons and administrators to maintenance workers.
At one such stop, Capel awarded a coin to an unconscious soldier under the care of nurses and doctors in the trauma unit. The soldier had been severely injured by an improvised explosive device but was stable and awaiting transport to Germany for the next phase of his recovery.
“He’s going to be alright sergeant major; we’ll see to it,” said the soldier’s attending nurse.
Capel thanked her. He gave each person he spoke with his undivided attention. Service members’ concerns varied from simple uniform changes to rumors of future Army policies. Each was given more than just a moment of Capel’s time. No question went unanswered. No concern unaddressed.
“Morale is high,” said Capel.“You can’t judge the force’s morale by just talking to the soldiers who have 90 days or less left on their deployment. You have to make a point to talk and, more importantly listen, to the soldiers who’ve just been here 100 days and still have a long time to go.”
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.22.2012 02:28 |
| Story ID: | 85580 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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