WALTER REED WORKSHOP SHOWCASES PROSTHETIC TECHNOLOGY

by Sgt. Sara Wood, USA, AFPS

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2007 - As the use of improvised explosive devices has continued steadily against U.S. troops in Iraq, the Defense Department has made treating those troops seriously injured in the blasts a top priority. That was the focus of a three-day workshop for Defense Department and Veterans Affairs medical professionals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, who gathered to discuss advancements in treating traumatic amputee patients."We in the Army have lived by a warrior ethos, and part of that ethos is that we do not leave a fallen comrade. You're seeing that here, exemplified in the work of these great caregivers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and throughout the Army medical department and the military health system every day," Army Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, commander of Walter Reed, said at the beginning of a media demonstration today. Several of the workshop presenters and Walter Reed patients demonstrated the latest prosthetic technology and the rehabilitation process for amputees. The warrior ethos also includes a commitment to never accept defeat or give up, Schoomaker noted, and that's what amputee care and rehabilitation is all about. "What you're seeing here today is a personification of not accepting defeat and not quitting," he said. "The mission of the warrior who's wounded is to turn that mission focus to restoring their own health and well-being, and restoring their full function. That's what the Army and the joint force is about; it's about restoring the full function and retaining great warriors." The technologies demonstrated today included a "power knee," which is the first motor-powered prosthetic; a powered ankle-foot unit with microprocessor technology to detect changes in terrain; a microprocessor knee with artificial intelligence that recognizes and adjusts to changes in speed; and "cheetah feet," which are prostheses specially designed for sprinting and high-level competition. Amputee patients also demonstrated different training techniques physical therapists use during rehabilitation. The troops start with running drills that use five steps to introduce the amputee to running with a prosthesis. They move into multi-directional drills, which teach them to move on different planes and work on speed, agility and power. The amputees also work on speed drills, which use resistance to increase stride length and frequency. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Angel Barcenas was one of the amputees demonstrating training techniques today. Barcenas was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Iraq in July 2006 and lost both legs below the knee. He has been using the "cheetah feet" for about three weeks and today demonstrated several running drills, one using a parachute for resistance, and agility drills with hurdles. Barcenas' healing process went quickly after being transported back to the U.S.; he started walking in September 2006, just three months after being injured. He credits the professionals at Walter Reed for his quick recovery.

I don't know how they do it," he said. "They have a lot of work to do and they dedicated a lot of time just to me to make sure I was okay." Barcenas said that the "cheetah feet" make a huge difference in his running ability, giving him more ability to push off with his ankles and toes. He participated in the entire workshop, which he said showcases a different side of Walter Reed than is usually portrayed. "They have a tremendous amount of people here with the biggest hearts. They become really good friends; they become really personal, and it helps the patients," he said. Another important message from this program and others like it is that even traumatic injuries can be overcome, Barcenas said. "It's possible to get back up on your feet and do exactly the things you were doing before without struggling," he said. Amputee rehabilitation programs have returned 20 percent of amputees to active service, Schoomaker said. "We have soldiers fighting today in Afghanistan and elsewhere who are wearing prostheses that were fitted and that they were trained to use here," he said. The Defense Department is committed to investing in cutting-edge technology and partnering with other government agencies and the civilian medical community to provide the best care possible for amputees, Schoomaker said. Ultimately, the Defense Department medical community hopes to move beyond injured servicemembers and benefit the U.S. population at large and even the global community, he said.

PLANS UNVEILED FOR VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER

from AFPS

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2007 - At a Capitol Hill news conference, exhibition designer Ralph Appelbaum provided a first glimpse of the exhibits planned for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground facility slated for the National Mall near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "The center will be a place that reveals the human dimension of the war and honors the value of service and the bonds of loyalty and friendship," Appelbaum said. "It will allow a new generation of visitors to better understand the human experience of war and the web of lives affected." An array of national leaders attended the news conference hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to express their support for the project. Several of them, including retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey and U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska spoke at the news conference. "This is the logical next evolution of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial experience, and I am enthusiastic to be part of the campaign to bring it to life," said McCaffrey, who chairs the Advisory Board of veterans, authors, historians and educators who advise the Memorial Fund on the exhibits. During the presentation, Appelbaum said the goals of the center are to enhance the Memorial experience; honor those who died, put faces with the names of those memorialized on the Vietnam Wall, and encourage young visitors to learn more. He explained how listening, learning, research and discussion with distinguished Vietnam veterans, authorities in charge of the National Mall and everyday Americans have resulted in a clear concept for the center. And, he showed visuals illustrating main components of the planned exhibits: -- Faces of Service Members: A wall of photos of fallen servicemembers who had their birthday on that particular day, along with any images, letters or other remembrances left at The Wall for that individual. -- Display of Values: Words such as Respect, Loyalty, Courage, Duty, Service, Honor and Integrity, combined with excerpts from letters of fallen service members that convey those concepts. -- Artifacts Collection: A dramatic series of glass cases that contain selections of the more than 100,000 items that have been left at the Memorial, including personal letters home from men and women in uniform. -- Timeline: A factual chronology of military events to give an overview of the span of the war and the key actions. -- History of the Memorial: A visual and written history of The Wall and the way it has uniquely influenced the way Americans memorialize and pay tribute. -- Resource Center: Interactive stations where visitors, specifically young people, can access additional information. -- Legacy of Service: A visual connection between those who served in Vietnam and all Americans in uniform, past and present. "The center will be the home of some of the personal items that have been left at the memorial and that illustrate the loss and grieving-they are eloquent examples of love and friendship," Appelbaum added. "Here, we give each name a face and explore the universal bond among all veterans of war."

The Memorial Center has generated the support of an array of respected public and military officials, including retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, the honorary chairman of the Campaign to Build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, and Dr. Christos M. Cotsakos, campaign chairman. "The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center will be a place that touches the heart and teaches the mind, enhancing the Memorial experience for people of all ages and walks of life, taking them on a journey through layers of storytelling and history," said Harry Robinson, a board member of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund who also spoke at the news conference. "The center will be a commemoration and celebration of the values of loyalty, duty and honor - the values that defined not only the brave young men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam, but in all of America's wars," added McCaffrey. "And possibly most importantly, we believe this center will present fantastic learning opportunities for our nation's young people." The center has been authorized by Congress, and the Memorial Fund is working in partnership with the National Park Service, which ultimately will operate it. While the anticipated timeline for design approval, fundraising and the building schedule for the Memorial Center is approximate right now, groundbreaking is expected in 2010, with the center being completed within 18 months after that. Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, through a series of outreach programs, it is dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing, educating about the impact of the Vietnam War and is building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground educational facility, near The Wall.

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