Vol: 1 Issue 2 - SPRING 2011

Gladiator News delivered on point

Way ahead: Strengthening effort to complete mission

Dear 2MRB Gladiators, Families and Friends – their insight, advice and spearhead new initiatives to enhance our
The start of 2011 has been marked with wonderful accomplish- recruiting efforts. It was humbling to visit with these great commu-
ments. Team Gladiator continues to strive to lead on precision nity leaders as they paused from
recruiting efforts. Although we are still fine-tuning our plans and their busy schedules to pledge
TTPs, the companies have already ascended to the first, third and their commitment to this nation,
fourth places out of 16 brigade companies on AOC closure – the Army and our organization.
true measure of precision recruitment. Simply stated, the team’s Lastly, our force continues to
ability and willingness to “move with the cheese” has placed the bat- strengthen. Since the last update,
talion on top of the board with 18 AOC closures. And, this is just a we welcomed 11 new members
micro indication of what lies ahead. and their Families to the team.
The recruitment of quality healthcare professionals is a challeng- I enjoyed the opportunity to
ing mission that requires the dedication and commitment of many, meet most of them during our
including civic leaders, great Americans throughout our area of op- FY11 Annual Training Confer-
eration. Although the mission to recruit is our duty as professionals ence, which took place here in
in arms, we are fortunate to count on many remarkable Americans Huntsville, Ala. The event served Lieutenant Col. Jose L. Garcia
that share our focus and desire to fill our ranks with the best our as an occasion to recognize stellar
country has to offer. In February, we were delighted to celebrate performers and team building.
our Grassroots kick-off event with the establishment of the Atlanta As always, I am honored to serve with them and look forward
Medical – Dental Advisory Council. This event solidified our belief to their expected, uplifting contributions.
that our country is indeed with us. Many extraordinary, influential Again, I sincerely appreciate everyone’s effort and commitment
members of the Atlanta medical community attended to share to our Army. Our AMEDD’s strength begins with us.

Think and visualize success in order to achieve goals

Congratulations Gladiators – second to
none for a successful quarter! We are con-
tinuing to move to new heights in this bat-
talion as we move toward our goal to reach
the top. William Arthur Ward once said, “If
you can imagine it, you can create it. If you
dream it, you can become it!” Not only have
I imagined and dreamed of the success we
are embarking upon, but I strive to create a
system that will enhance every level of this
command. We are “A Battalion of One.”
I challenge each of you to work together
to reach this goal. Not only it is it my desire
to have the strongest stations and companies
in USAREC, but it is equally important to
have the strongest family in this command.
This goal starts with you. Building a
high performing team requires work. If you
want to be successful, you must first think
success. If you believe in our organization,
its purpose and direction, success will follow.
Success does not come only with a desire
for it, it comes when people are working
together every day, striving to not only be
the best, but doing their best. It requires
peeling back those layers of the organiza-
tion that keeps us from moving forward
– finding the set of values, traditions and • Establish Trust. Rarely is success
practices that represents us as a group. In built on
successful organizations the trust, commit- individuality.
ment, competence, loyalty and respect with You can’t
which each member of the team carry out do it alone.
their daily task are unmistakable to those Success is
that are observing. However, in unsuccessful built on
organizations, dysfunction and distrust are a team of
notably pervasive. “we” not “I.”
So where do you stand in being Without
successful? What do you do when no one is trust, you
watching? Are you motivated to act like the cannot
owner of the company/station even at the accomplish
lowest level? Do you have the capabilities extraordinary
Sgt. Maj. Cornelius Mack
to be creative and innovative without being things, be a
told to do so? I feel safe in answering each team player,
of these questions with an unqualified “yes.” build a strong family, or have an exemplary
Never let what you can’t do stop you from work environment.
doing what you can do. • Accept Change. Change occurs daily in
In reaching success, I challenge each of USAREC. It is important to understand
you to: this change in order to make it successful
• Identify what success looks like to you. for not only yourself, but for your family
Knowing what it looks like will help you members as well.
determine how to get there. Set attainable •Ownership. When people own
goals that will build on your success ratings. something, they tend to take care of it.
Unattainable goals only add stress which Gladiators, thank you and your family
impacts your performance capabilities. for all you do for this country, this Army,
and this great team.
The Sword Spring 2011

Face in the crowd: Torre goes the distance

Left to Right from the back: Doctors Hospital Vice President Douglas D. Jolly,
University of Miami Executive Vice President and Provost Thomas LeBlanc,
Florida International University of Engineering and Computing Associate
Director of Student Access and Success Stephanie Strange, FIU College of
Nursing and Health Sciences Interim Associate Dean and Occupational Therapy
Chairperson Dr. Alma R. Abdel-Moty, FIU Interim Dean and College of
Nursing and Health Sciences Professor Dr. Sherry Pontious, FIU College of
Nursing and Health Sciences Associate Dean for Administration Dr. Helen Z.
Cornely; Miami Medical Recruiter Capt. David Tyson, FIU Senior Executive
Secretary to Assistant Dean Jasmine Jas and Shake a Leg President Harry
Horgan participated in a Tandem Jump with the Golden Knights in February.

Tandem jump lands new mission support

By Capt. David Tyson
Miami Medical Recruiting Station
While there’s nothing wrong with
direct prospecting, it sure is nice when
your referral network does the marketing
work for you. The Miami Medical Recruit-
ing Station coordinated an event through
the local Grassroots Advisory Board in
February which afforded the opportunity
for several key individuals from the com-
munity to conduct a tandem parachute
jump from 13,500 feet with the U.S. Army
Golden Knights. The goal was to build re-
lationships with people who could provide
access to potential markets in our area, and
that’s exactly what occurred when eight of
our COIs jumped from a perfectly good
airplane.
There aren’t too many events that leave
a longer-lasting impression on a COI’s
palette than traveling 120 mph through
the air with an Army Soldier strapped to
his or her back. But in case they forget,
we made them a personalized video of the
experience to show to family, friends, and
co-workers. While it may be an unortho-
dox way of building a referral network, it is
effective. As a result of the jump, we now
have direct access to three major hospitals
within the Baptist Health Network.
Additionally, Florida International
University has opened its doors to the While the jump required a fair amount
Army Medical Department and welcomed of coordination, the dividends were sub-
large-scale recruiting events on campus stantial. For those interested in a similar
grounds. The event also helped our sta- experience, the Golden Knights informed
tion build relationships with community us that AMEDD and minority populations
outreach programs, such as Shake-A-Leg are currently their highest priority missions.
Miami, affording us a chance to give com- Thankfully for us, they’ve decided to make
munity members with physical challenges Homestead, Fl., their permanent winter
an awesome opportunity while gaining training facility, so we’ll look forward to their
exposure among the Miami public. stay next year.
The Sword Spring 2011
2nd MRB scores big at Army All-American Bowl
Columbus recruiter takes spotlight as Soldier Hero
The 2011 All American Bowl was both to attend the Army’s premiere recruiting cruiter in that area is getting lots of calls.”
an awesome and humbling experience for event and attend a week’s worth of festivi- Pre-game events gave Zedhkeia the
Columbus Medical Recruiter Staff Sgt. ties in San Antonio. chance to meet Medal of Honor recipient
Jason Zedhkeia. As one of 100 Soldier Pre-game publicity had Zedhkeia’s Staff Sgt. Sal-
Heroes honored during the game’s open- story featured in the newspaper and Web vatore Giunta,
ing ceremonies, Zedhkeia was in a position sites of his Marshall Islands home. The the Army’s
story recounted Zed- Vice Chief
hkeia’s heroic actions of Staff Gen.
as a senior line medic Peter Chiarelli
with the 101st Air- and Sergeant
borne Division during Major Of the
the battle of Al-Hillah Army Sgt.
in Iraq for which he Maj. Raymond
was awarded the Army Chandler III.
Commendation Medal He also met
for Valor. a number of
“That story gener- high school Zedhkeia poses with Gen. Peter Chiarelli
ated a lot of interest in all-stars and
the Army,” Zedhkeia NHL hopefuls. “I hope they remem-
said. “I received a lot ber me when they make it to the NFL,”
of good feedback from Zedhkeia said.
Staff Sgt. Jason Zedhkeia flanked by two All-American Bowl football players. that and think the re-

North Carolina COIs put on their Army game face

Samantha Furr is a doctoral student in immunology and and an
instructor at a North Carolina community college. With a desire to
join the military herself, Furr is also in a position to influence students
and community members. In that influencer role, Furr attended the
All American Bowl and its surrounding festivities.
“It was an absolutely amazing opportunity and made me feel really
good about my goal to be in the Army and about spreading the mes-
sage,” Furr said.
Furr and Dr. T. Ryan Draper, a physician with Murphy Wainer Or-
thopedic Specialists in Greensboro, N.C. ,were among about
100 Centers of Influence (COIs) to attend the event.
“Of course the highlight was the tandem jump with the
Golden Knights,” Furr said. “I’ve shown that video to every-
one I know.”
Both COIs were nominated to attend the event by Ra-
leigh Recruiting Station OIC Capt. Michael McCray who
accompanied the pair during the weeklong festivities in San
Antonio.

COIs Samantha Furr and Dr. T. Ryan Draper and their escort, Capt. Michael McCray
pose with the USAREC team including Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Legg, Maj. Gen.
COI Samantha Furr takes a leap with the Golden Knights. Don Campbell, Col. Scott Dingle and Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Moore.
The Sword
Specialist turns captain
Dr. Jae Ho Shim recently walked the
halls of Martin Army Community Hospi-
tal as an enlisted man. But today he is an
Army officer.
“I’m very excited,” Shim said of his
commissioning during a ceremony at
Martin Army Community Hospital where
he traded in his specialist rank for silver
captain’s bars. “I’ve not heard of any case
Army Healer
Spotlight
like this. It has been a long process and I
am glad it finally happened.”
Commissioning an
Army specialist is a rare
occurrence. Although
it happens more often
among the nurse ranks, it’s
practically unheard of for
medical corps physicians.
“Impossible, unlikely
and unprecedented are the
words that that describe
Jae’s journey,” said Lt. Col.
Mark Higdon, director of
residency training for the
MACH Family Medi-
cine Residency Program.
Higdon administered the
oath that marked Shim’s Fort Benning’s Martin Army Community Hospital Family Medicine
transition from the enlisted Residency Program Director Lt. Col. Mark Higdon administers the oath
to Spec. Jae Ho Shim who is finishing up his residency.
to the officer ranks.
Shim, a native of South
Korea, moved to the United States when
he was 13. He attended Ross University
School of Medicine in the Caribbean and
did his clinical rotations in New York and
New Jersey hospitals. Shim then enlisted
in the Army as a medic, attracted by bene- primary care physicians and here is a Sol-
fits and student loan repayment. He served dier, medic and physician. It’s win-win.”
in a cavalry line unit at Fort Drum, N.Y.,
before he began exploring other options.
His enlisted time is something for
which Shim said he is grateful. “The ex-
perience as a line-unit medic is something
most doctors don’t get,” Shim said. “I’m
glad I had that opportunity.”
It was a lieutenant who first discovered
Shim’s education and desires to practice
medicine. That information was brought
forward and Higdon said he had his first
conversation with Shim about two years
ago. After a review of his qualifications
and an interview, he was approved for
the Family Medicine residency program
at MACH. Higdon said the process to
commission Shim involved many people
and the goodwill of Army leadership. “I’m
excited to be a part of it,” Higdon said.
For Shim, performing residency duties
as a specialist sometimes caused some
confusion. “There were some awkward
moments, but no one ever gave me a hard
time” Shim said. “Everyone knew my
situation. Sometimes I belonged here.
Sometimes I belonged there.”
While there was no defined path for
this particular transition, Higdon said
Shim was a good candidate to blaze the
trail.
“Shim is very professional and sets a
good example,” Higdon said. “We need
As a recruiter for the Columbus Medical
Recruiting Station, Sgt. 1st Class Michael
Pearson said the experience of bringing
Shim into the officer ranks was unprec-
edented. “It was an unusual situation and
one we can learn from,” he said. “In the
end, it worked well for the Soldier and the
Army.”
Spring 2011
Nashville hosts Vanderbilt Alum
Nashville Company hosted the Deputy
Commander for Joint Task Force Capi-
tal Region Medical Brig. Gen. Stephen
Jones who served as guest speaker at the
Vanderbilt Pre-Health Professions Meet-
ing. Jones is graduate of the Vanderbilt
University School of Medicine. This was
the first event geared towards Vanderbilt
pre-med and medical students this year.
San Juan works dental convention
Recruiters from San Juan Medical Recruit-
ing Station made their mark at this year’s
annual dental convention – the only dental
convention on the island. “Our goal was
to generate
interest and
we did that,”
said San Juan
MRS Station
Commander
Sgt. 1st Class
Nelson Colon.
Recruiters
also raffled an
IPod and a
pair of Oakley
sunglasses to help generate traffic to the
booth. In the photo above, Colon presents
the sunglasses to Dr. Erick Serrano. If you
need raffle prizes for your event, contact
battalion operations.
Orlando supports NASCAR
Orlando Medical Recruiting Station
Commander Sgt. 1st Class Abel Plasencio
mans a booth at the Daytona 500 race in
Daytona in February.
The Sword
Tracking trends in the healthcare market
By Anthony Robinson
S-2, Mission and Market Analysis
Trend toward hospital employment
Many physicians, specialists in particular, are seeking hospital
employment to relieve the stress of high malpractice rates, the
struggle for reimbursement, administrative functions and the
general risks and hassles of private practice. So much so, national
healthcare search and consulting firms specializing in the recruit-
ment of physicians are concentrating their efforts on hospital
settings (51percent of recruiting effort concentrated on hospitals).
Source: National Association of Community Health Centers.
Health Center Salary & Benefits Report 2009-2010)
Strong demand for specific specialties
In cases where health facilities have proceeded with physician re-
cruiting, the strongest area of demand remains primary care (fam-
ily practice) and general internal medicine. Primary care (family
practice) physicians are the most requested search assignments for
national healthcare search and consulting firms specializing in the
recruitment of physicians for four consecutive years.
Increase in financial incentives
The continued demand for primary care (family practice) physi-
cians is having an upward trending effect on financial incentives
in the requested search assignments for national healthcare search
and consulting firms specializing in the recruitment of physi-
cians. The demand for primary care (family practice) physicians is
underscored by the fact that low financial incentives offers made
to this group has increased in 2009 / 2010. (Source: National As-
sociation of Community Health Centers. Health Center Salary &
Benefits Report 2009-2010)
Spring 2011
Another addition to salary is the loan forgiveness program through
the National Health Service Corps in which physicians can receive
$145,000 in student loan repayments over five years.
Based on a recent survey of 402 CHCs, annual turnover rates for
physicians are relatively low, ranging from a high of nearly 8 per-
cent to a low of less than 1 percent.
Hospitals acquiring group practices
To meet the demand for specific medical specialties and in part to
prepare for the Medicare Shared Savings Program for Accountable
Care Organizations, an initiative of the new healthcare reform law
slated to start in 2012, a growing number of hospitals intend on
acquiring group practices or employing physicians. According to a
survey of 258 hospital leaders:
• 74 percent say they plan to employ a greater number of physi-
cians in the next 12 to 36 months.
• 70 percent say they have received increased requests from physi-
cian group for employment.
• 61 percent plan on acquiring medical groups in the next 12 to
36 months.
(Source: National Association of Community Health Centers.
Health Center Salary & Benefits Report 2009-2010)
Recruiter TTP
Visit your medical schools on a weekly basis. (Live there!) It is un-
derstood that there are no two- or three-year HPSP slots available,
but your main focus should be FAP/STRAP and one-year HPSP or
MSSP targeting the third and fourth year students.

Community Health Centers (CHCs)

The new health reform law is expected to provide insurance to
more than 30 million patients who now lack medical coverage.
Many of these patients will be seen at Community Health Cen-
ters (CHCs) which are assuming a larger role in providing care
for traditionally underserved populations. Federally-qualified
community health centers are a linchpin in the nation’s healthcare
delivery system, providing care in underserved areas—both rural
and urban—and to those who are poor, uninsured and under-
insured. Their role will become even more important when 32
million Americans have coverage for healthcare. The role com-
munity health centers play in providing care for the underserved.
By 2015, the centers are estimated to generate $54 billion in total
economic activity and create 284,000 new full-time equivalent
jobs in their local communities. Knowing pay is not likely to be
a CHC’s most attractive benefit for physicians, the two benefits
not related to income such as lifestyle (quality of life) and prac-
tice customization should be given consideration as the reason
physicians chose CHCs. Flexibility, such as part-time employ-
ment, possibly locum tenens, may also be a factor in choosing to Orlando Company Commander Capt. Rodney Hankins administers the oath to
practice in a CHC. Second Lt. Chelsea Harris.
The Sword Spring 2011

The battalion’s first opportunity to use the DRASH equipped

as a Mobile Operating Room for a Forward Surgical Team took
place at East Carolina University in January. CRNA students,
faculty members and medical students had an opportunity to
visit the setup and talk with Subject Matter Experts about its
capabilities and equipment. Above, Raleigh Recruiter Sgt.
1st Class Ian Trammell explains Army medical oportunities to
visitors. Top right, Raleigh Recruiter Capt. Micahael McCray
speaks with nursing stuents. Bottom right, SMEs visit with
faculty members.

Grassroots advisory board kicks off in Atlanta

Atlanta Company hosted the battalion’s inaugural

Grassroots Medical Advisory Board meeting in
February. Twelve community members attended,
representing the Atlanta Medical Center, More-
house School of Medicine, Saint Joseph’s Hospital,
Spelman College, Georgia Institute of Technology,
Georgia Bio and the Piedmont Heart Institute.
The CASA for the state of Georgia also attended.
The reception was both collaborative and enthusi-
astic with a productive exchange of ideas. The next
advisory board will stand up in Nashville.
 The Sword Spring 2011
Highlights from 2011 Annual Training Conference
Welcome Gladiators

SFC Monica Godfrey, Raleigh

SFC Allen Sconiers, Raleigh

SGT Harry Young, Miami

SGT Ming Gomez, Miami

SSG Michael Bone, Raleigh

Not pictured:
1LT Renee Barron, Birmingham
SFC Shawn Xavier, Gainesville
SGT Ty Curry, Tampa
SGT Martell Todd, Memphis
Photos contributed
by SFC Michal Alves Promotions
Maj. Amy McIntosh
Maj. Ann Laturno
SFC Joshua Waller
SFC Hassan Fuller