Sergeant Major Kent Bids Farewell to Miramar Marines Marines, Senegalese Train for Contact, Learn Something
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Marine Corps Merit Award winning newspaper Vol. 13 No. 17 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. April 29, 2011 Sergeant Major Kent bids farewell to Miramar Marines Cpl Jamean R. Berry Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, expresses his appreciation for the Marines’ commitment during his visit to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for the last time before retiring, taking the opportunity to personally thank the Marines of Miramar for their work, April 25. Marines, Senegalese train for contact, learn something new Master Sgt. Grady Fontana trees with low hanging branches, burnt, dried grass litter this and the Senegalese Commandos, who are normally based out COMBAT CORRESPONDENT ground—evidence of a recent brush fi re—and offers just a of Dakar, about 220 miles north. reminder of the intense heat of this savanna territory. The Senegalese have a lot of experience operating in this OUBAKOUTA, Senegal - In the dusty, tree-lined Located in southern Senegal, just about 20 miles north of environment, and the U.S. Marines are well trained and expe- grasslands surrounding the lush delta here, the train- The Gambiaʼs border, this training ground, Center Training rienced in movement to contact. This combination facilitated ing opportunities for U.S. Marines and their Senega- Tactics Zone 3, proved to be the ideal setting for the Security leseT counterparts are vast. In this environment of thick green Cooperation Task Force of Africa Partnership Station 2011, GO TO SENEGAL, PAGE 3 MEU RECIEVES NEW HUEYS, COBRAS FISH POND GETS REFRESHED IN REACH US MCAS Miramar The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is RECOGNITION OF EARTH DAY slated to deploy with two of the newest Approximately 17 members of the Website additions to the Marine Corpsʼ arsenal of Environmental Department aboard the air aerial fi repower - the AH-1Z Super Cobra station took part in cleaning up the fi tness www.miramar.usmc.mil and the UH-1Y Super Huey. See page 4 for trail around the fi sh pond aboard the air EDITORIAL full story. station April 21. See page 6 for full story. (858)-577-6000 NEWS More Marines qualify for Purple Heart Religious Services Capt. Patrick Boyce “Weʼve learned a lot more about mTBI and con- DEPUTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER cussions during the last six months,” said Freund. The Chaplainʼs Office, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS According to Cmdr. Dave Tarantino, director for located in Building 5632 clinical programs for Marine headquartersʼ health on Bauer Road, coordi- ANPOWER AND RESERVE AF- services, traumatic brain injury is divided into three nates regularly scheduled FAIRS, Quantico, Va. – A decision this categories from most to least severe: severe or pen- month by the commandant of the Ma- etrating, moderate and mild. Severe or penetrating services. For the location rineM Corps will allow more Marines and Sailors who TBI and moderate TBI have previously qualified and meeting schedules of served with Marine commands in combat to receive for the Purple Heart because those injuries require religious activities, call the Purple Heart for mild traumatic brain injuries evacuation to a medical treatment facility where the (858)-577-1333, or visit (mTBI) or concussions. Under the Marine Corpsʼ injury can be treated by a medical officer. Howev- www.miramar.usmc.mil. Sergeant Major Kent bids farewell to Miramar Marines revised criteria announced in Marine Administrative er, there are no definitive medical tests to diagnose Message (MARADMIN) 245/11 published April 15, mTBI or determine its severity. Sunday: the Marine Corps will no longer limit award of the “In order to assess mTBI and concussions, corps- Maj. Gen. Purple Heart for mTBI/concussions solely to those men and medical officers rely on a combination of 9 a.m. Protestant Thomas L. Conant cases where the Marine lost consciousness. history, physical examination, clinical signs and Worship Service Commanding General According to Lee Freund, head of Military symptoms and other findings,” said Tarantino. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Awards Branch at Headquarters, U.S. Marine DoD guidelines in effect in the combat theater 9:30 a.m. Protestant Corps, the purpose of this new MARADMIN is, for the last year require that any service member Childrenʼs Worship “To get the word out on the commandantʼs deci- who is involved in a potentially concussive event sion to revise the previous Purple Heart criteria for must be placed under a 24-hour period of observa- mTBI...[and] to inform Marines and Sailors serving tion to determine if they have suffered an mTBI/ 11 a.m. with Marine commands in combat of the basic rules concussion. That period of observation can be ex- Roman Catholic Mass for determining Purple Heart eligibility for all types tended if the member exhibits signs or symptoms of wounds or injuries.” of an mTBI/concussion. However, evaluation by Religious Education/Sunday: MTBI/concussions, which can be caused by a a medical officer or assignment to administrative 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. blast or blow to the head, will now qualify for the light duty solely for the purpose of observation or Catholic CCD Children K-12 Purple Heart if a medical officer makes a disposi- screening will not be considered justification for tion that the Marine is “not fit for full duty” for more the Purple Heart. than 48 hours due to the persistent signs, symptoms, If a medical officer determines that the Marine 10 a.m. Protestant or findings of impairment from the concussion, pro- is “not fit for full duty” for a period greater than 48 Adult Bible Study vided the disposition was made within seven days hours due to signs, symptoms, or findings of impair- of the event. ment from the mTBI/concussion caused by enemy Col. Frank A. Richie Weekday Worship Service: This change is retroactive to the start of the action, then the injured Marineʼs command will in- Mon. – Fri. 11:30 a.m. Commanding Officer Global War On Terrorism, which began Sept. 11, dicate that information in the remarks section of the MCAS Miramar 2001. Marineʼs Personnel Casualty Report. Catholic Mass The two basic eligibility requirements for award In some cases, the Marineʼs final disposition Maj. Jay Delarosa of the Purple Heart established in executive order may not be known when the initial PCR is released. Mon. 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Public Affairs Director and Department of Defense regulations remain un- Additional medical information can be included in Praise and Worship Service changed: the wound or injury must be the result of supplemental PCRs. Gunnery Sgt. Steven Williams direct or indirect enemy action and must have re- Given the natural resilience of the brain, com- Wed. 7 p.m. Baptist Service Public Affairs Chief quired treatment by a medical officer at the time of bined with proper diagnosis and management, most the wound or injury. Marines who have suffered from mTBI/concussion Staff Sgt. Tiffany Carter However, MARADMIN 245/11 provides re- recover fully and experience a very high return to Study Groups: Internal Information Chief vised criteria by which Marine commanders will duty rate, explained Tarantino. Mon. 7 p.m. apply the second of these eligibility requirements to Marines, to include veteran Marines, whose Night Bible Study, Sgt. W. Zach Griffith cases of mTBI/concussion where the visible signs medical record contains documentation that a pri- Classroom in the Chapel area Editor and symptoms of the severity of the injury may not or mTBI/concussion was caused by enemy action be apparent. since Sept. 11, 2001 -- meeting the revised criteria Tues. 6 a.m. Marines, Senegalese train for contact, learn something new Cpl. Z.L. Majors “Very mild concussions that resolve quickly -- may submit a reclama through their original chain Layout and Design Specialist without prolonged impairment will not qualify for of command at the time of injury. Morning Prayer Service the Purple Heart,” said Freund. “The Marine Corps will continue to maintain and Study Group The Flight Jacket is published every Friday. This newspaper is an authorized publication for Prior to release of the MARADMIN, an mTBI/ the importance of the Purple Heart Medal at the the military services, contents of the Flight Jacket are not concussion only qualified for the Purple Heart if same level as when it was first approved for com- necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Islamic Worship Service: government, the Department of Defense, Department of there had been an observed loss of consciousness bat wounded Marines during World War II,” said Fri. at noon. the Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. It is for informational (LOC). As explained in the message, recent medi- Freund. purposes only and in no way should be considered direc- Located in the Chapel or visit tive in nature. cal research has shown that an mTBI/concussion Marines should refer to MARADMIN 245/11 The editorial content is edited, prepared and pro- without LOC can result in more serious brain im- for specific award criteria and reclama submission www.icsd.org vided by the Public Affairs Office. Comments or questions should be directed to 858-577-6000. pairment than earlier believed. Symptoms of mTBI/ information: http://www.marines.mil/news/mes- concussion can include headaches, intolerance of sages/Pages/MARADMIN245-11.aspx/. Jewish: sunlight, temporary amnesia and decreased cogni- Reclamas can be scanned and emailed to hqmc. Jewish Outreach at tive functions. [email protected] (under- (858) - 571 - 3444 MTBI/concussion is a physical injury, caused scores before and after “mTBI”), or sent via regular by the inflammation of brain tissue that can have post to Commandant of the Marine Corps (MMMA), www.jewishinsandiego.org long-lasting effects if not diagnosed and managed Headquarters Marine Corps, 3280 Russell Road, properly.