DAENNER KASERNE, Germany -- Soldiers from the 7th Civil Support Command conducted Soldier Readiness Processing Sept. 7-8 here to improve the unit's overall mission readiness.
Soldier readiness is a top priority for the Army Reserve to ensure that its formations are prepared to mobilize and deploy. Conducting SRP is one way the 7th CSC accomplishes this important task.
"This event improved our overall unit readiness. Given that we are an operational, deployable unit, [SRP] is very important," said Capt. Andrew R. Culver, the 7th CSC Medical Operations officer in charge and a Bradford, Pa., native.
"The SRP is a physical health assessment on steroids," he continued. "Not only are the normal wellness checks performed, but the SRP also covers dental exams and treatment, immunizations including the flu shot, optometry and an EKG [electrocardiogram], to name a few."
In total, more than 1,680 procedures were performed.
SRP is also important to the Army Reserve because it enables commanders to maximize limited training time available by providing a method to maintain unit readiness in an efficient manner.
Spc. Belzonia Brown III, a human resources specialist with the 406th Human Resources Battalion, 7th CSC, who currently resides in Schlangenbad, Germany, said, "It's good, because everyone can get things focused and get things corrected. We normally don't have the time during battle assembly, so it is better this way to go to all of the Soldier readiness stations needed for deployment."
Not only were medical needs met, but Soldiers were also provided with finance, retention, personnel and legal services by the 7th CSC staff. These areas are necessary for Soldiers to remain ready to deploy. For example, the staff judge advocate's office processed wills, powers-of-attorney and various other legal documents.
Preparation of a will would normally cost a Soldier about $350, and a power of attorney, $65. In all, it is estimated that the 7th CSC SJA office provided more than $12,000 in legal services free of charge to Soldiers.
One 7th CSC organization, the 196th Medical Support Unit, helped facilitate this year's SRP and also used it as a training, learning and evaluation.
The 196th MSU supported the SRP by conducting Soldier check-in and checkout, and reviewed each Soldier's file individually for medical readiness status in several key areas like dental, immunizations, vision and the periodic health assessment.
"Because we are the medical unit of the 7th CSC, we helped coordinate the SRP," said 2nd Lt. Jessica Denison, a personnel officer assigned to the 196th MSU, 7th CSC and a Buffalo, N.Y., native.
Denison said she and Lt. Col. Claudia Peterson, the chief of clinical operations, 196th MSU, and a Moreno Valley, Calif., native, were at the site to observe how the event was run, assess their own unit's capabilities and develop possible future courses of action.
The lead planner for the SRP and the medical noncommissioned officer in charge of the 7 CSC's Surgeon Office and a native of St. Louis, Sgt. 1st Class Osceola Williams said, "At the end of it, it's outstanding. You see all the work you did, and it pays off."
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