FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH) Soldiers generally aim high when they set out to accomplish a task, but that's just what colleagues of Sgt. Eric Wentworth, a medical logistician were literally challenged to do when they were called upon to participate in his reenlistment ceremony at the WACH warehouse adjacent to the main hospital facility on Fort Irwin 14 July.
When a WACH Soldier re-enlists, common custom is to have them stand in front of the American flag, raise their right hand and be sworn in for another term of service to their country. However, the large flag that is fixed to the rafters and hangs over the WACH warehouse defied all efforts to safely bring it down to the warehouse ceremony in time for the oath to be administered.
So, when Captain Juan Diaz and Sgt. 1st Class Justin Goforth saw that they could not bring the flag to the Soldier, they remedied the situation by bringing the Soldier to the flag.
The situation called for quick WACH ingenuity and Goforth stepped in and improvised a platform on-the-spot by quickly locating and maneuvering a flatbed warehouse vehicle for Wentworth to stand on while he was read the oath of reenlistment under the flag.
Surrounded by WACH colleagues, his wife McKenna and 9-month-old son Bennett, Wentworth stood on the improvised stage under the flag and was administered the oath by Diaz, who was the first to shake his hand and off Wentworth congratulations.
Wentworth stepped down to loud applause and the congratulations of all in attendance.
Goforth later said "Treating Patients like Family may be the motto of our organization, but that starts inside the WACH itself, so we're about treating each other like family too. You know, it's all about doing the little things for people."
ABOUT THE WEED ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH) is part of the United States Army Medical Department Activity, better known to service members by its acronym MEDDAC.
The WACH on Fort Irwin is home to approximately 500 health care professionals and medical staff providing 24/7 support to the National Training Center (NTC), one of the U.S. Army's largest training areas with over 1,000 square miles of maneuver areas, state of the art training facilities and ranges, with airspace restricted to military use.
Fort Irwin's isolation makes it an ideal site for a variety of NTC training and exercises, consequently the Weed Army Community Hospital is a vital facet in support of the NTC and Fort Irwin community.
A new $160 million, 216,000 square foot hospital, currently under construction, is scheduled to replace the Weed Army Community Hospital in the fall of 2016. The opening of the new facility will mark a significant milestone in the United States Department of Defense commitment to delivering the best possible healthcare to all service members and their families, and underlines the importance of the NTC and the role MEDDAC personnel and facilities play in support of service members and their families at Fort Irwin.
To learn more about the people and facilities of the Weed Army Community Hospital and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin visit the official NTC website at www.irwin.army.mil
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