The 7251st Medical Support Unit (MSU) relinquished authority of medical operations at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Bliss to the 7220th MSU during a transfer of authority ceremony at the Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museum, April 8.
The 7251st MSU, based out of, Albuquerque, New Mexico, were tasked with providing medical, dental and support services to active, reserve, National Guard and civilian personnel who were deploying, redeploying, mobilizing or demobilizing in support of the Army mission since May 2018.
"It's a huge mission," said Col. Erik Rude, commander, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, who oversees medical operation of the Soldier Readiness and Processing Center (SRPC). "As an active-duty Soldier, I know if we didn't have (Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers) doing all the work they've been doing since 9/11 (active-duty) would stay deployed every month."
Over the course of the 11-month deployment, the MSU processed nearly 60,000 Soldiers for deployment/redeployment.
As the 7251st MSU prepared for their mission at Fort Bliss, they implemented several individual augments to meet the needs of the mission.
"When we showed up down here we nailed it immediately, we became a team. Everybody has worked very hard and I'm very proud of this unit," said Lt. Col. Steven Ross, commander, 7251st MSU. "I've done 43 years in the military and I only have one mindset, one team on fight. We worked long weekends, long hours and made it happen, we didn't have any mission failures."
In addition to meeting their mission, Soldiers with the 7251st were also committed to professional improvement through various Professional Military Education courses, Air Assault Courses, and attaining the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge in addition to several other accomplishments.
"If the President, Secretary of Defense or of the Army, tell us to make something happen, we make it happen," said Ross. "Because that's what we do in the Army."
The 7220th MSU, based out of Tucson, Arizona, will continue providing medical assets to Soldiers processing through Fort Bliss for the next few months.
"This mission will continue to evolve, and we plan to evolve with it," said Col. Heidi L. Otis, commander, 7220th MSU. "We are trained and ready to assume responsibility and carry on the Soldier Processing mission."
"We've gained a level of readiness in reserve and National Guard Soldiers that we don't want to lose and which we keep up by rotating the units through mobilizations and to do that we need to mobilize and demobilize," said Rude. "It's a very important mission, not just for Fort Bliss, or our Army, but for our Nation."
Social Sharing