Army special operations lab technician organizes life-saving screening for Soldier at Fort Bragg

As a reflection of the first Special Operations Forces Truth that “People are more important than hardware,” one special operations laboratory technician demonstrated this truth through a powerful display of union and camaraderie by organizing a bone marrow screening for a Soldier in need at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, March 31.

Staff Sgt. Brayden Bex, with the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, received a hotline call from the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program Salute to Life the week prior on March 23.

“I was told there was a Soldier who needed a bone marrow transplant ASAP,” Bex said. “His unit wanted to do a brief and registering event. After getting the go ahead from my first sergeant, I agreed to head up the event. Once word about the event hit social media, there were a few posts that went viral.”

Bex added that having knowledge and understanding of Army medicine allowed him to teach the general population and bring a higher level of awareness.

“True leadership is about empowering others, prioritizing their well-being, and leading by example,” said 1st Sgt. Joe Thielemann, with the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center and Bex’s first sergeant. “This bone marrow drive perfectly embodies that philosophy. It’s about offering a chance at life, providing hope, and supporting a cause that directly impacts another Soldier in need. Watching one of my NCOs (noncommissioned officer) take the initiative to coordinate and execute this event is a powerful example of that leadership in action.”

Bex, the only lab tech on Fort Bragg with the program, was asked to organize a small screening for Sgt. Derrick Bishop, a Soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division, in dire need of a bone marrow transplant.

“I have done other events, but none that have garnered this much traction and attention with the help of social media,” Bex said. “The expectation is just to get as many people registered as possible in however approach that looks like, whether online or in-person. If we only get 100 people that is still 100 more than we had before the event and still a success. Regardless of how many we end up with, not only will this potentially impact Sgt. Bishop, but all the others who are patiently awaiting a match.”

The bone marrow screening event went from a 130 people to 500 overnight. The 82nd Airborne Division provided the space for the screening event and its Soldiers representing most of the donors who completed a screening kit.

Maj. Gen. Jason C. Slider, the commanding general of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, completed a screening kit the morning of the event.

“Taking care of each other is more than just a thoughtful act — It’s about teamwork, standards, and accountability,” Slider said. “It makes us strong, ready, and lethal on the battlefield. I’m proud to be on Staff Sgt. Bex’s team, and I trust him to accomplish more than just his share of the task.”

Along with Bex, 14 teammates from the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center volunteered their time during the screening, including the commander, first sergeant, and several members of the support staff ranging from human resources personnel to Special Forces medical sergeant instructors.

In a statement to Task & Purpose, Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll provided a comment about the event.

“The strength of America’s Army rests on its Soldiers and our shared values,” he said. “It’s heartening to see the Fort Bragg community rallying behind Sgt. Bishop in his time of need, and I encourage our Soldiers and leaders to continue drawing strength from one another, regardless of the circumstance.”

At the conclusion of the event, over 3,000 donors completed screening kits in person and online at Fort Bragg.