MOUNT VERNON, Ala. — More than 70 Soldiers from the 7245th Medical Support Unit of the Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, New Jersey, including augmentees from supporting and partner units, participated in the inaugural Reserve Innovative Readiness Training Mobile-Washington, or MOWA, Choctaw Wellness at the MOWA Choctaw Indian Reservation, bringing no-cost military medical, dental, vision and veterinary services directly to the community.
The collaborative mission took place from June 1, 2025, through June 15, 2025, and was able to provide much-needed care for those who might otherwise not receive it and had already logged more than 800 patient encounters and contributed an estimated $300,000 in service value within its first eight days.
Thomas Hudson, the chief programs officer for the Delta Regional Authority, a framework for joint federal-state collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River and Alabama regions, said the IRT mission marked a milestone for both military readiness and rural healthcare access for both healthcare workers and recipients of care.
“This partnership is more than a logistical achievement,” said Hudson. “It embodies a really powerful principle. When we combine military readiness with community service, everyone wins.”
The MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, a state-recognized Native American community that has long struggled for consistent access to medical care, welcomed the military teams with open arms.
“We are just so, so excited,” said Chief Lebaron Bird of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. “I mean, I get adrenaline when I think about everything that's going on — and for yesterday (June 9), we broke a record. I think we had 274 [patients]. I couldn't sleep last night thinking about all the people we helped.”
Serving in patient administration, Sgt. Erin Cuyun coordinated the flow of more than 200 community members seeking care, managing paperwork and tracking while offering customer support.
“These patients have been so appreciative… it warms my heart the impact that we have,” Cuyun said. “We’re the ones that are honored to be here.”
Cuyun highlighted that this IRT rotation was not only the first of its kind in the region but also a valuable platform for Soldiers to step beyond their regular military occupational specialties.
“We have folks in our patient administration that are helping do some basic vision screenings, all sorts of things that we don’t even normally do … but because we’re here and all working together, we’re able to get that experience,” she said
The deputy program manager for the Army Reserve IRT program, Capt. Penny Cannon, emphasized the dual value of the initiative.
“IRT equips soldiers with real-world, hands-on experience, especially for low-density specialties like optometry and veterinary care. At the same time, we’re bridging care gaps in communities that need it most.”
Lt. Col. Vivian Annan, the officer in charge of the IRT mission, said that the current rotation has already provided more than 4,000 hours of hands-on training to military medical personnel—training that is often hard to replicate outside of deployment scenarios.
From dental cleanings and eye exams to spay-and-neuter clinics and wellness checks, the scope of services is broad — and the gratitude among residents is shown by their smiles.
“Healthier communities fuel economic growth,” said Hudson. “They build workforce readiness and strengthen the very fabric of regional prosperity. That is the purpose and the vision of the DRA under our federal co-chairman — and I’m sure it’s one we all share wholeheartedly.”
Cannon said that the IRT MOWA Choctaw Wellness mission, as well as the IRT program altogether, stand as vivid examples of how military-civilian partnerships can deliver immediate, tangible impact while building long-term trust.
Per their website, the IRT’s mission is to produce mission-ready forces through military training opportunities that provide key services for American communities.
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