Commander's Blog

With Halloween coming this week, I have to say that things are looking a little scary for my Atlanta Falcons this football season. Their game last Sunday was like something out of a horror movie, and the Patriots' Tom Brady may have well been wearing a hockey mask... But maybe this is just my own nightmare! Anyway, Halloween is here again, and our children will be out and about in their "spooky" costumes searching for the prized candy. But before they head out, please make sure to pay close attention to the common safety tips for trick-or-treating fun. The top suggestions include: 1) wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight, 2) walk with a group if possible, 3) carry a cellphone, 4) stay on the sidewalks and use crosswalks, 5) watch for vehicles, 6) visit houses that you know, and 7) screen candy before eating it, especially unwrapped treats.

While we typically think of child safety during this holiday, we should also be more vigilant as drivers on the road during Halloween night. Please slow down and keep a sharp eye out for people on the streets, and other cars passing by. Children are so focused on the fun, and may be energized by the sugary candy, that they may run out into traffic without realizing it. I know that my wife and I are looking forward to taking our daughter around our new neighborhood, and we certainly want to ensure that she and her friends have a very fun, but very safe experience this Halloween. She is so excited, that I'm actually excited for her!

Not only does October usher in Halloween, it also brings with it the start of a new fiscal year – which means recognizing our top performers of the past year. At our recent Town Hall, I had the pleasure of presenting awards for USAMMDA's Employee of the Quarter and the Employee of the Year. Honors for the fourth quarter went to Maureen Milano of our Medical Support Systems Project Management Office, while Air Force Lt. Col. Melinda Eaton of our Tissue Injury and Regenerative Medicine PMO was named Employee of the Year. Not only are both top performers who are extremely deserving of this recognition, but I truly believe that our USAMMDA team would be lacking without their valuable contributions to our critical mission. Thank you both!

While we spotlight our recent award winners, we also should recognize the great work of our entire team in helping to advance our new Strategic Plan this past year. We recently held a leadership meeting to look at our FY18 organizational goals, and the improvements we're targeting for this year. I'm so impressed by USAMMDA's attitude for continuous process improvement, and the focus placed on serving our Warfighters in the best way possible. Without question, the great work of our USAMMDA team helps to drive forward our organization and our important mission to protect and preserve Service Members throughout the world. Honestly, when I think about our USAMMDA family, and the shared dedication to the task we've been given, it truly reinforces my decision to put on this uniform and serve our country each and every day.

Let's always remember that we're saving lives with everything we do here at USAMMDA.

COL Ryan Bailey