Gunfighters Donate Blood

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Spec. Jason Routt, B Company Madigan Army Medical Center lab technician from Ft. Lewis Washington, sterilizes Tina Birch's arm before drawing blood at the Armed Services Blood Program blood drive at the community center April 19. The goal for the two-day blood drive was to collect 200 units of blood. According to www.militaryblood.dod.mil, the ASBP plays a key role in providing quality blood products for service members and their families in both peace and war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Gunfighters Donate Blood

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Spec. Jason Routt, B Company Madigan Army Medical Center lab technician from Ft. Lewis Washington, draws viles of blood for testing during the Armed Services Blood Program blood drive at the community center April 19. The goal for the two-day blood drive was to collect 200 units of blood. According to www.militaryblood.dod.mil, the ASBP plays a key role in providing quality blood products for service members and their families in both peace and war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Gunfighters Donate Blood

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Reiko Aduara, Madigan Army Medical Center lab technician from Ft. Lewis Washington, wraps a bandage around the arm of Chief Master Sgt. Vance Kondon, 366th Operations Group superintendent, during the Armed Services Blood Program blood drive at the community center April 19. The goal for the two-day blood drive was to collect 200 units of blood. According to www.militaryblood.dod.mil, the ASBP plays a key role in providing quality blood products for service members and their families in both peace and war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Debbie Lockhart)

Gunfighters donate blood for a good cause

Published April 27, 2010
By Bridgett Montgomery
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) returned to Mountain Home Air Force Base April 19-20 and 163 Gunfighters helped make it a successful drive.

What made this blood drive unique was that the blood collected stays within the armed forces, to help military personnel.

"Our primary mission is to conduct blood drives to support contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Victor L. Shermer, Blood Donor Recruiter Armed Services Blood Bank Center, Pacific Northwest. "The second mission is to provide blood to military facilities."

The donor pool is from three sectors: military installations, university R.O.T.C. programs, and federal installations. ASBP also contracts with the Red Cross with a three to one ratio. So for every three units of blood donated from military personnel, the Red Cross will give one unit to the armed services. This allows the Red Cross to conduct Blood Drives on military installations.

"After the quota is met the remainder goes to support units and hospitals," said Chief Master Sgt. (ret) Jim T. Koseki, Medical Technologist Transfusion Services Supervisor.

Mountain Home Air Force Base has a reputation for coming out to support the blood drives. As many donors know that this particular blood drive goes straight to military men and women.

"It's the least we can do, too many people need it," Chief Master Sgt. Vance Kondon, 366th Operations Group Superintendent. Kondon has been donating every chance he gets since his military career began more than 25 years ago.

The next blood drive is set for June 16 at the Gunfighter Club. People who would like to participate or have questions contact Chief Master Sgt. (ret) James T. Koseki at 828-7837 or visit www.givelife.org.