LRMC NCOs making a difference

Senior NCOs have the opportunity to make a bigger impact on the KMC thanks to the Tier 3 Association.

Developed by Army servicemembers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the association has no service affiliation and encourages participation from different branches. In fact, all servicemembers E6 (promotable) through E9 automatically are members of the association. To what degree a person participates is up to the individual. One can basically give either money, time or both. There is no shortage of opportunities to get involved.

“We are looking toward the Special Olympics,” said Sgt. First Class Daniel Olivares, anti-terrorism force protection officer and association president. “We want to help out groups that need it with not just money, but volunteering as well.”

Speaking of money, the association uses fundraisers to pay for its good deeds. The latest project was the sale of LRMC blankets, which featured embroidered photos of LRMC and its surrounding clinics.

“Sales of the throw blanket did so well that our $25 annual dues were eliminated,” he said. “We will probably sell the blanket again later this year. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

If the blankets sell so well, why not sell them year round? Well, policies for private organizations prevent the group from raising money just to have it when needed. Every dollar must be allocated, therefore money cannot be raised until a project has been decided upon – a scholarship, for instance.

A $500 scholarship recently was awarded to Sarah Guidry to help her buy books at Louisiana State University. This year, a $1,250 scholarship will be available to a student from each high school in the KMC, said Sergeant Olivares. Students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and write a 300-word essay explaining why they deserve the scholarship.

Aside from the actual volunteering, association members serve as mentors to junior servicemembers.

“Mentorship is the cornerstone of a good organization,” he said. “We try to show them what they should strive to be as a senior NCO, and we show them through our actions.”