Page 2 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, June 2021

2 High Desert Warrior www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin High Desert Warrior 3
June 2021
June 2021
Community WHO WE ARE Community

Brig. Gen. Curtis Taylor
Commanding General
Command Sgt. Maj. William Justice
“Distance doesn’t stop us:” Perseverance is Col. Jeanette Martin Fort Irwin begins COVID-19 Vaccinations for 12-15 Year Olds
Post CSM

Garrison Commander
By Kimberly Hackbarth
“Especially being such a small and remote environment,
the theme during high school graduation Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fedorisin Weed Army Community Hospital Public A airs being able to get services and activities back that were avail-
Garrison CSM
By Abe Dawoud Darryl Darden FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Fort Irwin began COVID-19 able pre-COVID is paramount,” Brunson explained. “We felt
that being vaccinated should help with being able to safely

Public A airs Director vaccinations for eligible bene ciaries 12-15 years old May 15 participate in school activities, sports, and to engender a sense

Fort Irwin Public A airs following approval from the Centers for Disease Control and
YERMO, Calif. — Breaking with last High Desert Warrior Sta Prevention and the Department of Defense. of comfort amongst kids and their families.”
year’s, socially distant drive-through gradu- Janell J. Lewis Ford, Editor Indrie Friday, 13, and her brother, Andrew, 12, were the In both the Friday and Brunson families, the parents set the
(760) 380-3450
ation, Silver Valley High School held an Jason Miller, Sta Writer/Photographer rst in their age group on Fort Irwin to receive the P zer example by getting vaccinated first.

outdoor, in-person commencement, in (760) 380-3073 COVID-19 vaccine. Friday received the COVID-19 vaccine in the rst wave of
which the graduating class of 2021 was able Renita Wickes, Sta Writer/Photographer eir father, Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Friday, an observer, coach Fort Irwin personnel in December 2020.

to graduate together. (760) 380-3078 and trainer with Cobra Team, Operations Group, brought “Not only did I want it at that time, but I felt it was the
“Last year’s commencement was great, David Dupree, Sta Writer/Photographer them to get vaccinated as he assisted Weed Army Community right thing to do with rotational units coming through here,”

but this year’s commencement was greater,” (760) 380-8917 Hospital sta with vaccinating adults. Friday said. “Ultimately, one of my primary responsibilities out

said Michael Sullivan, Principal of Silver Casey Slusser, Sta Writer/Photographer For Friday, the decision to vaccinate his children was not so why wouldn’t I do this too?” he said. in the desert is safety of the unit, so if I’m putting them at risk
Valley High School. “Everyone worked (760) 380-3076 made lightly. Karyn Brunson, spouse of Col. LaHavie Brunson, the 916th by possibly exposing them to COVID, I’m not doing my job.”

together to honor all the students here Abraam Dawoud, Sta Writer/Photographer Both Brunson and her husband previously received the
graduating.” Photos from SVHS Aerotech News “ rough this entire pandemic I’ve been following updates, Sustainment Brigade commander, took her sons Alexander, 14, COVID-19 vaccine and felt it was important for their children
In total, 73 students graduated from “What do you say to a group, where all Emma Uribe, Graphic Designer following the research, making sure I understood what mRNA and Nicholas, 13, to receive their COVID-19 vaccines May 17 to be protected as well, she said.
was and how that process worked, how it was developed, the during a vaccine event at the Fort Irwin commissary.
Silver Valley High School, more than 30 of their achievements are already an inspira- safety and the risks that kind of go together with both, and my “We were glad that as teenagers, they could now be vacci-
which came from Fort Irwin. e graduat- tion to themselves?” said keynote speaker HIGH DESERT WARRIOR According to Brunson, she and her family discussed it with nated and share the same level of comfort as we do,” Brunson

ing seniors were gifted a senior hoodie, a and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Despite the global pandemic, the sta High Desert Warrior, a civilian enterprise newspaper, is an children have stayed in the same process,” he said. “ ey’ve the children’s health care provider, did research, and discussed said. “It should allow them to feel safer, especially as we embark
been interested in it.”
it with their 13 and 14-year-old sons.
on summer vacations and block leave.”

SVHS cup, a du e bag and even their own Fedorisin. “If everybody was an astronaut, and faculty of Silver Valley High School authorized publication for members of the United States Friday acknowledged that the decision to vaccinate children
SVHS-branded lawn chairs. there would be nobody to fuel the ship. urged the graduating seniors to stay in Army and Fort Irwin community. Contents of this newspaper “We felt the bene ts of being protected against COVID were Friday also said part of returning to pre-COVID normalcy

“While the Class of 2020 missed out on Treat others the way you wish to be treated, touch with not only their classmates, but are not necessarily o cial view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. 12 and older is a personal choice and one that made the most far too important to ignore, especially since it is the only path is the ability for families to travel.
Government, Department of Defense, Department of the
the last three months of their senior year, we make sure to tell folks thank you, and take with their educators as well. Army or Fort Irwin and the National Training Center. High sense for his family. back to normal,” she said. “I feel that getting as many people “ is gets us able to take our children wherever we want to go

Desert Warrior is prepared weekly by the Public A airs O ce,

did not have a typical senior year,” Valedic- pride in everything you do. As you look “To the graduating class of 2021, there National Training Center and Fort Irwin, P.O. Box 105067, “We want to do what’s right, at least for us, to stay healthy vaccinated is a step in the right direction toward safely getting and give them a life that has been on hold for almost two years
torian, Faith Nelson, said in her speech. “If back at your time in high school, do not is a saying, ‘iron sharpens iron,’ Sullivan Fort Irwin, CA, 92310-5067. Telephone: 380-4511 or DSN and stay safe, and I’ve done everything else in their lives to give back to normal.” now,” he said. “Get out and get vaccinated now – do your part.”
470-4511. FAX: 380-3075.
this academic year has taught us anything, look at it from a negative perspective-- em- said. “Keep in touch with each other, and High Desert Warrior is a digital publication, distributed monthly them the right inoculations to stay safe, the right shots for the e more people who are vaccinated, the safer it is for the For more information on Weed Army Community Hospital’s
it’s that distance doesn’t stop us.” brace it as the outstanding achievement that if there is anything you need, know that on Facebook, www.facebook.com/HighDesertWarrior/ as right situation that gives them a better chance of staying healthy, entire community, she said. COVID-19 e orts, visit https://weed-irwin.tricare.mil/.
well as emailed to base personnel It is produced at Aerotech
Perseverance was a common theme it is and say despite everything that is going the sta of Silver Valley High School will News and Review, (661) 945-5634.
throughout the day. on in the world, I thrived.” be here for you.” Aerotech News and Review is a private rm in no way Fort Irwin Medics Render Care to Passenger During Popular job fair returns to Fort

connected with the Department of the Army and is
Fort Irwin celebrates graduates with Parade, car show responsible for the commercial advertising found in this Cross-Country Flight Irwin for veterans, civilians
publication. Everything advertised in this publication will
be made available for purchase, use or patronage without
Escorted by the Fort Irwin Military regard to race, color, religion, sex, national orientation, age, By Kimberly Hackbarth

Police, the graduating seniors of Fort Irwin marital status, physical handicap or political a liation of
the purchaser, user or patron. A con rmed violation of this

were treated to a parade in their honor. policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in Weed Army Community Hospital Public A airs
refusal to print advertising from that source. The appearance
e event hosted by MWR also included of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an FORT IRWIN, Calif. — When Spc. Charles Duplessis and

a car show for the Fort Irwin Community. endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products Pfc. Zachary Flowers boarded a flight April 8 to North Carolina,
or services advertised.
“ e Sta of MWR were happy to assist Printed by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. (877) 247-9288, they had no idea they would put their skills as medical professionals

the community in celebrating our graduat- www.aerotechnews.com. to the test thousands of feet in the air.
ing seniors,” said Family, Morale, Welfare Thanks to their Army training, Duplessis and Flowers, both By Janell J. Lewis Ford
and Recreation Director Brandi Crist. Fort NEWSPAPER AWARDS combat medics with Weed Army Community Hospital, remained
Irwin families lined up at the Army Field 2nd Place, 2017 U.S. Army IMCOM calm while rendering care to a fellow passenger who su ered a sei- NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison Public A airs
holding makeshift signs congratulating the Newspaper Competition — Feature Photograph zure in the middle of the ight from California to North Carolina. FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Dozens of soldiers, veterans and civil-
graduating seniors and cheering them on. Honorable Mention, 2009 U.S. Army IMCOM-West During the ight, Flowers, a Plain City, Ohio native, said he “You always have to remain calm because it helps the patient, ians turned out for a job fair, hosted by the Fort Irwin Transition As-
Newspaper Competition — Tabloid category heard a commotion and saw a man having a seizure. When he it helps the bystanders, and it helps the family trust that you know sistance Program on May 27 at the Sandy Basin Community Center.
3rd Place, 2008 Dept. of the Army realized the ight attendants may need help, he identi ed himself what you’re doing,” said Duplessis. e event is usually held biannually, but was stalled in 2020, due
Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware and o ered to help. to the pandemic.
Newspaper Competition — Tabloid Category e incident served as a reminder why Duplessis, who joined
“The patient was not able to clearly and coherently express him- the Army in January 2019, chose his profession. More than two dozen employers from across California and
SEND US FEEDBACK self because he was in [the] postictal phase and he wasn’t adequately “It feels good helping people because that’s what I want to do Nevada met with job seekers. Companies included those from law
Send your questions, suggestions, or problems to: breathing,” Flowers said. enforcement, education, medical, defense contracts and more.
1. Your chain of command e postictal phase is the nal phase of a seizure when a per- in life; I want to help people,” he said. Businesses on post were also o ering jobs on the spot, so attendees
2. ICE (Interactive Customer Evaluation) For Flowers, his decision to respond to the situation was the
3. CG’s Hotline: 380-5463 son has stopped seizing and is returning to their normal state of same reason he joined the Army in June 2020. brought resumes with them and were able to have on-site interviews.
consciousness. The organizations that attended included the Army & Air Force
SOCIAL MEDIA Flowers then waved Duplessis over to provide additional as- “I feel a call to action to help other people who are in need or Exchange Services (AAFES), Calibre, Crown Lift Trucks, Federal
Instagram: @ntcfortirwin sistance. in danger,” he said. “I felt like volunteering my time could help Bureau of Prisons, Fresno Police Department, Silver Valley Uni ed
Facebook (NTC/Ft Irwin): @ntcFortIrwin “I talked to Flowers about what was going on and from there the outcome of this patient [and] I felt like I made a di erence.” School District, State of Nevada, Swift Transportation, U.S. Border

Facebook (Public A airs): @FtIrwin we just put some oxygen on [the passenger], got a history from his Duplessis, who was on the ight to go to paramedic school in Patrol, Walmart Fleet Maintenance, Weed Army Community Hos-
Twitter: @NTC_Update family that was there, and provided the care that we could with North Carolina with Flowers, said helping the passenger on the pital, as well as career skills programs such Airstreams Renewables,
what we had from the ight attendants,” said the Charlotte, N.C. plane made him even more motivated to attend the school. California Truck Driving Academy, Covered 6, Heavy Equipment
native. “For the rest of the ight we just reassessed his vitals and “It definitely made me more excited to come [to paramedic Colleges of America (HECOFA), San Bernardino County Fire De-
kept oxygen on him until we landed.” school] because I’ll get more advanced training on how I can assist partment, Universal Technical Institute (UTI), and human resources
Maintaining their professional bearing during stressful events people when they need it,” he said. positions in the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) and
is something Duplessis and Flowers both said they learned in their Duplessis and Flowers will remain in the paramedic course until Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF).
Photos by Abe Dawoud, Fort Irwin Public A airs

Army training and from their leaders at Weed ACH. August then return to Fort Irwin. To reach the Fort Irwin TAP office, call 760-380-5648/8509.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin