Ambassador Program

Good News Stories

Our Army Medicine Ambassadors are a critical link to our non-choir Army Medicine audiences across America and serve as champions of the great achievements and advancements in military medicine and technology. To facilitate that effort we offer you a sampling of recent good news stories you can share with public with whom you interact. Together, the American public can become better informed of the great care Army Medicine provides to it sons and daughters who sacrifice so much in defense of our Nation.

Readiness is our number one priority. Our Primary mission is supporting the war fighter, from the battlefield...to the garrison.

The ribbon was officially cut on the new U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Soldier Medical Readiness Center, April 15, at the facility located on Rose Barracks. Commander of the Bavaria Health Command, Col. David G. Richardson, along with BHC deputies and leaders of the SMRC, cut the ribbon in the renovated 2,648 square-foot facility, which was previously a part of the Vilseck Health Clinic before it opened the doors on its new building last year.

Brooke Army Medical Center celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of "New BAMC" April 13 with a ceremony in the San Antonio Military Medical Center Medical Mall. BAMC's history dates back to 1879 when the first post hospital opened as a small medical dispensary located in a single story wooden building on Fort Sam Houston. Following years of planning and construction, on July 18, 1995, the new seven story medical center built on the eastern edge of Fort Sam Houston was turned over to the BAMC commander and on March 16, 1996, the new facility was officially dedicated. Then on April 13, 1996, 20 years ago, the "New BAMC" officially opened with the transfer of all inpatients from "Old BAMC" to the new campus.

Lucca, a U.S. Marine Corps specialized search dog, made history when she received the United Kingdom's People's Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal, considered the highest military honor for animals world-wide, on April 5, 2016. As part of the Military Working Dog program, over her six-year career, Lucca personally ensured the safe return of all the American troops she accompanied on more than 400 patrols she completed during three deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

A Special Forces noncommissioned officer has returned to full active duty service two and a half years after his hand was amputated to free him from underneath a vehicle before a suicide bomber could strike a deadly blow against him and his team. Sgt. 1st Class Ivan Morera, a Miami native and a Special Forces Medic, continues to serve with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), despite being severely wounded in a vehicle roll-over in Afghanistan.

Madigan Army Medical Center is working to open an autism center for military families at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The center is scheduled to open early next year.

In the Army, “we do more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day” is a standard bit of military bravado. It’s as much about the discipline instilled in soldiers as it is about the fact that their strenuous training takes place under less-than-ideal health conditions … That’s partly why 10 percent of active duty soldiers have a diagnosed sleep disorder, and almost half have a “clinically significant” sleep problem, according to a report the Army released last year.