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MUSC reservists prepare to serve country by Cindy Abole Public Relations As American troops step up preparations for the prospect of war with Iraq, a group of MUSC individuals stand poised and ready to fulfill their duty and support their country in its time of need. More than 125 full-time MUSC students and staff serving as part-time servicemen and women supporting the U.S. military as reserve soldiers and airmen. Their “can-do” attitude, determination and courage are characteristics that distinguish them in their roles as professionals in the community. Neurology intensive care nurse Michael Earl, critical care and emergency services business assistant Cassandra Poole and ambulatory cardiology nurse Kandace Adams are among them.  Once a month and often several weeks a year, they don an armed forces uniform and take their place among others in a special role. With more than 250,000 reservists and National Guard troops already activated in the Operation Enduring Freedom effort, they share many concerns and challenges that affect their family, employers and community. “Reserve duty is far more demanding today than in previous years because of the current world situation,” said Kandace Adams, a U.S. Naval Reserve commander and ambulatory nurse with more than 19 years in both active duty and reserve service. Adams is officer-in-charge of a medical unit based in Augusta, Ga. Adams, a veteran nurse who served during Vietnam and the planned 1994 Haitian invasion,  coordinates specific plans and mobilization readiness for her unit while maintaining communica-tions with individuals who have recently become activated. Unlike most active duty personnel, reservists may come from other geographic areas outside of their command location. To stay in touch, Adams uses a phone tree and e-mail to remain in contact with unit personnel. She is directly involved in the morale of her unit by preparing individuals with more reality-based information.  “Like most reserve families, our biggest challenge is the lack of strong, localized support groups who are needed to guide and maintain families and coordinate support,” Adams said. “We make it our own unit’s responsibility to keep up with reservists and their families.”  Herself a mother of two daughters, ages 12 and 16, Adams, like others, has made care arrangements for her family once she is mobilized. She has talked with her children and prepared them for her absence and the reality of war.  “The hardest part is the waiting,” Adams said. “Many of us are anxiously waiting for the call to mobilize. For me, it’s a privilege to be in a position to potentially serve my country at this particular time.” Flight nurse dedicated to duty Seven-year MUSC nurse and Citadel alumnus Michael Earl is a captain in the Air Force Reserve’s 315th Air Medical Evacuation Squadron based in Charleston. Since last fall, he’s been in and out of his reserve and active duty roles traveling and working in areas such as Oman, Pakistan, Khandahar and Afghanistan. He’s cared for as many as 40 patients at a time to a single individual during these medical flights and stands ready for mobilization. Lately, he’s busy preparing paperwork, updating information and coordinating things like insurance, medical care, power-of-attorneys and wills. Unfortunately to Earl and many servicemen and women like him, free time today is a luxury. At this stage, he’s spending as much time with his family.  “We’ve got the best trained, most equipped army the world has ever seen,” Earl said, who is trained to care for victims with small cuts to injuries from chemical or biological attacks and gunshot wounds. “An unfortunate reality of war is its casualties, both military and civilians. The important thing is that we’ll be right there taking care of the wounded on both sides and passing no judgements.” A husband and father of two young children, Earl is proud of his roles as both nurse and serviceman. Like most military professionals, he recognizes that the mission must always come first.  “I love the military and all the challenges that go  with it,” Earl said, who credits his wife, Christina, for her strength and support in allowing him to do the thing he loves. “I’ve had the opportunity of working with some great people both in the military and at MUSC.” STNICU nurse manager Margaret Young is already struggling with the loss of two staff people in her area in addition to the prospect of losing Earl. Young works closely with her staff reservists to coordinate monthly drills, schedules and other related plans.  “The toughest thing in this situation is not knowing anything,” said Young. “They get little notice anyway, so preparation is key. As a manager, I have to go with the flow and replace individuals when necessary.” Young also makes an effort to encourage her reserve employees to organize their paperwork with Medical University Hospital Authority’s Human Resources. Information regarding updated insurance, tax status or other necessary information is an important part of their preparation. “Mike’s family and others are going through enough stress with the absence of their loved one,” Young said. “If we can walk them through specific forms and other human resources-related  issues then we can provide a great service to them.” To show their continued support, the STNICU maintains a small reminder of their colleague. In one corner of the unit is an encased U.S. flag that flew in Earl’s honor at a camp in Khandahar, below are several certificates praising Earl and a job well-done.  “This is just one way to show our pride and appreciation of Mike and all other servicemen and women for preserving our freedom and the philosophy of our country’s founding fathers,” Young said. Preparation is key Army reservist Cassandra Poole continues to play an active role in preparing the thousands of soldiers being deployed. A sergeant first-class, Poole is attached to the Army Reserve’s 1189th Transportation Terminal Brigade. Since Christmas, she’s only had one free weekend to herself. The rest of the time she has been busy in active duty work and preparation. “I feel comfortable,” said Poole, herself single with no dependents. “I’m glad to have some extra time to take care of personal issues as we wait and prepare for deployment. Right now, I’m as prepared as a person can be.” Asked what has been her hardest challenge so far? She pauses and speaks softly about her recent farewell to critical care co-worker Quantella Rivers-Bradley, an Army Reserve sergeant attached to the Army’s 596th Transportation Detachment out of Charleston. Rivers-Bradley leaves behind a husband and young child. But the dangers of war and conflict always loom around the troops. “No matter what happens, I’m reminded of the times I stood and took the oath—a commitment to my country to serve in both peace and war time,” Poole said, with determination. “I’m ready.”    Reserve couple supportive of military role The day-to-day hardships and coping connected with the absence of spouse reservists called to active duty is already an all-too-familiar story.  But for Frances (Fran) and Bob Zinko, deployment does not mean that life stops completely. The Zinkos are hard weekend travelers and share a unique hobby in music, specifically live drum and bugle corps performances. As of last month, their plans have changed. Fran is an operating room nurse anesthetist and also a major with 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. In early February, Fran received orders for a nine-month deployment in anticipation of an impending war with Iraq. She only had two-and-a-half weeks to prepare before reporting to Ft. Benning, Ga., for mobilization.  But this is not the first time the couple has spent time apart. They met more than 30 years ago as active duty members in the U.S. Air Force during the tail end of another military conflict, Vietnam.  During one tour of active duty, Bob and Fran spent a year apart. Bob, a dietary department specialist, was stationed at Albany Naval Air Station in Georgia, while Fran and their children stayed behind with family in Philadelphia.  Now that the roles are reversed, the couple feels less stressed, better prepared and comfortable with things at this stage in their lives. The children are grown and gone and the two have become close rediscovering life as a couple again. “We both understand her duty and obligation to serve our country at this time of need,” Bob said. “Although I miss her very much, I feel I can handle it today because of our circumstances. Things are a lot easier for me knowing that she’ll be safe and secure.” For now, the Zinkos live their days separately. Fran is in Germany awaiting further orders, while Bob handles food express services for the dietetic services department and manages their household. Occasionally, he’ll attend drum and bugle corps performances finding rapport and support with friends and awaiting Fran’s homecoming.     Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.