The article “Expanding Support Roles for 10th Medical Regiment: Pre and Post Health Screenings of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen” by Colonel (MD) H. Wayne Nelson, Ph.D. details how the Maryland Defense Force’s 10th Medical Regiment (10MEDRGT) became one of the most active and innovative medical commands in any State Defense Force through its partnership with the Maryland National Guard (MDNG). It highlights the regiment’s critical role in conducting Post-Deployment Health Reassessments (PDHRA) for returning soldiers and airmen—screenings designed to identify lingering physical or mental health issues such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety following overseas service. The article describes how MDDF clinicians, psychiatrists, and behavioral health specialists volunteered to perform these assessments, which were once handled only by federal contractors, leading to early detection and treatment for many service members. The success of this initiative expanded the 10th Medical Regiment’s responsibilities to include Family Assistance and Soldier Reintegration programs, Periodic Health Assessments (PHAs), and Soldier Readiness Programs, providing mental health support, training, and outreach to service members and their families. Nelson concludes that through these initiatives, the 10th Medical Regiment has proven itself an indispensable asset to the Maryland National Guard, living up to its motto Officio Vocante Parati—“Ready when called.”
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