FRCSE supports troops through ASBP blood drive

The mission of FRCSE is providing aviation maintenance solutions that satisfy Navy Warfighters' demands. For more than a decade, the workforce at FRCSE has also adopted the philosophy of ensuring the local community, along with the Warfighters, have life-saving blood on hand when needed.

FRCSE is a leader in blood donations, hosting several blood drives and collecting hundreds of units every year.

This was the second blood drive held at FRCSE by the ASBP team, following its inaugural blood drive in August of 2008. After hearing about the willing donors at FRCSE, officials from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Ft. Gordon, Ga., approached FRCSE leadership about making it an annual event.

ASBP mission leader, Staff Sgt. Eric Longacre stated, "One of the best ways to give back to the men and women who protect our country is donating blood through our program. It's a pleasure for us to come to NAS Jacksonville where the personnel we meet directly contribute to our ability to protect our brothers in arms overseas."

ASBP personnel arrived at FRCSE after a five-hour drive from Ft. Gordon, to set up and prepare for a full day's work. FRCSE provided the space and the ASBP folks took over from there. With typical military precision, the staff unloaded their five-ton truck of all the necessary supplies to conduct the blood drive.

The ASBP team is made up of 17 Army reservists and three civilians. The reservists are part of a mobilized unit, all of whom voluntarily extended from one to three years, and the civilians are full time phlebotomists.

The ASBP team serves the Southeast Region, which extends across three states including South Carolina and Georgia.

FRCSE was recently recognized for its consistent accomplishments in blood donations by being awarded the Florida Association of Blood Banks Award.