More "salutes" for military MLTs - Readers Respond - Letter to the Editor

Medical Laboratory Observer, Feb, 2004

Thank you for writing and running the article on laboratory personnel in the United States Armed Forces ("Where the heroes are: A tribute to military MLTs," December 2003, p. 22). The military's outstanding training programs for MLTs, MTs, and SBBs graduate people who will become leaders in our profession.

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I had the honor and pleasure of working with and leading these outstanding, highly trained, and motivated individuals during my military career. They understand the fundamentals of the work they do and how they fit into the healthcare team.

Military laboratory personnel are dedicated to their profession and have a very positive attitude about the quality of their work. Additionally, they are resourceful, able to work in a variety of conditions, without compromising either the accuracy of their work or patient care. They come to the laboratory each day, ready to take on the challenges before them.

Their laboratory skills and work ethic, learned in military schools and on the job, are carried into the civilian sector when they leave the military. This makes them strong candidates for positions, both technical and leadership, in our hospital laboratories. As they transition from the military, they will help resolve the leadership and technical personnel shortages we expect in the coming years. Again, it is always a pleasure to read positive stories about our men and women in the military.

--Ellis M. Frohman, MA, MT(ASCP) SBB, CLS(NCA)

Major, United States Army Retired

Director, Department of Laboratories

Barnes-Jewish Hospital

St. Louis, MO

As a reservist, I would like to commend you on acknowledging the military medical laboratory professionals who are serving our nation here and abroad. I am writing today to see how I can obtain additional information on career opportunities with the MSC.

--Devorah Alexander, MBA,MT(ASCP), PNSN

Cheektowaga, NY

I really enjoyed your article, "Where the heroes are: A tribute to military MLTs." It hit very close to home for me. Back in the 50s, after being transferred from Korea to Japan, I became one of those 'military MLTs.' It was there I received training as a medical technologist that has proven a lifelong profession. Those days at the Medical Department Technology School, the 28th General Hospital, the 406th General Laboratory, and the 8th Station Hospital will never be forgotten or replaced. Thank you for a well-written article, and thanks to the men and women who still are the MLTs of the United States Armed Forces.

--Harry A. Taylor, PhD, AACP

Clinical Pathology Retired

Cortland, OR

Editor's note: We received an e-mail from Maj. Martin Tenney in Iraq regarding the article about his current experiences: "Thank you very much. I hope you have a safe and Happy New Year. The 28th Combat Support Hospital will be home by March." Safe journey, troops!

MLO welcomes letters to the editor. We ask that you include a phone number for verification. While we prefer to publish the writer's name, we will publish a letter with "name withheld by request," but our editorial staff must have the writer's name confirmed for our files. MLO reserves the right to edit any letter for style and length.