(Press Release) — The U.S. Army is on Saipan to provide veterinary services at no cost to the local community as part of the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training program, or IRT.
Licensed veterinaries and veterinary technicians from the 445th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service or MDVS will perform surgical procedures, vaccinations, and physical exams on local animals and pets.
“Our primary mission will be performing Veterinary surgeries and vaccinating dogs for some of the more common diseases that affect them in an effort to increase the quality of life for both the animals and the residents that share the space on the Island of Saipan,” said LTC Brian Collins of the 445th MDVS.
“The 445th Veterinary Services is proud to be a part of this community effort, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Saipan Cares for Animals, Boonie Babies, and many other citizens and groups and we look forward to getting to know the people and their pets, and enjoying the hospitality that Saipan offers.”
Spay and neuter operations will be offered at the Saipan Cares for Animals clinic in Gualo Rai, while a vaccination clinic will be conducted at the Gualo Rai Youth Center. This no cost service is available to the public on a first come basis, and while vaccination supplies last.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, for his part, extends his appreciation to the IRT leadership and the 445th MDVS for their partnership, and he encourages members of the community to take advantage of this no cost veterinary service.
“I would like to thank Col, George Koklanaris, deputy director of Civil-Military Engagement of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Maj Daniel LaVorgna, IRT program manager, and the 445th MDVS Veterinary Team for providing this service to our community,” Governor Torres said.
“Thank you for bringing this critical service to our island and for making it available to our community at no cost. This mutual benefit demonstrates the larger commitment for a stronger and enduring partnership between the CNMI and the Department of Defense.”
Civil-military partnership
CNMI Bureau of Military Affairs Special Assistant Glenna Palacios extended her appreciation to Major LaVorgna and the 445th Medical Detachment Veterinary Team for their partnership.
The CNMI Bureau of Military Affairs, she said, is mandated, in part, “to facilitate the integration of military personnel into our community; to seek out employment and economic development opportunities; and to pursue a mutually beneficial partnership between the CNMI and Department of Defense, among other things.”
To meet these mandates, Palacios said the bureau established a Community Relations Program and is tapping into DoD programs that provide mutual benefits to the military and the community.
“The team is comprised of medical experts from the U.S. Army Reserve and the 807th Medical Command based out of Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah,” Palacios said. “The advance team arrived on Wednesday while the rest of the team will be arriving on Friday. The project will kick off with a soft opening this Saturday and Sunday, followed with a full operation on Monday, June 20.”
The Innovative Readiness Training or IRT mission is a premier military training to enhance readiness and survivability in contingency environment while providing direct benefit to communities.
IRT is a program under the Secretary of Defense that allows service members to work with local communities in need of assistance while military personnel deployed for the mission get hands-on, real world training.
In photo are government and community partners of the 445th MDVS Soldiers: Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs Special Assistant Glenna S. Palacios and team, Boonie Babies’ Aria and Gracelynn Keilbach, Saipan Cares for Animals Director Beth Pliscou, CNMI Youth Affairs Office Special Assistant Ali Ogo and team, Indo-Pacific Command Liaison Officer Capt. Kimberlyn Hofschneider, MSG Jennifer Bunch, LTC Kenneth B. Collins, SPC Shalleica Bowen of the 445th MDVS, Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority Special Assistant Alfreda Camacho Maratita and team, SAAR Hope Recovery Program Special Assistant Yvette Sablan and team.
