WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and The Army Reserve will hold an Innovative Readiness Training Program (IRT) medical training event in partnership with the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, Inc. (HRDC) and the Allegany County Health Department. The event will take place over a two week period during which military medical professionals will receive real-world training opportunities while providing necessary dental and medical services to Maryland communities in need.
“IRT programs allow for our military to constantly bolster their readiness, while providing important services to our communities”, said Senator Cardin. “I am confident that the best practices developed by The Department of Defense with the help of the citizens and Government of Allegany County will save lives around the world. This program is a prime example of federal and local assets uniting to improve the lives of Marylanders.”
“A stronger America begins at home,” said Senator Mikulski. “As Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I want the best training for our troops and the best value for our dollar. The Innovative Readiness Training program is a fine example of our military working to provide real-world experience for our troops while strengthening American communities by delivering crucial medical services to individuals in need.”
During this event, between 60 and 80 military medical professionals will be housed locally in Allegany County and will provide medical services to community members free of charge. Proposed services include restorative and preventive dental care, vision, behavioral management, and endocrinology. HRDC estimates the program will benefit between 7,500 and 10,000 Marylanders. The event will be held August 11-23, 2014, at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland.
The HRDC is a private, non-profit in Allegany County dedicated to eliminating social and economic barriers for the people it serves, and promoting individual and community stability through services, advocacy and collaboration. Its programs reach one out of every three residents in Allegany County. For more information, please visit www.alleganyhrdc.org.
The purpose of the IRT Civil-Military Program is to improve military readiness while simultaneously providing quality services to communities throughout America. The programs are in keeping with a long military tradition, leveraging training to benefit both units and their home communities. Recent projects have included medical training events in Montana and Alabama, engineering support events in South Dakota and Alaska, and diving/transportation support off the coast of South Carolina. For more information, please visit irt.defense.gov.
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