An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Local News | July 28, 2025

Medical Rodeo: Vital to Providing Medically Ready and Ready Medical Forces

By Robert Hammer, Defense Health Agency Communications

Andrew Rader Army Health Clinic, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, hosted its monthly, walk-in health readiness rodeo designed to “enable the readiness of our joint force,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Matack, the clinic’s senior enlisted leader. The rodeo was held on July 18, 2025.

The rodeo aims to ensure service members in the National Capital Region are ready to deploy by offering fast and complete care. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines can update medical records, complete exams, and get cleared for duty—all in a single visit. 

“There are dozens of examinations and training requirements that must be completed before a service member is considered deployable,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kenyon Simmons, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. “A medical readiness event, like this rodeo, brings together medical professionals under one roof who can efficiently check off a lot of these boxes. The streamlined process makes it much easier to ensure the readiness of our warfighters to deploy at a moment’s notice.” 

These events streamline routine care by providing services such as immunizations, labs, vision, hearing, and periodic health assessments, allowing service members to stay focused on training and mission tasks without prolonged clinic wait times, according to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Emilio Rios, the clinic’s noncommissioned officer in charge. 

Medical ‘team effort’ 

Each readiness event is coordinated across multiple military health units. “It’s a team effort across the installation to utilize all of our providers, staff, and medics to support this event to ensure the readiness of warfighters who attend from across the NCR,” said Matack. 

Bringing in professionals from multiple departments and locations is key for the success of the rodeo, according to U.S. Army Capt. Anna Zhang, clinic director of readiness and optometry. “While a majority of core staff are from Rader, we also call upon medics from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and providers from McNair Health Clinic.” 

“Our monthly readiness rodeos provide service members with an opportunity to address all their medical readiness concerns in one visit,” Zhang added. “Vision, immunizations, audiology, and laboratory services are available on a walk-in basis daily at Andrew Rader Health Clinic—but on rodeo days, we have providers performing the periodic health assessment as a walk-in service as well.” 

Health readiness rodeos ensure ready medical force 

The rodeo isn’t just good for troops. It also strengthens medical staff. Matack emphasized the critical, multiple roles of his medics to ensure service members meet mission demands, calling them the “Swiss-Army knives” of the team. He credited Rios, and active duty logistics and medical staff for their work to “cross-train their medics to make them more versatile.”  

“Our medics and staff get regular, hands-on experience across multiple readiness tasks, keeping their clinical skills sharp and ensuring they’re just as ready to deploy as the service members they support,” said Rios. 

Busy rodeo events help them get practice working quickly and effectively, he said, skills they’ll need during emergencies or deployments. “Our high-traffic rodeo days can help our healthcare professionals hone their ability to efficiently and effectively operate at scale if and when necessary,” said Zhang. 

Medics crucial in battlefield and at home 

The health readiness rodeo is testament to the crucial trust between provider and patient. “As warfighters, we would not be able to accomplish our mission without medics and other healthcare professionals,” Simmons said. “Every time we step on the battlefield, we’re comforted to know that a medic is nearby. If we get hit, our survivability rate goes up exponentially when the medic responds to us quickly.” 

In today’s high-demand operational environment, that trust is essential to mission success. “Trust is the foundation of a patient-provider relationship,” Zhang said. “Patients depend on healthcare professionals to fix and address their ailments, which makes them feel safe, creating mental resilience.” 

The services offered by the rodeo cultivate this trust, and “ultimately, preserve the fighting force,” she said. 

The event, ultimately, demonstrates one crucial constant: the unwavering support of the medics, health professionals, and the Defense Health Agency to ensure warfighter readiness. “A medically ready force is a ready force,” Zhang said. “By ensuring our service members have every opportunity to maintain their well-being, we enable our warfighters to deploy on a dime to win America’s battles.”
 

Image of kissing bug. Text reads: "THE KISSING BUG: The triatomine bug. Contact a healthcare professional if you have been bitten by a kissing bug."

Not All Kisses Are Sweet

Local News
Sep. 09, 2025

Kissing bugs can carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi that causes the potentially fatal Chagas disease.
Read More
Uniformed service members hug and hold flowers standing in front of ship.

Get Support from the Military Health System 'At ...

Local News
Sep. 03, 2025

The Military Health System has many resources to support your mental health. Therapy is one tool proven to...
Read More
Image of person using laptop to visit findDHA tool.

The Search Is Over! Defense Health Agency Unveil...

Local News
Sep. 03, 2025

The Defense Health Agency launched a new online, interactive tool, findDHA, which allows users to search for...
Read More
Hands holding cell phone open to "Sports Betting" app. TV in background showing football game says, "Learn Safe Gambling Strategies."

Learn Safe-Gambling Strategies: Avoid Negative I...

Local News
Sep. 03, 2025

Research indicates certain factors associated with military service increase the risk for gambling problems...
Read More
Shadowy image of five soldiers standing outside next to a tank in the dark. Text reads: "Real Warriors, Real Battles, Real Strength."

Identifying Warning Signs of Suicide on Social M...

Local News
Sep. 02, 2025

If someone you know makes comments about suicide or expresses emotional pain online, always take them...
Read More
Uniformed service member climbing obstacle outdoors

USARIEM Researchers Find Potential Genetic Marke...

Local News
Aug. 26, 2025

The biomarker for stress adaptability could lead to new ways to treat stress disorders like PTSD.
Read More
Service member leans over microscope and looks at tick.

Tick Talk: Prevention and Protection

Local News
Aug. 19, 2025

There are several types of ticks that transmit diseases to humans, the most common ones are blacklegged ticks...
Read More
Outline of man made out of leaves running next to group of vegetables. Text reads: "Nutrition is an Important Element of Recovery. DHA Public Health"

Nutrition Strategies Fuel Recovery Following Mus...

Local News
Aug. 19, 2025

According to Defense Health Agency–Public Health, more than 95% of active duty military personnel’s injuries...
Read More

Sept. 9, 2025

Not All Kisses Are Sweet

Kissing bugs can carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi that causes the potentially fatal Chagas disease.

Sept. 3, 2025

Get Support from the Military Health System 'At the Moment You Need it Most'

The Military Health System has many resources to support your mental health. Therapy is one tool proven to work. Whether it’s in-person, virtual, or group therapy, or other tools needed during a crisis — mental health support sustains military readiness.

Sept. 3, 2025

The Search Is Over! Defense Health Agency Unveils findDHA — a Dynamic, Online Search Tool

The Defense Health Agency launched a new online, interactive tool, findDHA, which allows users to search for DHA locations around the globe. Finding a DHA facility has never been easier.

Sept. 3, 2025

Learn Safe-Gambling Strategies: Avoid Negative Impacts to Health, Finances

Research indicates certain factors associated with military service increase the risk for gambling problems among those actively serving and for those who served. While gambling is generally considered recreational, it can adversely impact military personnel, their families, and unit readiness. A way to reduce the harm that can result from gambling is to practice safe gambling techniques.

Sept. 2, 2025

Identifying Warning Signs of Suicide on Social Media

If someone you know makes comments about suicide or expresses emotional pain online, always take them seriously. Whether it's a single post or multiple, do not ignore them.

Aug. 26, 2025

USARIEM Researchers Find Potential Genetic Marker for Resilience

The biomarker for stress adaptability could lead to new ways to treat stress disorders like PTSD.

Aug. 19, 2025

Tick Talk: Prevention and Protection

There are several types of ticks that transmit diseases to humans, the most common ones are blacklegged ticks that transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.

Aug. 19, 2025

Nutrition Strategies Fuel Recovery Following Musculoskeletal Injury

According to Defense Health Agency–Public Health, more than 95% of active duty military personnel’s injuries are musculoskeletal and are the leading reason for military medical visits.

Aug. 12, 2025

West Nile Virus Cases on the Rise

The Fort Carson Public Health Team is warning the community to take steps to prevent against West Nile Virus infection. West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in Colorado and has been affecting Coloradans since 2002. In Colorado, the majority of human WNV cases occur in August and September. So far this year, Colorado has reported nine human cases of WNV and one adult death.

Aug. 4, 2025

BRAVE Virtual Mental Health Helps All Service Members Get Therapy

BRAVE augments local mental health services with video teleconferencing at facilities where mental health services may be in short supply.