by Renee Felton, staff contributor, American Red Cross North Texas
Our own Paula LeBov is deploying to Kuwait to help manage the American Red Cross office at Camp Arifjan.
Paula, an American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program specialist based in Fort Worth, recently retired after a 24-year career as a combat medic for the U.S. Army. Here in North Texas, she helps serve our local military service members, veterans and their families.
On Wednesday, January 9 Paula will depart for a one-year assignment in Kuwait, where her mission will focus on delivering our emergency communication services, facilitating resiliency programs and providing morale-boosting activities for service members.
As a graduate of the first U.S. Army Master Resilience Trainer course in 2008, Paula became a certified resiliency instructor and teaches soldiers and veterans effective skills and tools for coping with stress and altering unhealthy perceptions and situations. The program’s ultimate goal is to see a measurable shift in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I approach my position as a master resiliency trainer with determination and passion,” LeBov said. “After serving multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the horrors of combat will forever be etched in my mind. And then there are the post-deployment horrors facing my fellow servicemen and women including suicide, substance abuse and domestic violence.
“Repeatedly witnessing my fellow soldiers in emotional pain was the driving force behind my passion for the resiliency program. I’m honored to be going to Kuwait to continue serving on behalf of the American Red Cross.”
While in the Army, Paula was appointed to serve as the master resiliency trainer for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. She has continued to teach these courses since joining the Red Cross in April 2018.
“On behalf of the American Red Cross, I want to thank Paula for her commitment to serving her fellow service members and for her continued service to our country,” said Keith Rhodes, CEO, American Red Cross North Texas Region. “We know that Paula will make a lasting impact on the individuals she meets at Camp Arifjan and we wish her the very best on her deployment.”
We know Paula will make us proud and are excited for her to embark on this essential mission.
Interested in learning more about how the American Red Cross supports our troops, veterans and their families year-round? Download the FREE ‘Hero Care App‘ or visit www.redcross.org/military.
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