By Carl Norman, Fort Leonard Wood ASBP recruiter
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (April 16, 2025) — Famous painter Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” That rings especially true when it comes to Company C, 554th Engineer Battalion Soldiers giving blood to the Armed Services Blood Program.
The company’s 24 cadre instruct warrant officer basic, advance and intermediate courses for construction engineer technicians, geospatial engineer technicians and engineer equipment maintenance technicians. They’re also responsible for all Engineer Captains Career Course students, active duty and Reserve. Approximately 807 students come through their doors each year in classes ranging from seven to 50 students, every two to 24 weeks.
In 2022, Company C conducted an Armed Services Blood Program blood drive which tallied only five eligible donors. Former first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Donald Archambault, along with a disappointed leadership team, thought they could do better despite their smaller size.
Better they did — in 2024, with Archambault leading the initial charge, Company C conducted 14 blood drives that logged 160 eligible donors, approximately 20 percent of their student capacity, which would supply enough blood to treat 39 casualties on the battlefield.
1st Sgt. Jay Shields, current first sergeant, kept the blood donation momentum going when he took over for Archambault later in 2024. Company C finished the year ranked No. 10 of 62 units donating blood at the Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center and are regular donors going into 2025.
“We’re thankful for the emphasis Charlie Company’s leadership put on giving and the donors who came out as a result,” said Capt. Nicholas Greene, donor center officer in charge. “Without them, we couldn’t accomplish our mission. This proves that compassion doesn’t come in a particular size – each company and donor is important.”
Shields said the increase in Company C’s donor participation came from the command team stressing the importance of providing a valuable resource to a life-saving program.
“We provide information about the ASBP to all students during our company in-processing brief and empower class leaders to schedule blood drives when training schedules allow,” he said. “This highlights our Soldiers’ selfless service and commitment to support our teammates in need during stressful and sometimes life-threatening situations.”
Shields said he’s proud of his unit’s accomplishment and the compassion they show for others.
“I work with true professionals,” he said. “Their selfless acts epitomize what it means to be a team. I’m truly lucky to serve with Soldiers who take the Army Values to heart and exemplify the humanity of those who have committed to a life of service.”
Although Company C is one of the smaller companies in terms of class size and course length, Shields said their influence goes far beyond the donor bed.
“Any donation to this mission-critical program is vital to improving the overall readiness of our Army,” he said. “Although everyone’s not capable of donating blood due to life factors, those who can have a significant impact. Especially, when their blood type is in critical need due to shortages.”
The ASBP is the official blood program for the Department of Defense with a two-part mission. First, it provides 100% of blood and blood products to service members being treated at deployed locations around the world. Once that need is met, the ASBP provides blood to military treatment facilities to treat an estimated 1.3 million service members, their families, retirees and veterans at installations around the world.
While Greene thanks everyone in Company C for giving, he encourages them to continue and asks others to follow their example because the need for blood is great and constant.
“We need to collect as much blood as often as we can because every day someone, somewhere needs it,” Greene said. “We cannot get people the blood products they need without volunteers giving it. If you have your health, celebrate it by giving blood to those who are not as fortunate.”
The Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center is located in Building 759A at the corner of West 11th Street and Buckeye. The staff conducts unit blood drives Sunday through Wednesday and accepts individual walk-in donors from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. For more information, call 573.596.6150.
-30-
About Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.
Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.
Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.