Story By HM1(SW/AW) Kristen Gordon and HM1(FMF) Giankenneth Molina

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- For two Navy corpsmen assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Annapolis, readiness means ensuring lifesaving blood products are available wherever the mission demands — from military treatment facilities and deployed operations to naval vessels and contingency response missions around the globe.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Kristen Gordon and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Giankenneth Molina serve at the Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Laboratory-East (ASWBPL-East), one of two Department of Defense blood processing laboratory facilities responsible for the receipt, testing, storage, and distribution of critical blood products supporting combat operations and global medical readiness.

Operated by the Defense Health Agency, ASWBPL-East supports Combatant Commands worldwide through a joint team of Army, Navy, and Air Force medical personnel working to sustain operational blood capabilities across the force.

As part of the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command construct, Gordon and Molina contribute directly to the generation of medically ready forces capable of supporting expeditionary and operational missions across the Fleet and Joint Force.

“The mission here is bigger than the lab itself,” said Gordon. “Every unit processed and every procedure completed has the potential to impact a patient somewhere in the world during a critical moment.”

The laboratory manages a wide range of blood products, including whole blood, plasma, platelets, and specialized products used in emergencies and austere medical environments. ASWBPL-East also plays a key role in advancing battlefield medicine through the Spray-Dried Plasma Initiative, an effort designed to improve access to plasma transfusions in operational settings where traditional blood storage and transportation may be limited.

As part of this initiative, Gordon became the first Sailor trained in spray-dried plasma production, supporting the Department of Defense effort to expand rapidly deployable blood capabilities for future conflicts and contingency operations.

“Training in the production of spray-dried plasma showed me the level of precision and discipline required to turn a critical resource into a safe, reliable product,” said Gordon. “Every step matters because the end result has real-world impact that goes far beyond the lab.”

Beyond combat operations support, ASWBPL-East provides blood products to military treatment facilities, naval vessels, special missions, Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and national-level operations, including support to NASA’s Artemis II exploration mission.

Through highly specialized laboratory expertise and operational medical support, Sailors assigned to NMRTC Annapolis continue to strengthen the Navy Medicine mission of delivering medically ready forces and ready medical forces in support of the Fleet, Joint Force, and national defense.

NMRTC Annapolis develops medically ready forces capable of supporting Fleet, joint, and expeditionary operations worldwide while delivering force health readiness and operational medical support in support of the national defense mission.