Blood Drive

A phlebologist draws blood from a donor during the Air Force Academy's Armed Forces Blood Drive Monday. Medical personnel from eight military installations across the country came to the Academy to conduct the Armed Services Blood Program's annual three-day event, which continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Wednesday at Arnold Hall. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Gino Mattorano)

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Blood Drive

Cadet 1st Class Kevin Loudermilk participates in the Armed Forces Blood Drive Sept. 12, 2011, with help from Senior Airman Thomas O'Neal, a phlebologist with the 81st Diagnostic and Therapeutic Squadron from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. O'Neal and 66 other medical personnel from eight military installations across the country came to the Academy to conduct the Armed Services Blood Program's annual three-day event, which continues through Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Arnold Hall. Loudermilk was the Cadet Wing commander during the summer semester and is assigned to Cadet Squadron 10. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Gino Mattorano)

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Academy hosts Armed Forces Blood Drive

Published Sept. 13, 2011
By Gino Mattorano
Air Force Academy Public Affairs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy is hosting an Armed Forces Blood Drive through Wednesday at Arnold Hall.

The annual event is sponsored by the Armed Services Blood Program, a joint operation that collects, processes, stores, distributes and transfuses blood worldwide.

Lori Kuczmanski, an ASBP blood donor coordinator, said the blood collected directly supports overseas contingency operations.

"We've been coming to the Academy since 2005 and we always great support from the cadets," Kuczmanski said. "We also have a lot of support from the staff, the retiree population and the local community."

Nearly 70 medical technicians from eight Armed Services Blood Program donor centers across the United States are here to collect and process an anticipated 1,400 units of blood.

The three-day event began Monday and continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Wednesday at Arnold Hall.