May 28, 2017

To Whom It May Concern,

I have had the pleasure of working with CPT Tameca Dale the last years in my position of
Chief Nurse at the 7455th Medical Backfill Battalion (MBB). I am an Army Reservist. My
position as an Army Reservist afforded me the opportunity to have oversight of CPT Dale as
the Battalion Clinical Operations Officer in Charge (OIC) as her immediate supervisor. CPT
Dale is an Active Guard Reserve (AGR), so her position is a full time position with our
reserve unit. Her duties and responsibilities included soldier readiness for annual training
missions and possible deployment. Readiness encompasses many things, with Medical
Readiness of the individual soldiers and training readiness as the primary focus of CPT Dales
efforts. During this time period, CPT Dale served under two commanders, both highly
qualified in their responsibilities, but also with very different leadership styles and vision for
the Battalion. Our Battalion also went through some transition period. Formerly the 4204 th
United States Army Hospital to the 7455 th MBB, CPT Dale witnessed a great change in the
structure of the Battalion as well as the scope of the Direct Reporting Units (DRUs). We
began with 3 DRUs to 5 DRUs. Another big obstacle for CPT Dale was the lack of other AGR
staff, so consequently, CPT Dale picked up many additional duties and responsibilities that
did not pertain to her position as Clinical Operations Officer. Selfless Service and dedication
had to be the hallmark of CPT Dales attitude in order to continue the work that was needed of
her to take care of the soldiers in her Battalion and to serve at the direction of her commander.

The greatest challenge that I did observe for CPT Dale was the area of communication. With
an ever changing command, command structure, fluid battle rosters with soldiers coming and
going, and the additional DRUs within our command, it was very challenging to keep clear
lines of communications open. Even with those obstacles, the ever present obstacle of having
full time staff and then the drilling reservists from all over the country, meeting once a month
for battle assemblies while other demands for soldier training and readiness in those very
short weekends made it difficult to meet all the communications needs necessary for soldiers
to be completely in understanding of the requirements of their duties. Email communications
was often sporadic with many of the soldiers within the command. It is greatly emphasized for
the military soldiers to work through their first line leaders. There is structure and it is highly
valued and enforced. This was the focus of CPT Dales project on communication, to develop
a means to improve the communication between the leaders and their soldiers between the
battle assemblies, to improve soldier readiness and accountability.

This is CPT Dales first assignment as an AGR Nurse. She has grown in her understanding of
Clinical Operations and the administrative duties it entails. She has learned multiple systems,
learned to prioritize and keep a log of her activities and efforts. She has worked toward
closing the loop on communications. CPT Dale has become the subject matter expert in all
areas of
medical readiness for our soldiers. Her dedication to service and her willingness to do what
needed to be done for the success of the mission and to serve the commanders vision were
evident. Her bottom line is taking care of soldiers. Tameca's current position has provided a
solid base of understanding for future assignment as an AGR Nurse.

Christina M Lyerla, RN, APN, CRNA, MSA

COL/Army Nurse
7455th MBB
500 SW 42nd Street
Topeka, KS 66609
314-749-7727
Employed by:
Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Anesthesia
660 South Euclid Ave. Box 8054 St.
Louis, MO 63110
tinaly.erla@wustl.edu