Volunteers Help Collect Blood to Save 5,000 Military Lives

Forty-nine Civil Air Patrol volunteers just helped save thousands of military lives without leaving U.S. soil.

In January, the volunteers supported blood drives at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Over eight days, they helped collect 1,581 units of blood from cadets, midshipmen, faculty, and staff at both academies.

The Naval Academy collected 806 units over four days, while West Point gathered 775 units during their event. Civil Air Patrol members handled setup, logistics, and administrative tasks that kept the donation centers running smoothly.

Lt. Col. Jean-Marie Nixon led teams from Delaware, National Capital, and Maryland wings at Annapolis. Col. William Martin, former New York Wing commander, guided efforts at West Point.

The blood collected goes directly to support combat casualty care overseas through the Armed Services Blood Program. After the Kabul Airport bombing, blood collected at a similar Texas event was immediately airlifted to support wounded service members evacuated to Germany and Washington, D.C.

This marked the first time Civil Air Patrol supported a Naval Academy blood drive, though they've backed six similar events at West Point and seven at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The organization is now scheduled to support future drives at all three military academies.

The Ripple Effect

Operation Pulse Lift has grown far beyond these two academies. To date, the program has collected more than 30,000 units of blood across 22 military installations in 13 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Each unit of blood can save up to three lives, meaning this single January effort could help nearly 5,000 people. That includes service members injured in training or combat, family members needing surgery, and anyone receiving care at military medical facilities worldwide.

Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, demonstrates how volunteer work at home creates global impact for those who serve.