ASBP is the military’s only blood donor program for service members, their families, retirees, veterans, and local communities worldwide, helping those in critical need. Both whole blood and COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) from those who have recovered from COVID-19 remain in high demand. All 21 donor centers adhere to CDC guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Ashley Thompson not only advocates for the Armed Services Blood Program on a regular basis, she also participates whenever she can.

As ‘A’ school instructor at Navy Medical Training Support Command’ Hospital Corpsman School, the Navesink, New Jersey-native’s primary role is to teach initial entry or fleet returnee students. This allows for mission readiness and medical readiness across the Navy and Marine Corps fleet.

In addition to her primary duties, the 10-year Navy veteran also serves as the school’s blood drive liaison set up as many blood drives as possible for the Akeroyd Blood Donor Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

“She also provides education on the importance of our program to them, added Army Sgt. First Class Margaret Strecker, Akeroyd Blood Donor Center’s noncommissioned officer in charge. “She has also organized targeted blood drives with Navy Medical Training Support.”

For Thompson, donating is personal, “My Dad has donated blood for as long as I could remember, and I always went with him. I wanted to donate as soon as I was old enough. It took me to just shy of my 30th birthday to donate, and I have never looked back. Sometimes I am unable to donate for one reason or another, but once my deferral period is over, I go right back to screen and donate!”

Getting new sailors to understand the blood donation process and the importance comes easily to this corpsman, “I explain why blood donation is so important, and how quickly it can be done,” impressed Thompson. “That they can keep donating over the years and help save countless lives.”