Press Release
☷Public Health Activity Hawaii Breaks Ground on new Veterinary Treatment Facility
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Nov 24,2022
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Guests pose for a group photo during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by Public Health Activity - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) Kahu Kekuna blesses the ground during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by Public Health Activity - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) Veterinary Corps Chief , Dr . ( Col . ) Deborah Whitmer delivers her speech during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by Public Health Activity - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) Dr . ( Capt . ) Caitlin Conway , officer in charge Joint - Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Veterinary Treatment Facility , salutes the flag during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by Public Health Activity - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) Chaplain ( Lt . Col . ) Gabriel Mizerani delivers the invocation and prayer during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by Public Health Activity - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) Kahu Kekuna blesses the ground during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by Public Health Activity - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) Lt . Col . Johnnie Robbins , Public Health Activity - Hawaii commander , delivers his speech during a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility hosted by PHA - Hawaii . ( Courtesy Photo , Yamil Jorge ) JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR - HICKAM , Hawaii - Under bright blue Hawaiian skies , Public Health Activity - Hawaii hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam Nov . 1 for a new veterinary treatment facility . The new VTF will unite the various mission sets of the U . S . Army Veterinary Service under one roof to increase readiness capabilities throughout the Pacific . “Today is a big day for all of us , ” said the Veterinary Corps Chief , Dr . ( Col . ) Deborah Whitmer . “A milestone for not only JBPHH VTF or PHA - H , but for JBPHH and the entire Department of Defense . ” Once completed , the new VTF will be measure approximately 12 , 000 square feet , double the size of any of the four VTFs currently operating on Oahu . “This facility will greatly enable our Army Veterinary Service team’s capabilities to medically enable our joint warfighter to fight , deploy , and win , anytime , anywhere , ” added Whitmer . The new VTF will provide ample space for PHA - H soldiers and staff to perform preventive care , diagnostics , surgeries , and care for military working dogs and pets of service members and retirees . “Few facilities in the DoD contain the Veterinary Corps food safety and defense requirements and animal health capabilities in one building , ” said Dr . ( Capt . ) Caitlin Conway , JBPHH VTF officer in charge . “This new facility is going to provide care in a more quick and efficient manner - especially since Hawaii is the gateway to the pacific theater . ” Efficient care is critical , especially for government owned Military Working Dogs whose handlers place their trust in Army Veterinarians to care for the military’s four - legged warfighters . “The support of Army Veterinarians enables MWDs to conquer missions at garrisons and internationally , ” said Staff Sgt . Ashley Boren , JBPHH MWD trainer . In addition to animal care , the new facility will provide a dedicated space for Veterinary Food Inspectors across PHA - H to carry out their continuous and critical food safety mission . “This new building is so important for our food safety and food defense mission , ” said Sgt . 1st Class Guillermo Jaramillovaldes , JBPHH VTF noncommissioned officer in charge . “It’s going to streamline the food inspector team responsible for taking care of all visiting U . S . Navy ships , Rim of the Pacific Exercise , and the largest grossing commissary in the armed forces . ” The JBPHH veterinary food inspection team is responsible for 123 installation support facilities , 12 submarines , 15 ships within the Pacific Area of Responsibility , and a total of $150 million worth of food sustenance annually . “This joint base runs on partnerships , ” said Col . Michael Staples , JBPHH deputy commander . “These Veterinary Corps professionals play a big part in supporting the 93 , 000 people that rely on the services of the installation , ” Staples said . The current VTF sees approximately 300 appointments a month for military families’ pets , in addition to the care they provide to MWDs , food protection , and defense to the joint warfighters and their families . Lt . Col . Johnnie Robbins , commander of PHA - H , reiterated the impact this new facility will have on the joint force warfighters , MWDs , and beneficiaries . “The most important part of this new VTF will be when the professionals , like our veterinarians , food safety officers , veterinary technicians , food inspectors , and NAF teammates , walk through that door to serve you , ” said Robbins . “Everything starts and ends with you - the warfighters , animals , and beneficiaries . ” The new facility , being built by a civilian firm in conjunction with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific , is expected to open in fall 2024 .
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