Members of Civil Air Patrol’s New Jersey Wing recently mobilized to assist the U.S. Air Force in processing blood products destined for deployed service members. This effort expands the reach of Operation Pulse Lift, CAP’s ongoing humanitarian blood collection mission, and supports the need for blood for U.S. forces overseas.
Responding to a request from the Armed Services Blood Program, wing members provided urgently needed manpower to the Armed Services Whole Blood Processing Lab — East, a blood processing and transshipment center, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, responsible for preparing blood shipments for overseas transport.
“My team and I were proud to respond immediately when called. Within hours, our members were on-site helping process critical blood shipments destined to support our troops,” said Col. Amy Myzie, New Jersey Wing commander.
The request came during a period of limited personnel availability and increased operational demand. The lab, which typically processes about 30 cases of blood products per week, has recently experienced a surge to more than 40 cases per day.
The initial CAP team consisted of Myzie; Maj. Megan Kingston, the wing’s health services officer; Maj. Britton Williams, director of emergency services; and Cadet Maj. Luke Patterson. The CAP team arrived shortly after a large incoming shipment and began processing more than 40 cases of blood products.
According to Kingston, wing members assist by verifying the temperature of incoming blood products to ensure they meet required standards, documenting and labeling shipments, and preparing them for cold storage and transport.
“The increase in volume has significantly stretched available personnel. Our support helps ensure these lifesaving supplies are processed quickly and safely for delivery to deployed forces,” Kingston said.
Since the start of the mission, CAP volunteers have contributed thousands of personnel hours from dozens of locations across the nation, with additional support planned in the coming weeks. During the initial surge in March 2026, the New Jersey Wing personnel supported the Whole Blood Processing Lab for 16 days, processing an unprecedented 7,500 units of blood.
The wing expects to continue assisting the lab as needed, helping ensure U.S. service members overseas receive critical blood supplies.
