Brad Reed can clean up your sprained ankle or, if you want him to, your water supply. The Sanford Health athletic training manager has logged 30 years tending to sports injuries. During that time, he served another 35 years in the North Dakota Army National Guard. His six-month deployment during Desert Storm had him purifying the water supply for some 10,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
An Edgeley, North Dakota, native, Reed is one of many veterans employed by Sanford Health. They all celebrate the Fourth of July each year with the special perspective of someone who has served.
Related: Sanford Health Veteran & Military Services
“I love the celebration because while the phrase is maybe overused, it’s true: ‘Freedom is not free,’” Reed said. “It’s not a vacation. It’s a celebration of our freedoms we have in this country.”
Reed oversees about 50 certified athletic trainers in Sanford Health’s Fargo, North Dakota, region. Their job is preventing and treating injuries for athletes at all levels — high school, college and professional. He works closely with physicians, physician assistants, nurses and physical therapists to keep these competitors safe.
A graduate of North Dakota State University and the American Military University, Reed’s tenure at Sanford Health spans 21 years. His role as a manager doesn’t keep him off the field. In fact, you can still find him providing coverage for games around the Fargo region.
“I usually get out there when the events pick up,” Reed said. “I have great support staff and team members that I work with.”
Brad Reed is service minded
Reed’s service in the Army National Guard taught him to master construction blueprints and sheet music. His military resume includes stints as a combat engineer, demolition expert, water purification specialist and a musician. He’s just as comfortable with TNT as he is with his trumpet.
After basic training in Missouri, Reed was assigned to the 133rd Quartermaster Detachment in Cando, North Dakota, for 11 years. He’s also been assigned to the 188th Army Band for 23 years and served with Fargo’s 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Besides his Desert Storm deployment, Reed has been on active duty for the state of North Dakota four times.
Reed, a master sergeant, is also the post commander of the West Fargo VFW Post 7564. He’s guided the post in designing and building a new $3 million building in downtown West Fargo, North Dakota.
Sanford Health’s support
Sanford Health created a veterans and military services department as the organization aims to become the employer, provider and partner of choice for service men and women.
Employees like Reed, for instance, can display their veterans status on their name badges. They also have access to resources that consider the veteran experience. Sanford Health signed a statement of support with the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, which is a pledge to advocate for the military service of its workforce.
The Sanford Veteran Information Hotline is (800) 949-1848. It is a single point of contact for veterans.
“It shows concern and compassion, and it shows that a company cares for you,” said Reed. “(The badges) are a great way to show recognition for your service and that Sanford Health appreciates that. But it’s also a great ice breaker when talking with patients. A lot of people have been touched by the military.”
Sanford Health in 2018 unveiled Veterans Clubs at its medical centers in Fargo and Sioux Falls. The clubs give veterans and their families a dedicated place to rest between appointments and meet others who have served.
Freedom rider
Brad Reed and his wife have spent the Fourth of July on his Harley-Davidson trekking across North Dakota. While he loves celebrating this country’s freedoms, he is hyper-aware of how the activities challenge veterans like him.
“I do not like the loud noises of fireworks associated with the Fourth of July,” Reed said. “Because of our history, it can be difficult for veterans. If you have one in your neighborhood, do your best to respect them.”
Learn more
- Veterans bring special skill set to health care profession
- Sanford Health offering $5,000 scholarships to veterans
- Podcast: Sanford Health veterans and military services
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