12th Combat Aviation Brigade

Story by Sgt. Brandon Little

By Sgt. Brandon Little
Task Force XII PAO

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – It's not uncommon for leaders to feel that their Soldiers are among the best in the military. They express appreciation for their Soldiers' know-how and abilities through gratifying speeches and award recommendations.

Leaders of the 412th Aviation Support Battalion felt that way about Capt. Abigail Raez, a flight surgeon for the battalion. They just knew she was one of the best and brightest in the Army.

This time, the Army agreed – Raez was recognized as being one of the best in aviation medicine as she received the Theodore Lyster Flight Surgeon of the Year award during a ceremony held Aug. 8, 2008.

"Winning this award is a great honor, but I know there are plenty of doctors out there who probably deserve this award more than me," said Raez, who hails from Gautier, Miss.

"[Raez] is definitely one of the best amongst her peers and it's a real honor to have her working with us," said Lt. Col. Sam Hamontree, the commander of 412th ASB. "Even long before she received this award, I was constantly getting emails telling me about the great job she's doing; she's an unsung hero who takes care of everyone from Soldiers to Iraqis."

This award is given each year to the flight surgeon or aero-medical physician assistant who has made the most significant impact on Army aviation medicine; the person must be nominated by a fellow flight surgeon, an aviator, or someone in his/her chain of command.

"I nominated [Raez] for this award because of her outstanding rapport with all the physicians, physician assistants and medics," said Maj. Frederick Harris, the Task Force XII medical surgeon and Raez's supervisor. "She has become very proficient in every aspect of aviation medicine in a short amount of time."

Raez's nomination had to compete with submissions for several hundred other Army flight surgeons all around the world; nominees come from both active duty and reserve components.

It was a little surprising that she won, but there's no doubt that she deserved to win, said Harris, a native of Bethesda, Md.

Raez has been a flight surgeon since 2002 but this is her first time providing direct medical care in a deploying unit.

"I was really nervous about deploying, and I didn't know what to expect, but I had great leaders and peers to help guide me in the right direction," said Raez. "Everything I have accomplished would not have been possible without all the help of the doctors and Soldiers I work with here."

As a flight surgeon, she is charged with helping to ensure Task Force XII flight crews are in good health and that they meet all medical standards. She also helps provide medical care to Soldiers on sick-call, and those with appointments, as well as maintaining and updating health care plans for every Soldier in 412th ASB.

"In addition to her duties here, Raez also volunteers at the Air Force hospital here and she has also gone to [the International Zone] to help out at the trauma center there," said Hamontree, who hails from Canyon, Texas. "The health care she has provided from here to Baghdad has just been topnotch."

During this deployment, Raez also studied for and passed the exam to get her emergency medical board certification.

"She went temporary duty to Chicago to take the oral portion of the board exam," said Harris. "This is a great accomplishment because oral boards, for a specialty like emergency medicine, can be a nightmare."

With all of these accomplishments, it's not surprising that Raez is considered one of the best in her career field, said Hamontree.

"She's always got a great attitude, she's a go-getter and she's dedicated," he said. "Army flight surgeons are the top of the line and for her to be selected as Flight Surgeon of the Year just speaks volumes about her abilities and her potential."

(Sgt. Brandon Little writes for the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office)

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