Former White House PA chosen as flight surgeon of the year

Photo By Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin | The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade commander, Col. A.T Ball awards a plaque to Capt. Larry Long, air medical physician's assistant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, for being named the Spurgeon Neel Flight Surgeon of the Year by the Society of United States Army Flight Surgeons, July 30, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

08.09.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 

25th Combat Aviation Brigade

By Spc. Bryanna Poulin
25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs

TIKRIT, Iraq - Being responsible for others' health and well being is a challenging task, but ensuring the United States President and his family members remain healthy adds even more pressure to an already stressful and demanding job.

Nonetheless, for one 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, air medical physician assistant (PA) at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, this prior experience gave him an advantage for winning a prestigious aviation award.

"For three years, I was the PA at the White house for the president, vice president and their families," said Capt. Larry Long, air medical PA with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-25 Avn. and Chicago native. "The work tempo was always crazy or I was working in the clinic where it was always busy."

Awarded by the Society of United States Army Flight Surgeons, Long was named the Spurgeon Neel Flight Surgeon of the Year based on the number of patients seen,
air medical summaries and the amount of flight physicals given. But more remarkable is the award marks the third consecutive year for the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.

"For any PA in a brigade, to win is great," the Chicago native enthusiastically said. "But for the 25th CAB to receive it three years in a row is exceptional."

Although Long received the esteemed award, he felt that besides his experience in the White House, most of the credit goes to the assistance of the medics in his battalion.

"I wouldn't be able to do anything without the medics," he said smiling. "They are the ones who make me look good."

For Long and the medics with 3-25, working together has been an imperative part in their success throughout the deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2008, as the aid station was literally built from the ground up.

"This battalion wasn't formed until February 2006 and we didn't even have a stethoscope or medic ... let alone an aid station," he said with a chuckle.

Based on the needs of the Army, Long and six Soldiers were brought together to adapt and overcome as they built the aid station at COB Speicher, setting their sights on the primary mission of taking care of 3-25 Soldiers.

"When we (3-25) got here there was no aid station or medical facility," Long who is on his fourth overseas combat tour stated. "For about a month we were sharing an aid station with 25th CAB on the other side of the COB ... we realized there were no medical assets where 3-25 was located, so we put our needs into actions and built our own aid station that is closer for the Soldiers."

Like all aviation missions, the medical team had its fair share of challenges in the beginning of their deployment, he explained. Things like trying to get aviators medically fit for flying status was one hurdle they overcame.

"There were a lot of new pilots and aircrew members in the unit," said Long, who ensures more than 750 Soldiers throughout his area of operations have medical care. "We had to get them (pilots) up on flight status prior to deploying and keep physicals up to date during the deployment."

Aside from providing medical care to the Soldiers in the battalion, Long noted that a major highlight of his job is training the medics and working with the flight medics.

"I love being able to show the medics the skills I have learned over the years," said Long, who joined the Army as an enlisted Soldier in 1986 and then later was picked up for PA school. "I can oversee and ask medics if they understand why they are doing this (providing care) so they will understand and want to learn."

The unswerving influence between the PA and his Soldiers has made a direct impact for his enlisted medics to also further their Army careers.

"I have had nine medics who have worked for me who have been selected for the Army PA program," added Long. "I try to emphasize the importance of enrolling in college classes ... the biggest set back in this career is the Army has a lot of outstanding medics who haven't taken college classes to better themselves."

For the husband and father of four college students who plans to retire in Texas
in April, being selected as PA of the year is because of the overall support of the entire 3-25 battalion.

"I feel I was selected because this is a new unit that has a diversity of medics and flight medics that I can train," Long concluded. "The medics, combined with the direct support from the chain of command, are the reasons why I was selected ... I know I wouldn't be able to do my job without their support."

• Date Taken: 08.09.2007
• Date Posted: 08.09.2007 13:59
• Story ID: 11719
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ