Photo By Staff Sgt. Brooks Fletcher | Service of the Year award recipients, C Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Spc. Brooks Fletcher
20th Public Affairs Detachment.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - One Ft. Wainwright aviation company was honored during a conference held in Fairbanks, Alaska. The C Company of the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment was presented with the 2008 Service of the Year award during the Interior Region Emergency Medical Service Council, Inc.'s 14th Annual EMS Symposium at the Princess Riverside Lodge.
"This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of a first responder, ambulance, fire or rescue organization, which have provided pre-hospital care or EMS system support, above and beyond their normal responsibilities," said Daniel Johnson, executive director, Interior Region EMS Council, Inc.
Over the year, Soldiers of C Company have responded to a wide variety of emergencies, providing critical support to ground and air ambulance services, rescue squads and mass casualty incidences.
They are the only helicopter-based medical service that can respond to the recreational emergencies throughout interior Alaska. In more routine emergencies, they provide coordinated, essential back-up to the Alaska's regional air ambulance service.
Maj. Michael Salvitti, commander, C Company, accepted the award on behalf of the unit.
"The commitment is really not so much about the command team, but the guys in the unit," said Salvitti. "Everyday they are in the air, first response coverage; you got a lot of guys in this unit that are committed."
Johnson acknowledged that 1-52nd Aviation Regiment's Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic Program, established over 30 years ago, exists to provide medical evacuation to Soldiers working and training in interior Alaska. Also, this air ambulance service supports civilians as well; overall, providing excellent training for pilots and medic crews of the aviation company.
"(C Company) is an organization that exemplifies everything that is good about those of you who provide EMS care to our fellow citizens," said Johnson. "It has been my honor to work with (the MAST) for over 20 year."
Salvitti, who has work in medical evacuation and the MAST program for over 15 years, recognized the concentrated effort and solidarity among the Interior Region EMS community.
"I have never seen a group of individuals, military and private sectors, work so close together," said Salvitti, who also acknowledges leadership such as Maj. Gen. Stephen Layfield, commanding general, U.S. Army Alaska, Lt. Col. Manley Alford, commander, 1-52nd Aviation Regiment and Scott Learned, board president and EMS Chief, Fairbanks.
Because the "Flying Dragon" Battalion's highly trained pilot and medic crews provide a much needed service through UH-60A Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks; the MAST Program will likely be leaving the interior this summer in support of troops in harms way.
"They are a critical and much needed resource for these Soldiers and civilians," said Johnson. "The interior does not take this service for granted and will be sorely missed."
| Date Taken: | 04.05.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2008 10:37 |
| Story ID: | 19464 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
| Downloads: | 53 |
This work, 'Flying Dragon' company receive EMS Service of the Year award, by SSG Brooks Fletcher, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
