Medical professionals win team of the year

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WASHINGTON (AFNEWS) --  Air Force and Air Force Association officials have named Air Force expeditionary medics, or EMEDS, as the 2007 Team of the Year.

Each year, AFA officials, working with major command-level command chief master sergeants and the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, select a specific Air Force career field for this recognition. The individual members selected to represent the chosen career field are professionals who clearly display superior technical expertise, attract the praise of their superiors and provide leadership and inspiration to others.

This year's team is being honored for their live-saving efforts on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. EMEDS are a critical facet of war-on-terrorism operations in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and around the globe. 

"[EMEDS'] role is to have casualties brought into us, get stabilized and transferred on to the next higher echelon of care," said Col. Steven Chambers, a former 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron hospital commander at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq.

EMEDS are purposely positioned in close proximity to battlefield actions to maximize their role in the treatment of wounded American and coalition forces. 

"If we can intervene within an hour of the injury, we have more of a chance of saving the servicemember's life," Colonel Chambers said.

The EMEDS' primary mission is to treat battlefield injuries.  However, many of the Air Force field hospitals also have dental staff, life skills personnel, a pharmacy, radiology clinic and laboratory personnel on hand to treat common infections and illnesses, broken bones, twisted ankles and other deployment-related ailments, just like any other hospital in the states, but on a smaller scale.

The following individuals, representing the Air Force medical career field, are selectees for this year's award:

Dr. (Col.) Jay A. Johannigman, of the Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.; Capt. Shaun S. Westphal, 759th Surgical Operations Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Master Sgt. Michelle L. Rootes, 5th Medical Operations Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.; Master Sgt. Kory O. Rivera, 3rd Medical Group, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Master Sgt. Faith E. Elmore, 184th Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan.; Tech. Sgt. Crystal A. Gomez, 78th MOS, Robins AFB, Ga.; and Senior Airman Robert Zuniga II, 82nd MOS, Sheppard AFB, Texas.

"Each of us as Airman can be proud of our fellow warriors in the medical community and the tremendous job they are doing in-theater," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "Their dedication, skill, and determination are saving the lives of fellow Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and coalition forces everyday."

Five to seven Airmen are selected each year to represent their profession in the presentation ceremony in Washington.  While there, the Airmen tour the Capitol and other sites, meet senior Air Force and Congressional leaders, and accept the award on behalf of their career field at a banquet hosted by the AFA. This year's banquet will be on April 3.

Historically, the team of the year honors an enlisted career field; however, two officers were included in this year's selection because an EMEDS team is incomplete without the contributions of doctors and nurses. In the recent past, the following career fields also have been recognized as the team of the year: Services, Vehicle Operators, Office of Special Investigations, and Command and Control.

The Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force will provide additional information on the banquet and media availability of the selectees as details become available. 

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