Elmendorf sergeant to receive expeditionary medical award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Francesca Popp
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  A sergeant assigned to the 3rd Medical Operations Squadron here was selected to receive the Air Force Association "expeditionary medics" 2007 Team of the Year Award.

Master Sgt. Kory Rivera, women's health services flight NCOIC, is one of seven Airmen from the medical career field to receive the award.

The sergeant admitted he knew little about the AFA, the awards it presents and how it applied to him. However, his perception changed when his supervisor told him officials at Pacific Air Forces Command wanted to submit a nomination.

"It wasn't until the last few days that I started to realize what a big deal this was. As more time goes by, the more overwhelmed I become. I think to myself 'Whoa! This isn't quite what I expected,'" Sergeant Rivera said, noting he's always been dedicated to the mission but has never received recognition at this level. "I thought it would be a certificate in the mail, someone giving me a pat on the back and saying good job. I certainly would be happy with that."

Since the announcement Feb. 22, Sergeant Rivera said people he used to work with and haven't talked to in years are e-mailing him with congratulatory notes.

The 18-year Air Force veteran deployed to Rawah, Iraq, for seven months, returning in June 2006. He was one of two Airmen assigned to the 327th Military Transition Team, which included 10 Marines, a Navy corpsman and an Air Force vehicle mechanic dedicated to supporting Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. He deployed as an independent duty medical technician, but said that was probably the least of what he did daily. He learned, while preparing to deploy, he wasn't going to perform regular medical duties.

Sergeant Rivera said that he thinks what he did while deployed helped earn a spot on this team.

"All the things I did needed to be done and were part of my charge. I never had any training to do those tasks and had to learn on the fly," said Sergeant Rivera, who is originally from Oregon, Ohio. "When it came down to it, they needed someone mature, with good communication skills, to work with the Iraqis. I helped provide eyes on the ground for what they needed, and helped manage and train the Iraqi force, teaching them how to sustain themselves. It's a reflection of how this war has been and how it requires us to be flexible and adapt as an Air Force to its needs."

The sergeant said he learned to be the "jack-of-all-trades" while deployed. Because of his flexibility, he helped improve morale for the Iraqis he lived and worked with by providing life support.

"My goal was to make an immediate impact on the quality of life for the Iraqi soldiers," My job was to build it from the ground up," he said, referring to the basic necessities, structure and continuity needed.

Using spare parts, he and the other Airman prioritized what the Iraqis needed at camp and immediately built hot-water showers. He said they obtained a hot-water tank and converted three latrines into shower stalls. Sergeant Rivera said that was probably the one thing he did that made the biggest impact.

Sergeant Rivera said his medical skills were used as necessary, but the corpsman performed the majority of the health care. However, he said he put those skills to use the first full day he was in Rawah.

Sergeant Rivera was touring a building in the area when an improvised explosive device detonated about 100 yards outside on one of the streets. He said the Marine he was with ran out the door and started yelling for a medic. The sergeant said that was his cue to spring into action.

"There was an Army foot patrol that encountered an IED. Two people were wounded," he said. "An Army medic was already out there and I started talking to him. I told him I would take care of the more seriously injured Soldier, while he helped the other one."

Sergeant Rivera said he was concerned about the injuries sustained to the abdominal area, because the Soldier received shrapnel to his right side. He said gunfire broke out while he patched up the wounds and he covered the patient to protect him from possibly sustaining any more injuries. Within minutes, a stryker vehicle pulled up, loaded the victim and medics, and immediately headed to the closest medical facility.

"Their efforts have transformed the way servicemembers are treated after being injured," said Chief Master Sergeant Anthony Bishop, PACAF command chief master sergeant. "They have increased the survivability rate of those injured in (operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom) to nearly 95 percent once they receive medical care."

Each year, the AFA selects an enlisted career field for recognition. The selected Airmen were chosen for displaying superior technical expertise, attracting the praise of their superiors and providing leadership and inspiration to their co-workers. Airmen nominated need only be assigned to the selected career field and may not be members of a team in the traditional sense of the word.

Sergeant Rivera will represent PACAF and be recognized, along with the other recipients, during a ceremony April 3 in Washington, D.C.