Flight Surgeon Receives Prestigious Award For Service
(January 27, 2011) |
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Navy Lt. Sarah Ballard stands
aboard a CH-53D Sea Stallion with the Marine Heavy
Helicopter Squadron 362 "Ugly Angels," 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing (Forward), at Camp Bastion,
Afghanistan, Jan 17, 2011. Ballard, the squadron's
flight surgeon who recently received the Richard
Luehrs Memorial Award as the operational flight
surgeon of the year, often volunteers to fly during
combat missions as an aerial observer and on-call
casualty evacuation doctor. |
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CAMP BASTION,
Afghanistan – Navy medical personnel have been to
countless battlefields over the years, side-by-side
with Marines – keeping them in the fight. So when
Marine aviation officially took to the skies on May
22, 1912, the development of naval flight surgeons
was not far behind.
Today, Naval flight
surgeons play an organic and critical role in every
Marine and Naval aviation squadron. The Marine Heavy
Helicopter Squadron 362 “Ugly Angels” can testify
first-hand to their importance as the squadron's
flight surgeon, Navy Lt. Sarah Ballard, was awarded
the Richard Luehrs Memorial Award as the operational
flight surgeon of the year.
“Lieutenant
Ballard's medical leadership and care of all the
Ugly Angels has been magnificent,” said Lt. Col.
Thomas “Piglet” Pecina, the commanding officer for
HMH-362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). “She
and her corpsmen provide world-class care to
squadron Marines, which has positively impacted our
mission readiness.”
Ballard said she is
“honored to receive this award,” and contributes
much of her success to the dedication of her three
corpsmen, who have a firm grasp on their operational
duty. She also stated that although safety mishaps
have been very few in numbers, the outbreaks of flu
and cold-like symptoms, as well as maintaining
squadron medical records, have kept them busy
throughout the deployment.
“It has been a
great experience working with this squadron,” said
Ballard. “The commanding officer truly cares about
the Marines, which makes our job much easier.”
This deployment to Afghanistan with 3rd MAW (Fwd)
is Ballard's second deployment. Ballard previously
deployed to Iraq, where she was able to |
| work with the Iraqi
Army in advanced trauma and help educate Iraqi
citizens about women's health. |
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While working with HMH-362, Ballard has set an example and
demonstrated exemplary aeromedical service, work ethic,
leadership, team-player mentality, military bearing,
professional expertise and operational commitment, which are
the character traits measured by the Richard Luehrs Memorial
Award and lead to her nomination for the award by 1st MAW.
Ballard has gone above and beyond her medical
obligations and lends her undivided support to the squadron.
“She is selfless in her duties as she volunteers to fly
on combat missions in support of the infantry as an aerial
observer and on-call [casualty evacuation] doctor,” said
Pecina. “I am extremely proud of all of her
accomplishments.”
Upon completing her tour in
Afghanistan with the Ugly Angels, Ballard will prepare to
return to school and attend Johns Hopkins University in
pursuit of a Health and Public Policy Ph.D. in combination
with attending the Navy Preventative Medicine Residency
Program.
This will open future opportunities for her
career to serve with the Marines as a preventive medicine
officer, but she is thankful for her time spent with the
Angels and all of the support she has received over the
years. |
By USMC Sgt. Derek Carlson
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
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