RAMSTEIN AIR BASE -- Teamwork is the ability to cooperate with a group of individuals striving toward a common goal. The Air Force is made up of small, yet diverse teams relying on each other to make the mission happen. One team stood out amongst them for the second year in a row.
The 86th Medical Group recently won 23 of 70 Air Force Medical Service awards at the major command level; 12 went to individuals and 11 went to squadrons.
"To me, the big thing is the team awards," said U.S. Air Force Col. Ryan Mihata, 86th MDG commander. "We put forth several team nominations and won several team awards at MAJCOM, and the most notable to me, as the commander, is the clinic of the year award. We are the [U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s] clinic of the year, which is a testament to all these Airmen and the work they do every day to get the job done."
The AFMS awards reflect extraordinary quality of Air Force medics and recognize those who demonstrate expertise, leadership and commitment, according to the official Air Force medicine website.
"As leaders of the medical group, it's not up to us to get the workload done and I can't do it all myself,” Mihata said. “It's up to the Airmen down in the trenches who won these awards, who are getting after it each and every day."
The 86th MDG Airmen showcased the core value of excellence.
"They really went above and beyond, and at the same time, they made sure the unit was taken care of," said Col. Alison T. Forsythe, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron commander.
AFMS awards:
USAFE–AFAFRICA Medical Logistics Team of the Year
86th MDG, Ramstein Air Base
USAFE–AFAFRICA Resource Management Team of the Year
86th MDG, Ramstein Air Base
USAFE–AFAFRICA Medical Information Services Team of the Year
86th MDG, Ramstein Air Base
USAFE–AFAFRICA Health Plan Management Team Award
86th MDG, Ramstein Air Base
USAFE–AFAFRICA Medical Service Corps Civilian of the Year
Margaret Fraser, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Biomedical Clinician Company Grade Officer of the Year
Lt. Col. Brandon Morgan, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Biomedical Clinician Civilian of the Year
Dr. Geoffrey Chung, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Health Services Management NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Lauren Coulter, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Medical Material Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Ramod Cooper, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Diet Therapy Airman of the Year
Airman 1st Class Kari Rowland, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Diet Therapy NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Nataliya Hampton, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Cardiopulmonary Laboratory NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Maranda Oliver, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Aerospace Medicine NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Caige Chapman, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Surgical Service NCO of the Year
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Tagger, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Laboratory Airman of the Year
Senior Airman Kaley Cortellini, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Ophthalmic NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rodriguez, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Dental NCO of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Joshua Diel, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Organizational Management Excellence SNCO Award
Senior Master Sgt. Aretha Boston, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Chief of the Medical Staff Commitment to Excellence
Lt. Col. Cristina Franchetti, 86th MDG
USAFE–AFAFRICA Company Grade Nurse of the Year
Capt. Jewelyn De La Cruz, 86th AES
USAFE–AFAFRICA Field Grade Nurse of the Year
Maj. Kristin Ka’auamo, 86th AES
USAFE–AFAFRICA Best AE Squadron Patient Safety Program
86th AES, Ramstein Air Base
USAFE–AFAFRICA Air Force Surgeon General Award for Best Clinic
86th MDG, Ramstein Air Base