944th FW Airman named "Tuskegee Airman of the Week", Sept. 4-11

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq. --  Staff Sgt. Andrea Vail, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group Air Force Theater Hospital command and control technician, is the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's Tuskegee Airman of the Week for Sept. 4-11, 2010.

Sergeant Vail, a native of Goodyear, Ariz., is deployed from the 944th Medical Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

"Sergeant Vail is performing an exceptional job," said Maj. Gen. Craig Franklin, 332nd AEW commander. "She's been a hard charger in her unit, making the process of patient movement at the AFTH as seamless and efficient as possible."

After congratulating the new winner in front of wing leadership, General Franklin presented Sergeant Vail with a recognition certificate and a commander's coin at the wing headquarters building Sept. 16, 2010.

Sergeant Vail expertly led a 14-member mass casualty retrieval team in off-loading 12 critical patients from the hospital's helipad to the care they required. In addition, she trained 54 servicemembers in helicopter, ambulance and MRAP litter extractions, creating experienced patient movement technicians when the need arises.

After off-loading patients, training volunteers and tracking patient movements from admittance to release, Sergeant Vail volunteered four hours at Joint Base Balad's version of the Air Force Marathon, ensuring the safety of more than 600 participants. She is a Liger 5/6 member, which led a team in the organization and execution of JBB's staff sergeant release party.

Sergeant Vail is humbled by her accomplishments, sighting a team effort in accomplishing the mission.

"I would like to thank my immediate leadership for supporting me and all the volunteers, for without them this wouldn't be possible," said Sergeant Vail.

Airmen between the ranks of E-1 and E-5 are eligible to become the 332nd AEW Tuskegee Airman of the Week, based on accomplishments on and off duty.