Two New Mexico Army National Guard Soldiers were honored by The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 16, 2019. SPC Roberto Sandoval and PFC RaeJean Lucero, both 68Ws (Combat Medics), were responsible for saving the life of a man who was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident.
SPC Sandoval and PFC Lucero are participants in the Strategic Medical Asset Readiness Training (SMART) program with The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. The value of the training led to their quick response in saving a man’s life.
After completing their shift at the SMART program, SPC Sandoval and PFC Lucero, both assigned to the 1209th Area Support Medical Company in New Mexico, were walking back to their hotel when a frantic woman explained that she had just been involved in a motor vehicle accident. When the Soldiers arrived on the scene, the medics found an unconscious man. SPC Sandoval and PFC Lucero immediately assessed the man and began performing CPR.
The two displayed outstanding communication and teamwork until local Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene. Their actions contributed to saving this man’s life. The Christ Hospital presented the Soldiers with the “Lifesaver Award” at a Leadership Conference on May 16, 2019, in the presence of over 200 leaders in the organization.
Since August 2018, the SMART program has graduated 117 military medical personnel. The program helps to maintain the readiness of our Soldiers and our Nation to save and sustain lives on the battlefield. It also promotes a positive momentum in the relationship between the civilian and military medical community.
Operation Cincinnati SMART is the next step to the innovative, first-of-its-kind partnership, which focuses on high-quality, individualized specialty medical training for service members to improve their knowledge, skillsets and increase individual readiness.
BY Rebecca Westfall, (Army Medicine), New Mexico National Guard
