ALCOAST 205/21 - JUN 2021 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2021 ARMED SERVICES YMCA ANGELS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AWARD RECIPIENT

R 011117Z JUN 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 205/21
SSIC 6010
SUBJ: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2021 ARMED SERVICES YMCA ANGELS OF THE
BATTLEFIELD AWARD RECIPIENT
1. I am pleased to announce Aviation Survival Technician (AST) First
Class Trevor J. Salt, assigned to Coast Guard Sector North Bend,
has been selected as the Coast Guard recipient for the 15th Annual
Armed Services YMCA Angels of the Battlefield (AOTB) Award. AOTB
is an annual award that recognizes one enlisted medical professional
from each branch of the Armed Forces.
    a. AST1 Salt is being recognized for acts while serving as the
Rescue Swimmer on Coast Guard helicopter MH-65D in response to
medically evacuate a 42-year-old female that had fallen down a 50ft
cliff and her uninjured 40-year-old hiking partner. The woman was
reported to have a spinal injury and multiple broken bones. When
AST1 Salt arrived at the patient's location, he found two people,
one severely injured and one uninjured, huddled in a small grove of
trees. AST1 Salt evaluated the patient and confirmed the presence
of a spinal injury, broken bones, shock, and hypothermia. After
talking to the uninjured survivor, AST1 Salt confirmed that both
survivors had slipped on the ice and fallen over 1500ft from the
summit of Grayback Mountain. The injured hiker hit multiple rocks
and trees during the slide until her fall was arrested by the grove
of trees she was now lying in. The rescue swimmer stabilized the
patient and began construction of a stable and level snow platform
to create a safe working area for himself and the two survivors,
mitigating the 30 degree slope of the ice-covered terrain. At first
light, knowing a hoist attempt was going to be made, AST1 Salt
identified a hoisting area and worked to dig a path over 80ft long
with the uninjured survivor. They constructed a 4ft x 8ft level
hoisting platform and lined the path between the patient and the
hoist location with safety lines. In total, AST1 Salt moved over 300
cubic feet of snow. Without these site improvement measures, he knew
the risk of falling while moving the patient for a hoist was
inevitable. AST1 Salt's actions were extraordinarily heroic, and
brought great credit upon the United States Coast Guard.
    b. The following enlisted medical professionals were also
nominated by their Commands for this award and can take pride in
their significant accomplishments during 2021:

AST2 Steven Scheren                               CG Air Station Kodiak
HS2 Hayden Grabast                                CG Air Station Sitka
AST2 Stephen King                                   CG Air Station San Francisco
AST3 Brian Gilligan                                   CG Air Station Clearwater

2. All nominees are worthy of this recognition and will be nominated
for the DHS Lifesaving award sponsored by the DHS Chief Medical
Officer. I applaud all the nominees for their accomplishments and
their Commanding Officers and supervisors for taking the time to
submit well-deserved nominations. I encourage all leaders to
recognize their high performing enlisted medical professionals by
nominating them next year for the 2022 AOTB Awards. This year’s
awardees demonstrated outstanding professionalism in carrying out
their duties. Bravo Zulu for a job very well done.
3. POC: CWO2 Luis Muniz COMDT (CG-1122), 202-475-5173,
Email: Luis.A.Muniz@uscg.mil
4. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life
(CG-11), sends.
5. Internet release is authorized.