Four selected for AETC Medical Service Awards Published Dec. 12, 2008 By Senior Airman Stephen Musal 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Four members of the 17th Medical Group at Team Goodfellow were selected as winners of the 2008 Air Education and Training Command Medical Service Awards in their respective categories Dec. 4. Major Robert Rainey was the recipient of the Maxine Beatty Field Grade Pharmacy Award, Capt. Stephen Carlton won the Group Practice Manager Award, Guy Hedges was selected for the Surgeon General's Medical Information Services Award in the Civilian category and Tech. Sgt. Carmen Nila won the Col. Cleveland L. Parker Noncommissioned Officer Public Health Award. "Any award an officer wins is truly a reflection of the enlisted folks on his staff," Maj. Rainey said. "The Air Force gave me a great team here at Goodfellow and at the Joint Base Balad hospital pharmacy." Still, the major added that he was pleased to receive the award. Sergeant Nila credits the different experiences of the past year for her award. Before transferring to the 17 MDG Public Health office, Sergeant Nila worked at the 17th Training Wing Plans and Programs office. "I was given the opportunity to work outside of my career field and look at the Air Force from a strategic view," Sergeant Nila said. "Seeing the Air Force from a different perspective will certainly give me a better understanding of the Air Force mission and our role as Public Health." Like Sergeant Nila, Maj. Rainey said the opportunity to bring back the experiences and lessons learned from a different operating location was the primary reasons he was selected for the award. "The opportunity to work at the military's premier trauma hospital at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, and the ability to help get wounded Americans home to their families was an honor and a life-altering experience," he said.
