By: Sgt. Melissa N. Lessard 504th Military Intelligence Brigade Public Affairs
(FORT HOOD, Texas, April 23, 2019)- A Soldier with the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion, 116th MI Brigade has been selected as an awardee of the John R. Teal Leadership Award.
The Capt. John R. Teal Award was established in 2003 to recognize officers, noncommissioned officers and civilian medical professionals serving in key operational positions who have made a significant contribution to the Army Medical Department's mission.
Staff. Sgt. Breana L. Lauas-Heathcock was recognized due to her character, intellect, and presence consistent with the values and attributes exemplified by the sacrifice of Capt. John R. Teal, said 1St Sgt. Robert A. Beresford II, Task Force ODIN Sergeant Major,
Leadership from the 206th said that Lauas-Heathcock worked with four different flight surgeons during deployment, was without a flight surgeon for at least 30 consecutive days and provided health care service support to over 1,600 service members.
"The plan of action was for everyone to just go to the hospital, but the brigade command team trusted me so much..." said Lauas-Heathcock. "It was kind of hectic for me because I had to do everything that I was doing plus I had to do everything that a flight surgeon would normally do."
Lauas-Heathcock said that she ordered, picked up, and separated medication. She also conducted over 20 battlefield circulations to visit personnel that were off station. She said she did this to ensure the people entrusted under her care were medically ready to meet the mission.
In addition to her responsibility of medical continuity, Lauas-Heathcock also taught and certified over 200 people in Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Casualty Care. She also taught the Individual First Aid Kit.
"About five months into my deployment the flight surgeons were switching out," Lauas-Heathcock said. "I was teaching an IFAK class, a general first aid kit class, and she asked, 'Hey, is it ok if I bring my replacement to your class?'"
"So, she brought him there and they absolutely loved my class," said Lauas-Heathcock. Since the new surgeon came, he would task me out with teaching the Bosnians TC3 or teaching the Australians TC3."
She said she also taught the adjacent units who didn't have a medic TC3, CLS, and IFAK classes.
Beresford said she is a utility neck. She was the headquarters platoon Sgt., and expert with her weapon, and will do anything that needs to be done without being asked.
"She directly affected mission readiness through coordination through four entities on Bagram Airfield to ensure uninterrupted care; enabling more than 140 aircrews to execute 32,000 combat flight-hours in this four-week span," said Beresford in a memo. "Her diligence and ability to project upcoming requirements enabled a 97.6 percent medical readiness compliance rate."
Lauas-Heathcock said, "Remember why you're serving. Why did you join the Army and why did you choose the job that you chose?"
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