FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. – A local city council recognized a U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory Soldier for her compassion and care of one of their injured citizens.
Sgt. Allison Ravelli has been in the U.S. Army for almost six years. Her military occupational specialty is a 68 Whiskey, combat medic specialist. She has her basic emergency medical technician certification, and while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Liberty, N.C. (formerly Fort Bragg) she attended a paramedic course in Fayetteville, N.C.
Although Ravelli is a combat medic, she doesn’t see patients at USAARL where she is currently assigned. Rather, in her current role, she uses her healthcare expertise to contribute to research, testing, development, and evaluation to protect Service Members and enhance their performance. Ravelli’s role at USAARL saves lives in a more indirect nature compared to her role in combat. She wanted to ensure she kept her combat medic skills fresh so that she would be ready for the day when she will need to actively save lives again. To do this, Ravelli has been moonlighting on the weekends as an emergency medical technician, EMT, caring for patients in their homes and in the back of an ambulance enroute to the hospital in Ozark, Ala., a local city outside of Fort Novosel. Ravelli says that working as an EMT in her spare time helps her keep perishable technical skills, like giving patients IVs and electrocardiograms, current. “Use it or lose it,” she says, “I don’t work with patients in my current role, so this work will keep my skills fresh, and up-to-date for my next assignment.”
Ravelli values the skills she has learned as a combat medic and uses those skills to positively impact her local community. The Ozark City Council recently recognized Ravelli and two other Ozark City EMTs for their compassionate and selfless service in caring for an individual who injured their back. Ravelli and her team transported the individual from their home to the hospital. The individual wrote a letter to the mayor of Ozark praising the group for the care they provided.
The recognition took place in Ozark, Ala. The three were presented a Certificate of Excellence, signed by the City of Ozark Mayor, Mark Blankenship, and presented by Fire Chief C. Ward. Chief Ward explained that the citizen was very appreciative of their professional service and for comforting them on a tough day. Chief Ward also noted that the Ozark Emergency Medical Services responds to an average of 24 calls per day.
On receiving recognition for her service, Ravelli says, “I’m happy that I could help somebody. That’s all I ever wanted to do. I’m so glad somebody felt so helped by me that they felt they had the duty to write a letter to the mayor.” Ravelli’s selfless service and commitment to her duties not only as an Army combat medic, but as someone who responds compassionately to the needs of others, reflects positively on the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory.
About USAARL
USAARL is a world-class organization of subject matter experts in the fields of operator health and performance in complex systems; the en route care environment; blunt, blast, and accelerative injury and protection; crew survival in rotary-wing aircraft and combat vehicles; and sensory performance, injury, and protection. USAARL engages in innovative research, development, test and evaluation activities to identify research gaps and inform requirements documents that contribute to future vertical lift, medical, aviation, and defense health capabilities. USAARL is a trusted agent for stakeholders, providing evidence-based solutions and operational practices that protect joint force warriors and enhance warfighter performance. USAARL invests in the next generation of scientists and engineers, research technicians, program managers, and administrative professionals by valuing and developing its people, implementing talent management principles, and engaging in educational outreach opportunities.
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