‘I was right behind her’ - CAP medic intervenes in a crisis
FORT KNOX, Ky. - When a Command Assessment Program candidate collapsed, her doc was right behind her - literally. Sgt. Minjin Choi, a licensed practical nurse from the 531st Field Hospital and currently at Fort Knox supporting CAP, was running with her, enabling Choi to catch the candidate as she passed out and immediately give aid.
On Oct. 17, 2024, Choi came to work the same as ever - vigilant and ready to step in should the need arise.
“I man the medic station,” said Choi. “But instead of just sitting in that corner, I like to walk around and cheer on the candidates as they perform their ACFT event.”
Prior to performing the two-mile run event, a candidate approached Choi and asked her to check her pulse. It was abnormally high. The candidate was given a choice - to fall out or attempt the run, the final Army Combat Fitness Test event.
The candidate chose to run. Several laps in, she approached Choi, saying she felt sick. Choi took the candidate’s pulse again, and began running behind the candidate, who wanted to continue the event.
“That way at she least had that comfort of me being right behind her; and she could at least try to finish,” said Choi.
A little later, the candidate told Choi she was going to pass out, and Choi reassured her that she’d be there to catch her. A moment later, the candidate collapsed into Choi’s arms.
The medical cadre called 911.
“We kept an eye, cooling her down, verbally assuring her that it’s okay, because it’s really also a physical and mental thing to calm the patient down,” said Choi.
Soon the patient was transported to a medical facility.
“I believe I reduced the time of the care that could be given for her, because I was running the laps with her. I was right behind her.”
The rest of the CAP cadre and the candidates stepped up and assisted, said Choi.
“It is a life-threatening situation, but with the help that I received, I was able to do my job in a calm manner,” she said.
Choi was awarded an Army Commendation Medal from the U.S. Army Human Resources Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Hope C. Rampy for her actions.
“We are trained to do a lot of things, but you can probably name one or two times, maybe, that it was truly on the line. You either execute or not,” Rampy said. “And not everybody that is trained to do what (Choi) knows how to do, can perform that under stress … Someone has a life to thank for (her actions) and will forever remember. So (this award) is just a very small token.”
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