501st CSW Everyday Hero
Chief Master Sgt. Robert Sealey, 501st Combat Support Wing command chief, recognizes Staff Sgt. Ralph Pinkston, 423rd Medical Squadron aerospace medical technician, as a 501st Combat Support Wing Everyday Hero. As an aerospace medical technician, Pinkston is responsible for assessing patients, obtaining vital signs and patient history, updating medical records and assisting medical providers with minor surgeries. Pinkston also serves in several additional-duty positions, where he is responsible for maintaining the base defibrillators on RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth, instructing military and civilian personnel on life-saving first responder skills, and develops training plans, schedules and provides general expertise for high school students pursuing a career in the medical field. He has also been recognized repeatedly for exceptional customer service. While training at the 48th Medical Group, Pinkston noticed a family wandering around the hallways. Noticing the mother seemed distraught, he offered to help as she was attempting to collect all of their family medical records. He attempted to get her assistance at the lowest level, but when that didn’t work, he helped her to navigate office to gather their records. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chrissy Best)