Photo By Staff Sgt. Aidana Baez | Sgt. Roshawn Siggal is awarded the Army Achievement Medal from Lt. Col. Betsy Evans...... read more read more
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Soldiers from Company B, 53rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team were recognized during an awards ceremony for their selfless service this past weekend.
Sgt. 1st Class Norticia Everett, Spc. Tanisha Hall-Anderson, Sgt. Roshawn Siggal and 2nd Lt. Ludmila Pereira were awarded the Army Achievement Medal and presented with a military leadership coin from Maj. Gen Michael A. Calhoun, the adjutant general of Florida, for their efforts in serving as first responders during a single-vehicle car accident on March 8.
The Soldiers were returning to Pinellas Park, Florida, from Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Starke, Florida, when they witnessed a car heading northbound on Interstate 75 crash into and hop the metal median before coming to a halt in the southbound lane.
The Soldiers’ primary concern was the occupant’s welfare and safety.
I thought someone was seriously injured, said Pereira, a platoon leader assigned to Company B, 53rd BSTB. I thought they would need immediate medical attention.
The Soldiers immediately provided first aid to the victim and took control of the scene to prevent further accidents. The Soldiers removed the victim from the vehicle, contacted 911, removed debris from the road and contacted the victim’s family.
“When the vehicle stopped, I jumped out and ran toward the car,” said Siggal, a linguist assigned to Company B, 53rd BSTB. “Once the victim was a safe distance from the road and in the care of 2nd Lt Pereira and Spc. Hall, I went back to the road to remove debris.”
As a result of their actions, paramedics and Florida Highway Patrol were able to be on the scene in less than 10 minutes.
“At the moment, we were assisting in the accident, I wasn’t really aware of myself,” said Pereira. “I just really wanted to maintain communication with her to keep her awake and conscious.”
The moniker Citizen Soldier is not accidental. National Guard Soldiers are trained to serve in a wide capacity of roles ranging from humanitarian relief efforts within their respective states to conducting war-time missions overseas.
“My training in the Florida Army National Guard was crucial in allowing me to put my fear aside and provide assistance as needed,” said Hall-Anderson, a human intelligence collector assigned to Company B, 53rd BSTB. “Being put under the pressure of chaotic, dangerous and life-dependent situations helped tremendously when reacting to the accident.”
In the Army, all Soldiers receive training on common tasks regardless of their specific specialty skill. These warrior skills, which include rendering first aid, casualty reporting and reacting to various scenarios while in a vehicle, are essential to the Total Soldier Concept.
“My overall training is what made me react with minimal thought,” said Siggal. “It was almost a reflex.”
After the Florida Highway Patrol arrived, the Soldiers gave statements and relayed information obtained from the victim and were released from the scene.
“These four young Soldiers truly demonstrated the Army Values of selfless service and personal courage,” said Lt. Col. Betsy Evans, commander 53rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. “I could not be more proud of their actions, taking control of a stressful situation and bridging the gap until police and medical personnel arrived on scene.”
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2015 15:02 |
| Story ID: | 163985 |
| Location: | PINELLAS PARK, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 522 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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