Nellis Airman named one of Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Published Aug. 9, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Whitney Jackson Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Senior Airman Ulla Stromberg, 99th Inpatient Operations Squadron aerospace medical technician, was named one of the U.S. Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year July 8, 2011, due to her hard work and dedication. "I was just beside myself when it happened," Stromberg said. "Anyone can do it; you just have to keep reaching for your goals." As an aerospace medical technician, Stromberg has encountered many fantastic milestones in the short amount of time she has been in the Air Force. After being stationed at Nellis for almost two years, Stromberg deployed from June 13, 2010, until Dec. 25. During her deployment, she augmented the Bagram Air Field emergency room. While serving there, she fielded three trauma calls and stabilized nine patients for aeromedical evacuation by establishing intravenous access and protecting their airways. "In the beginning of my career, I had intentions of cross-training," Stromberg said. "The deployment, however, changed all of that. I know now that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be." Also while she was deployed, Stromberg completed the necessary training to become a victim advocate for any victims of sexual assault. During her deployment, she served as a certified representative for 5,100 active duty Airmen at Bagram Air Field. "I always strive to do better than what is asked of me," Stromberg said. "I think everyone should try to work one rank higher than what they hold, that way your supervisors are confident they can give you that responsibility when it's time." Stromberg has achieved many landmarks at home as well. Some of her accomplishments at Nellis include earning a Medic of the Month unit award, which recognized her outstanding leadership, medical expertise and synergy. She also received the 2010 Air Combat Command Honor Guardsman of the Year award after training and drilling 60 new Nellis honor guard members. Additionally, Stromberg has been working towards her Community College of the Air Force degree. While she was deployed she managed to sustain her 4.0 grade point average and complete an additional six credits. "I always tell people to remember how they felt after they graduated from basic training," Stromberg said. "During basic military training, your every moment is planned out for you. Finally, when you are granted base liberty, a small handful of privileges are given back and it is at that moment when your eyes open to what freedom really is. You reflect back on the initial training and realize how much you have accomplished in so little time. The colors of the flag shine brighter than they ever did before...you feel as though anything is attainable. Never lose sight of that."
