CAMP PENDLETON — A service member deployed to Afghanistan is often considered a hero in the U.S. While the average person might take their “hero” status and sit on their laurels, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ericka Hall, a corpsman at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, is making a real difference in supporting the provincial reconstruction team mission of connecting the Afghan people with their government.
Hall was awarded the PRT Khost Warrior of the Week for Aug. 7 to Aug. 13, during a short ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, Aug. 14. The PRT field corpsman is currently serving as a member of PRT Khost in the Khost Province of Afghanistan.
“It’s nice to be recognized for the work that we (the PRT) do,” Hall said. “I couldn’t have done this without the work of others.”
According to her citation, Hall “voluntarily sorted and cataloged items donated by charitable organizations in the United States, and established an organized storage system in the humanitarian aid connex, ensuring that the items were available for critical civil affairs, female engagement, and humanitarian aid missions. Corpsman Hall performed beyond the scope of her rate during a heavy casualty event at Combat Support Hospital Salerno, (on FOB Salerno). She rendered time critical trauma aid, resulting in positive outcomes on three patients. She volunteered as the assistant S1 (administrative officer), providing positional depth on the PRT staff ensuring administrative continuity during the upcoming leave periods.”
“I am very lucky to have Petty Officer Hall as a member of the PRT,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Brad Brewer, PRT Khost commander. “Her work ethic, leadership and devotion to the team have made it possible to meet our daily tasks and move us forward in accomplishing our overall mission of improving security, supporting good governance and enhancing provincial development.”
PRT Khost is made up of more than 85 sailors, soldiers, airmen and civilians. The PRT conducts population-centric governance and development counterinsurgency operations. The team builds the capacity of the provincial and district governments, develops critical infrastructure, education and stabilization initiatives, and works to increase the legitimacy and accountability of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the populace, ultimately enabling reintegration and transition.
