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NEWS | June 25, 2021

MRTC Soldier receives Order of Military Medical Merit award

By Maj. Tomas Rofkahr Medical Readiness and Training Command

Lt. Col. Aaron Gopp, a member of the Army Reserve Medical Command's 7305th Medical Training Support Battalion, 2nd Medical Training Brigade, Medical Readiness Training Command, received the prestigious Order of Military Medical Merit in a ceremony held at Tusi Army Heliport, Fort Hunter Liggett, California, on June 16th.

Gopp, a nurse anesthetist from Fruitland, Idaho, serves as a senior observer/coach trainer. He shared credit for the honor with those he serves with.

“This (award) represents 33 years of accumulated work, but it’s because of you guys. If I came to work every day and didn’t have people that inspired me, people that didn’t believe what I believe, people that didn’t want to work as hard as I want to work – I wouldn’t be here. I am truly honored and blessed to serve with you all.”

Lt. Col. Christopher Mangum, who presented the award, explained the Order of Military Medical Merit recognizes excellence and promotes fellowship and esprit de corps among Army Medical Department personnel.

For Gopp, receiving the award isn't an end to hard work. After the ceremony finished, he and his fellow trainers and support staff immediately returned to work, managing the largest joint patient movement and medical field training exercise within the Department of Defense, Global Medic.

The Medical Readiness Training Command executes Global Medic as part of the Army Reserve Medical Command's larger mission to provide trained, equipped, and combat ready units and medical personnel to support the total force on the battlefields of today and tomorrow.