Incirlik captain named Air Force's best nurse Published Feb. 24, 2015 By Senior Airman Michael Battles 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- In a corps full of dedicated, professional and skilled Airmen, it's hard to stand out as above average, but one 39th Medical Operations Squadron nurse recently rose above the rest after winning an Air Force-level award. On Feb. 4, in lobby full of her peers, Col. Mark Anarumo, 39th Air Base Wing vice commander, announced Capt. Rachel Chavez, 39th MDOS clinical nurse, as the recipient of the U.S. Air Force's Company Grade Officer Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award. "It's such an honor to win this award," Chavez said. "I could never imagine I would win at this level." Even though Chavez was the recipient of the award, she said most of the credit should go to the men and women of the 39th MDOS. "I couldn't have won this award without them," Chavez said. "They are the reason I do what I do. These individuals are amazing and I'm completely humbled to work beside them." According to Col. Andrew Meadows, 39th Medical Group commander, the reason for Chavez's win is her unwavering dedication to the nursing profession and the mission. "Capt. Chavez won the nursing excellence award because of her excellence in quality patient care and being a well-rounded capital 'A' Airman on and off duty," Meadows said. "She is a great leader inside her career field as well as outside and has excelled at giving feedback and implementing alternative and innovative ideas that have positively impacted the mission." Along with receiving the clinical excellence in nursing award, Chavez is also a 39th Air Base Wing CGO of the quarter and a recipient of a U.S. Forces in Europe inspector general team excellence award. Meadow's closed his thoughts of Chavez with a quote by one of her coworkers, "There are only a few people in a person's life that you will truly remember because of how they affected your life; Capt Chavez is one of those special individuals. It has been a great honor serving with her." Chavez also explained it's humbling to receive these awards, but the real reward is following in her mother's footsteps and by becoming a nurse while having the chance to serve her country at the same time. "I grew around nursing my whole life," Chavez said. "My mom is a nurse and I always wanted to be one as well. The best part of being a nurse for me is that I also get do to it for my country."