1st Sgt. Kathryn D. Asurmendi, Department of Aviation Medicine
1st Sgt. Kathryn Asurmendi is a native of California and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2009. She attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX, becoming a Healthcare Specialist (68W).
1st Sgt. Asurmendi’s military education includes Master Leader Course (Honor Graduate), Senior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course (Commandant’s List), Basic Leader Course (Commandant’s List), Master Resilience Training Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course, Joint Enroute Care Course, Common Faculty Development – Instructor Course, Medical Evacuation Doctrine Course, Critical Care Paramedic Course, Pathfinder Course, Rappel Master Course, and Air Assault Course.
1st Sgt. Asurmendi’s civilian education includes an Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a concentration in Applied Mathematics.
1st Sgt. Asurmendi’s first assignment was to 24th BSB, 170th INF BDE at Baumholder, Germany, where she served as an Ambulance Driver and Health Care Specialist from 2010-2012, deploying once to Afghanistan as a Convoy Security Medic in 2011. 1st Sgt. Asurmendi then served with 162nd INF BDE at Fort Johnson, LA, from 2012 to 2014 as a Team Leader, Evacuation Sergeant, and Security Force Assistance Team Instructor. 1st Sgt. Asurmendi moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, in 2014 where she served with 1/4 CAV REGT, 4th BDE as a Team Leader before transferring to Boomer DUSTOFF in 2015. While assigned to Boomer DUSTOFF, she served as a Flight Medic and Platoon Sergeant, deploying for a second time to Afghanistan in 2016. 1st Sgt. Asurmendi then served with Lonestar DUSTOFF at Fort Bliss, TX, from 2017 to 2019. During her tenure, she served as an Air Ambulance NCO and Platoon Sergeant, deploying for a third time to Afghanistan in 2019. 1st Sgt. Asurmendi moved to Fort Novosel, AL, in 2020 where she served with the Department of Aviation Medicine as an Instructor and Enroute Care Branch NCOIC. 1st Sgt. Asurmendi’s previous assignment was with Human Resourses Command, where she served as the 68W4O/ASI F2/ASI W1 Assignment Manager.
1st Sgt. Asurmendi’s awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with C Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Humanitarian Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge, Basic Aviation Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Basic Army Instructor Badge, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge – Silver.
1st Sgt. Asurmendi likes to spend her off time volunteering as a Donor Ambassador with the American Red Cross.