LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airman 1st Class Chansol Kim, 47th Medical Support Squadron referral management technician, was chosen by wing leadership to be the XLer of the week, for the week of Feb. 12, 2018, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
The XLer award, presented by Col. Charlie Velino, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, is given to those who consistently make outstanding contributions to their unit and the Laughlin mission.
Kim, a native of Gwang Myung, Republic of Korea, believes his job is vital to Laughlin’s charge of “graduating the world’s best military pilots, deploying mission-ready warriors and developing professional and confident leaders.”
“Our job is critical because the health of our [Airmen] is an important role to our mission,” Kim said. “We need to make sure each and every Airmen get their medical needs to support our wing's mission.”
One of Kim’s achievements was creating 137 defense travel system vouchers while serving as the organizational defense travel administrator for a $320,000 patient travel budget.
“We give travel pay to the patients, but we also have to make sure the money is going to the right place,” Kim said. “We don't want our funds to go to unnecessary expenses. That is why we have a set of rules for what the patient will get reimbursed.”
Kim was able to save approximately $2,000 in costs by processing 17 government operated vehicles to patients. These vehicles provide only active duty patients an alternative when traveling for medical reasons.
“I really recommend taking a GOV to the appointment because traveling to San Antonio stacks mileage on your car,” Kim said. “Patient travel benefits gives you 18 cents per mile which may not even be enough to cover the trip, but you don’t have to pay for gas in a GOV.”
Along with his accomplishments at work, Kim has been a part of the honor guard for eight months, has supported 21 events and honored 12 families.
“Being a part of the Honor Guard makes me very proud,” Kim said. “Sometimes, the funerals can be very tough when you see the family's eyes and tears, but I [feel] relieved when they appreciate our service as we appreciate their service.
Being a selfless team member is a part of Kim’s success. He attributes his achievements to the hard work and dedication that his team demonstrates to execute any assigned task.