Elon senior Ted Slusher, a Cadet in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 605, was awarded the Silver Valor Award on Thursday, March 17 for his voluntary act of heroism while serving as a Cadet Training Assistant at the Maxwell Six Field Training Unit at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
The Silver Valor Award is the second highest award in the AFROTC program. It is only given out on a national scale and must be approved by the AFROTC Commander at AFROTC Headquarters.
Detachment 605 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Payne said, “This is a very big deal; I have never heard of or known anyone who has received this award.”
Cadet Slusher distinguished himself on August 13, 2010 when his outstanding professional skill, knowledge, and devotion to duty culminated in his quick reaction to a choking incident at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi. He was the first responder to a cadet who had food logged in his throat.
Without hesitation Cadet Slusher brought the choking cadet to an upright position and began administering the Heimlich maneuver until the obstruction was dislodged. Cadet Slusher’s quick reaction was directly responsible for avoiding a more serious situation and is credited with saving the cadet’s life.
“We do extensive training in Self Aid-Buddy Care in our military training which prepares us for a wide spectrum of medical situations”, said Cadet Slusher. “I was just in the right place at the right time and thanks to my training I was able to react immediately and implement what needed to be done.”