A Hawaii-based flight medic who helped rescue troops under fire in Afghanistan has been named noncommissioned officer of the year by the Army Aviation Association of America.

Sgt. 1st Class Armando Ocon was presented the Rodney J.T. Yano Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ocon, of Pittsburg, Calif., is with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at Wheeler Army Airfield.

"We have a demanding but rewarding job," Ocon said in a news release. "You do not do this job for medals. You do this job because you want to. You feel so humble about your job when someone you saved comes up and thanks you."

Ocon served as a senior flight medic, company standardization instructor and platoon sergeant for the "Lightning Dustoff" operation in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, in 2012.

On May 8, 2012, Ocon ran about 200 meters through an uncleared minefield to rescue an Afghan interpreter wounded in a roadside bomb attack, the Army said.

On May 30, Ocon and his crew were sent to extract soldiers under enemy fire. Ocon jumped out of the helicopter and ran to help with loading wounded soldiers.

After taking off safely with all patients, Ocon began administering medical care when a military police dog, reacting to someone touching his handler, bit Ocon on the upper right arm. Ocon managed to restrain the dog so he could continue treating soldiers.

While performing his duties as a flight medic, Ocon also served as platoon sergeant of the 4th Forward Support Medevac Platoon. He was responsible for maintaining and caring for three UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters, 20 soldiers and more than $18 million of equipment.

The award is named after Sgt. 1st Class Rodney J.T. Yano, a Kealakekua, Hawaii, native who was killed in Vietnam in 1969. After a phosphorous grenade exploded in his helicopter and began detonating ammunition, the mortally wounded Yano threw out the remaining ammunition, saving the rest of the crew. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

"Sgt. 1st Class Ocon embodies the NCO creed," said Capt. Margaret Larson, executive officer of Ocon’s unit. "He is always willing to mentor soldiers and leaders. He does the same tasks he asks of his soldiers."

Ocon was also chosen to be the company’s standardization instructor. His previous combat experience and medical knowledge aided in training all nonrated crewmembers in the company.

"All his soldiers appreciate all he has done for us this last year and a half," said Staff Sgt. Jose Pantoja, a C Company flight medic. "He serves as an outstanding role model for us all."

Pantoja in January was named 2012 Army Aviation Association of America Dustoff Medic of the Year.