Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Yeoman uses experiences to guide junior Sailors on deployment to Afghanistan

    Yeoman uses experiences to guide junior Sailors on deployment to Afghanistan

    Photo By Sgt. Clay Beyersdorfer | U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rayfus Parham smiles for the camera at the Role 3...... read more read more

    KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

    04.07.2014

    Story by Cpl. Clay Beyersdorfer 

    ISAF Regional Command South

    KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Petty Officer 1st Class Rayfus Parham has learned a lot during his 17 years in the U.S. Navy.

    Between his time serving on submarines and traveling around the world, Parham has had a wide variety of experiences.

    Now that he is deployed as the lead yeoman petty officer of the personnel shop at the Role 3 NATO Multi-National Medical Unit Hospital, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, it’s time to pass his knowledge on.

    “There are a lot of junior enlisted Sailors here, and I am happy to share my experiences with them,” Parham said. “If I can give them guidance and help them advance their own careers then I have done my job.”

    Deployment can be a difficult time for junior enlisted personnel, but Parham makes sure to check in and help whenever and wherever he is needed.

    “If they are struggling here, then they are not getting any better,” he said. “We want them to progress, learn things and become better Sailors, ones who are constantly striving to be better.”

    On top of giving advice to young Sailors, Parham handles administrative needs for 130 people at the hospital, a job he said he enjoys.

    “It’s a great feeling when you know you have helped someone with their problem or issue,” he said. “When you see that smile, and look of relief on their face, it makes it all worth it.”

    In addition to being vocal and mentoring the junior enlisted personnel at the hospital, Parham also leads by example, serving as the flight line program manager for the hospital, a job he stepped into when there was a break in the rotations of personnel.

    “I identified a weakness and I just wanted to make it a strength,” Parham said. “It’s not necessarily my job, but it is something that needed to be done regardless of what job you have.”

    At his home station at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Parham serves in the same position as a lead yeoman petty officer.

    His experiences there and his career overall prepared him for being away from friends and family, but being in Afghanistan he says, “is pretty cool.”

    “The things you see on TV and movies don’t compare to here,” Parham said. “When you can actually live it and go back and have these experiences to share, it’s a wonderful thing.”

    Parham’s ability to lead and mentor junior Sailors stems from the great leadership he has had over the years, including his chiefs at the hospital.

    “They have really been proactive and made us step up,” he said. “The chiefs challenged us and continue to mentor us on how to better teach our Sailors. It has been great to get that knowledge.”

    Even though many Sailors look up to him for guidance and knowledge, Parham says it’s never about self, it’s all about team.

    “Whatever I can do to help everyone collectively, I feel that is my job here,” he said. “I don’t want the spotlight, I want to help Sailors get better and move along in their Navy careers.”

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.07.2014
    Date Posted: 04.07.2014 10:11
    Story ID: 124636
    Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF
    Hometown: JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US
    Hometown: PEARL HARBOR, HI, US

    Web Views: 170
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN