Ohio State fan sets an example as a good NCO

Photo By Sgt. Spencer Case | Sgt. Jason Nickles, a squad leader in the 215th QM Co., poses for a photo at Camp Cedar II, Iraq, Nov. 25. Photo by Spc. Spencer Case.  

CAMP CEDAR, IRAQ

12.08.2005

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP CEDAR, Iraq " Sgt. Jason Nickles considers himself as the biggest Ohio State fan in Iraq. Others think of him as a competent Soldier and an example to younger servicemembers.

Since December of 2004, the Ohio native has drawn on his experience to serve as a squad leader for the 215th Quartermaster Company, of Jeffersonville, Ind., which has escorted combat logistics patrols throughout Iraq.

"He's probably about the best leader in the whole company," said Spc. Kyle Barner, a gunner for the 215th who worked alongside Nickles throughout the deployment. "He doesn't look out for himself first. He looks out for us first."

In March, Soldiers from the 215th were helping to escort trucks from Kellogg, Brown & Root when an IED disabled one of the fuel trucks that they were escorting. Nickles took control of the CLP and reported the incident to higher command.

In another instance, Nickle's CLP halted when a civilian CLP ahead was under small arms fire. Somehow, a KBR employee was stuck behind and needed to get to the front of the CLP. So Nickles, armed with an M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon escorted him to the front while the firefight was taking place.

Nickles joined the Army when he was 18 because he felt his life lacked direction. "I was looking for discipline," Nickles said. "I wanted to mature and do things I"d seen military people doing."

Nickles left the Army in January 2001 after four years of active duty service, but joined the Reserve shortly after Sept. 11. Nickles said he came back because he missed the camaraderie he felt with his fellow Soldiers during his service.

He also wanted to pay for his education as a student at Ohio State University majoring in human development family services. To this day, Nickles is known by all as a diehard Ohio State fan, complete with a college flag on the wall of his trailer to make him feel more at home.

Nickles deployed to Afghanistan with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion in May of 2003 where he assisted a Special Forces unit and helped perform humanitarian missions for the local population. He became familiar with weapons such as the .50-caliber machine gun, M-249 SAW, and the M136 AT-4 anti-tank weapon among others.

Once he returned from Afghanistan, the Army reassigned Nickles to the 307th Medical Group. He was only with the unit for a few months before he was reassigned to the 215th for deployment to Iraq.

Now that the deployment with the 215th is coming to a close, Nickles said he can't wait to go home to visit his mother, Kim Karrasch, who lives in Grove City, Ohio, and his sister, Jennifer Nickles, who also lives in Columbus, Ohio. He plans to live in an apartment with Spc. Barner and other friends he has made from the 215th.

Nickles re-enlisted for another six years, but says he ultimately wants to pursue a civilian career in the FBI or CIA. For now, he is content to concentrate on the deployment.

"I get to bring all my troops home in a few days and I've never failed a mission," Nickles said. "That's something I'm very proud of."

• Date Taken: 12.08.2005
• Date Posted: 12.08.2005 07:32
• Story ID: 3985
• Location: CAMP CEDAR, IQ