Photo By Staff Sgt. Coltin Heller | Staff Sgt. Jayme Turner, serving as a line medic with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Some soldiers perform jobs to a standard. Others perform above the standard, setting an example of leadership for others to follow.
Staff Sgt. Jayme Turner, medical operations noncommissioned officer assigned to Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, Division Surgeon Section, 4th Infantry Division, earned the Capt. John R. Teal Leadership Award for exemplifying outstanding leadership and soldiering skills.
Capt. John R. Teal, brigade medical planner with 2nd Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., died Oct. 23, 2003, near Baqubah when an improvised explosive device detonated, destroying his vehicle and wounding two other soldiers.
After Teal’s death, which marked the first time a medical officer died in Iraq, the Medical Service Corps established the annual award, presented to Health Services Operations officers and NCOs in medical logistics and operations sections who made significant contributions to the mission and whose performance exceeded standards.
"I'm flabbergasted by the whole event," said Turner from his seat behind an array of computer monitors in the joint operations center. "I didn't know I was being awarded."
From his seat in the JOC, Turner manages medical services and support functions, and tracks assets across the U.S. Division-North operating environment, including medevac helicopters and various aide stations.
“It’s my job to provide up-to-date information on the medical capabilities the command has at its leverage,” said Turner, who calls Salt Lake City home. “I make sure I do everything I can to get my brothers and sisters back to the U.S. safely.”
Turner, currently on his third deployment, originally served in the Navy on a bomb assembly team for an aviation ordnance unit. Turner decided to leave the Navy in 2000.
“It wasn’t something I wanted to do at the time,” he said.
One day while watching television, Turner decided to return to military service.
“I came back in after I saw the invasion on TV,” said Turner, thinking back on the day. “I thought it was my responsibility to be out there with them, helping my countrymen. I didn’t feel right sitting on my couch.”
Turner enlisted in the Army in 2003 as a combat medic, enabling him to fulfill his desire.
“I wanted to do something that was positive, and I thought being a medic and serving was the most positive thing to do in a uniform,” he said.
During his first deployment to Iraq, Turner served with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., conducting operations near Arab Jabour as a senior line medic.
Turner’s second tour with 4th Inf. Div., in 2008, brought him to Baghdad, where he served with a military transition team as a medical advisor to the 6th Iraqi Army Div.
Now on his third deployment, Turner no longer serves with a line unit, but said he still finds his job rewarding as well as challenging.
“I’ve enjoyed the technical challenge of the job that has been given to me,” he said. “It’s a different type of job at the division level. I had to learn to do the job of an operations NCO.”
Turner said he was given the opportunity well before his time, as his job is usually staffed by senior NCOs, and appreciates the chance to excel at a higher level.
Maj. Todd Ryktarsyk, chief of medical operations with Division Surgeon Section, 4th Inf. Div., submitted Turner for the award.
“When I saw the announcement, I thought, ‘What guys in the section go out of their way to make an improvement?’” he said. “Staff Sgt. Turner is that guy.”
For Ryktarsyk, the award means more than just words or a medal.
“I knew J.R. Teal,” Ryktarsyk said. “I was stationed with him in Hawaii, so this has personal meaning to me.”
Ryktarsyk praised Turner for being an independent thinker and his ability to make sound decisions regarding the use of medical assets for support and coverage.
“You can give him a task and he’ll run with it,” said Ryktarsyk, a native of San Antonio. “He has a broad base of knowledge and applies it to whatever he does.”
Turner, in addition to his other duties, developed an internet portal the section uses to track tasks, improving overall operations.
“He constantly improves what he developed and he shares that knowledge and helps out other sections in the JOC,” said Ryktarsyk about Turner.
Turner attributes his work ethic to his mother.
“My mother has been my biggest influence. She was a single mom raising five kids, all the while maintaining a full-time job in the National Guard,” said Turner. “The one thing she taught me that I keep in my mind is to do something right or don’t do it at all.”
Turner said his wife, who he has known since childhood, is his biggest supporter.
“I forget who said it, but the saying goes ‘Behind every great man, there is a great woman,’ and I have two of them—my mother, and my wife, Jocelyn,” he said.
After being recognized with the award, Turner said he simply performed his job the only way he knew how to.
“I didn’t do anything special, I just came to work and improved my fighting position,” said Turner humbly. “I treat this job just like every other mission.”
Instead of IV bags and abdominal dressings, Turner said he now uses operations orders and fragmentary orders in his job at division headquarters.
“It’s like a digital aid bag; just a new set of tools at my disposal,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2011 05:52 |
| Story ID: | 71842 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 247 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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