Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fernandez | Spc. Thomas E. Paye, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic with the 619th Transportation Company,...... read more read more
GARRISON PETAWAWA, Canada - Hard-working and high-speed are just a couple of words used to describe Spc. Jeffrey E. Paye. A perfectionist is yet another.
For example, scoring a 298 out of a possible 300 points in the Army physical fitness test would make most Soldiers happy and elated, but for Paye, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic with the 619th Transportation Company, 812th Transportation Battalion, 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) and native of Bangor, Maine, it was not enough and he immediately began training harder and pushing himself to prepare for the next test.
Paye is currently training hard providing maintenance support for 11 trucks on a convoy traveling more than 2,500 miles across Canada. The convoy, labeled Maple Caravan 15, is a joint American-Canadian transportation mission. The Soldiers drove from their Reserve unit in Dexter, Maine, to Canadian Forces Base Valcartier March 16 to pick up Canadian equipment and transport it across the country. The journey involves over 320 military personnel from both countries, and is a small portion of Exercise Nationwide Move 15.
Paye not only trains hard, but he is always looking to further develop his knowledge and understanding of his job as an Army mechanic.
“He is very conscious and knowledgeable of what he does,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Grant, a squad leader with the 619th Trans. Company, and native of Milford, Maine. “He’s always trying to learn more.”
Paye attributes a lot of his drive and success in the Army to his uncle.
“My uncle is a master sergeant in the Army,” said Paye. “When I was in elementary school, I brought him in to talk to my class about his job, because he was my inspiration. He’s the epitome of what a true Soldier is.”
That inspiration, along with his dedicated work-ethic, has helped Paye get where he is today.
It has shown throughout his military career, from being promoted quickly, to being assigned the position of team leader.
“Just a few days ago we had a vehicle breakdown,” said Spc. Allen H. Avery, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic in the 619th Trans. Company, and native of Milford, Maine. “Someone called for a mechanic over the radio to hook the truck to a tow bar. Within seconds all I heard was Paye’s familiar voice saying, ‘I’ve got it.’
The truck had broke down in an intersection, so it had to be hooked up and moved quickly, but I’ve never heard of anyone hooking up a truck as fast as Paye did. Just a few minutes after the initial call came out he was on the radio again saying, ‘all set.’”
Completing his duties in a timely manner with no complaints is no easy task. However, Paye takes it a step further and tries to make his work fun and enjoyable for not only himself, but for those around him.
“I always see him with a smile,” said Grant. “Wherever he goes he creates a joyous work environment and he gets the job done efficiently and effectively, even on his bad day he has a smile on his face.”
As effective as he is, Paye relies on his team just as much as they rely on him. Their inseparable bond helps them to achieve the desired outcome in work.
“We’re brothers,” said Spc. Michael J. O’Clair, wheeled-vehicle mechanic with the 619th Trans. Company, and native of Milford, Maine. “We all have each other’s backs, and that’s how Soldiers ought to be with each other.”
“Paye is a very high-speed Soldier and one of the best I’ve seen,” said Grant. “He’s definitely somebody the other Soldiers follow.”
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2015 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 157657 |
| Location: | GARRISON PETAWAWA, ON, CA |
| Hometown: | BANGOR, ME, US |
| Hometown: | DEXTER, ME, US |
| Hometown: | MILFORD, ME, US |
| Web Views: | 1,373 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Young Soldier: Inspiration to many, by SSG Jonathan Fernandez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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