Photo By Sgt. Zoe Garbarino | 1st Sgt. Jovanny Jones, first sergeant of Bravo Troop, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. – “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow, I’m a first sergeant, and I can’t even work right now,’” said 1st Sgt. Jovanny Jones as he describes his thoughts after he injured his knee. “I felt like I failed myself and my Soldiers.”
Jones, first sergeant of B Troop, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and a Trenton, New Jersey, native, joined the Army in 2001 to escape adversities in his area.
Jones said that in 2016, he led his troop on a deployment to Ukraine. While there, he participated in an annual Turkey Bowl, a football game where noncommissioned officers play against junior enlisted Soldiers to build esprit de corps.
“I was playing offense and when they threw the ball, I planted my left foot down so I could pivot to grab the ball and I heard a snap in my leg,” Jones said. “My knee was so swollen that I had to return to the states and have it looked at by several doctors.”
Before returning, his troop had a motivation contest to see who would assist him on the way back. Spc. Ruben Medina, a cavalry scout, who has worked under Jones leadership since he was a private, came in first and helped Jones until they came back to Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Medina said he wanted to win because he wanted to get to know his first sergeant better. He said he could tell Jones was eager to start his recovery.
“It was a blessing to have Medina’s help, and our bond became stronger because he was there for me,” Jones said. “That was my battle buddy, and it was just one of those things where I felt like a regular human being and not just a leader. Sometimes when we get higher in rank, people have this superiority. It doesn’t matter who you are; we’re all human beings.”
After Jones’ knee was examined by several doctors, they concluded that he had a torn patellar tendon that dislocated his kneecap and needed to have surgery to put two titanium screws into his knee. In addition, he had to attend Stewart’s Post-Operative Rehabilitation Therapy also known as SPORT.
Sgt. William Manns, a physical therapist specialist assigned to the Medical Department Activity, 3rd ID, said SPORT is a multi-phase program that runs Soldiers back through functional exercises and different rehab techniques that help them get back in the fight faster.
“You had subject-matter experts giving you advice and guidance,” Jones said. “Everyone there was intuitive, active and motivating."
Jones said he did research to help him heal faster and started taking fish oils and joint lubricants. Within four months after his surgery, he was able to run with his troop again.
“First Sergeant Jones is consistent with his leadership,” Medina said. “He always motivates us and pushes himself to show he’s part of the team.”
Throughout his career, his goal was to be a better Soldier than he was the day before.
“When my Soldiers come to me with injuries, I know exactly how to help them,” Jones said. “It was a gift and a curse because I had to go through it myself, but now I can guide my Soldiers in the right direction.”
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2018 14:29 |
| Story ID: | 281534 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | HINESVILLE, GA, US |
| Hometown: | SAVANNAH, GA, US |
| Hometown: | TRENTON, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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