MAG-40 Corpsman named MEB-A Sailor of the quarter

Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Petty Officer 2nd Class Traci Inniss, a team leader for the casualty evacuation corpsmen with Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, watches while waiting for a CH-53D Sea Stallion to refuel at Forward Operating Base Dwyer.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

08.28.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso 

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Petty Officer 2nd Class Traci Inniss, a team leader with the Casualty Evacuation Team supporting Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan, was selected as the first MEB-A Sailor of the Quarter of the MEB's deployment.

The Sailor of the Quarter award is given to a Sailor who leads by example, accepts responsibility, and adapts and overcomes any hardship that he or she endures. The Ground Combat Element, Aviation Combat Element, Combat Service Support Element and Command Element each nominated a representative, but it was Inniss, the ACE representative, who prevailed in the end.

"She takes charge, delegates fairly and is not afraid of responsibility," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Arnold, one of the CASEVAC corpsmen that work with Inniss. "She's always willing to get her hands dirty to help get whatever task that needs to be done; done."

"I think my willingness to do anything, to take on any challenge, is the reason why I was recognized," said Inniss.

Inniss, a native of Lyndon, Ill., joined the Navy in February 1995 due to strong influences from her family. Having a brother and sister in the Marine Corps inspired her to be a corpsman.

In 2008, she deployed for eight months to Al-Asad, Iraq, and now faces new challenges and different missions in a new setting, supporting MEB-A's mission in Afghanistan.

"Her ability to adapt to a completely different kind of mission is impressive," said Arnold, who deployed with Inniss in Al-Asad. "Her leadership style makes us strong and is the reason why we are as tight as we are."

Focusing on her junior sailors has been a key attribute to Inniss' leadership style for the past 14 years.

"You have to listen to your junior troops and know who they are," said Inniss. "My junior troops always come before me; by helping them grow and advance in their careers, by teaching them things they need to learn."

"She deserved the MEB Sailor of the Quarter because of her hard work and dedication," said Petty Officer 1st Class Craig Pasanen, the leading petty officer for the CASEVAC corpsmen. "She puts her Sailors before herself, which is evident by the success of her junior Sailors, who are 100 percent [Fleet Marine Force] qualified and their 100 percent advancement to [Petty Officer 3rd Class.]"

Although the end of deployment is far beyond the horizon, Inniss has no plans to stop leading her corpsmen to excel.

Once her current deployment does come to an end, Inniss plans to do what she loves most, spending time with her two children, Wynter and Aydan.

• Date Taken: 08.28.2009
• Date Posted: 08.28.2009 08:48
• Story ID: 38052
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF