Photo By Staff Sgt. Gene Arnold | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jerome Bingham, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th...... read more read more
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Not every soldier’s decision to serve the military was based on the events of 9/11. Jerome Bingham felt like he was at a dead end as a bill collector and wanted a new start. So, he decided to leave Lake Mary, Fla., for a sense of excitement and to see the world.
“I initially joined the military, the Army specifically, to leave home, travel and see the country,” said Bingham.
“I don’t have any regrets joining the Army. I’ve definitely became a better person, and a better man,” he added.
Now a staff sergeant Bingham is currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He is doing everything he’s set out to do.
Since his enlistment 10 years ago, Bingham has travelled to numerous locations across the globe.
“My first duty station was Fort Hood, Texas, and I deployed twice to Iraq there in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) II and OIF VI-VIII, as part of the surge in Iraq. We were probably one of the first brigades to do a 15-month deployment,” said Bingham. “I was also stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., where I also did a 12-month tour in Iraq. I conducted numerous NTC (National Training Center) and JRTC (Joint Readiness Training Center) rotations, to include schooling at Fort Lee, Va., and Fort Knox, Ky.”
Now on his fourth deployment he serves as the unit supply sergeant for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, at Forward Operating Base Sharana. His primary job is to help the commander keep accountability of all the moving and stationary pieces of equipment in the brigade’s area of operations, while also training a number of supply specialists to maintain their commanders’ hand receipts.
“Property accountability is very important,” said Bingham. “There’s a lot of responsibility and financial obligation in managing and controlling the property book.”
“We all work for a living, so one consequence of that would be someone being financially liable for missing or unaccounted for property,” said Bingham. “It could result in a negative evaluation report for both non-commissioned officers and officers.”
While managing the ever-changing property book, Bingham was recently selected for membership into the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, which is comprised of the top 2 percent of NCO’s across the Army. Sgt. Audie Murphy is the most decorated and accomplished U. S. Army soldier to grace the airwaves, movie screens and pages of history. The SAMC also conducts community outreach projects in order to bridge the gap between the military and neighboring communities.
“That was a goal of one of mine since I became a leader. It was a huge accomplishment to be inducted in the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club,” said Bingham. “I think being a part of this club will give me more opportunities to impact young soldiers in the Army. I would be able to give them some ground foundation on how to take care of Soldiers and volunteer your time to help the local communities.”
After completing his goal of becoming a SAMC member and successfully balancing his commander’s property book, what does the future hold for Bingham?
“I think the sky is the limit. I’m a staff sergeant, and I have 10 years in right now. I do plan on becoming a command sergeant major, if not my plan B is be a warrant officer,” said Bingham. “So between the two, I think the sky is the limit and I’m in control of my own destiny.”
| Date Taken: | 01.03.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2013 07:08 |
| Story ID: | 99869 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 422 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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