MAG-40 Corpsman Named MEB-A Sailor of the Quarter
2/22/2010
By
Lance Cpl. Samuel Nasso
,
Marine Aircraft Group 40
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Hightower, a casualty evacuation corpsman with Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, received the MEB-Afghanistan Sailor of the Quarter award for fourth quarter of 2009, on Dec. 26, 2009.
"Hightower is a very dedicated sailor that consistently performs at a level above his peer group," said Chief Petty Officer Edwin Brannan, a leading chief petty officer for the MAG-40 CASEVAC team.
The award officially recognizes the most deserving sailors of each quarter and consists of three rank-based boards. The boards are the Senior Sailor of the Quarter for petty officers first class, the Junior Sailor of the Quarter for petty officers second and third classes and Blue Jacket of the Quarter for seamen and below.
Each element of MEB-Afghanistan holds an internal set of boards and then submits the top candidate of each board to MEB-Afghanistan. The candidates are then evaluated based on ten categories: professional performance, leadership, military achievements, awards, educational endeavors, community involvement, the physical readiness test, deployments, enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare specialist and comments from each candidate's leading chief petty officer.
Hightower, a Chuluota, Fla., native, was one of more than 350 petty officers within MEB-Afghanistan who were eligible to compete for the Junior Sailor of the Quarter board. Hightower not only excelled beyond his peers, but showed how quickly he could take on the role of a corpsman operating with an aviation element, having come from a ground combat element.
"I have been there for the medical support on different large inserts and missions, flown a few routine medical evacuations and have helped the CH-53E squadrons with a lot of general-support missions," said Hightower, who came to MAG-40 from 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
After attaining more than 100 flight hours, earning the combat aircrew designation with three gold stars, and one strike flight air medal, Hightower volunteered himself for additional duties.
He volunteered for and was selected to be a combat replacement hospital corpsman, allowing him to return to his roots and assist Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, MEB-Afghanistan.
During this time, Hightower provided medical support and guidance to the platoon he was assigned, conducted 37 combat operations, treated nine non-battle injuries, assisted in the recovery of 23 vehicles and was instrumental in completing the annual influenza immunizations for 2nd LAR, said Brannan.
"He has stood out throughout our deployment as a subject matter expert in tactical medicine and his experience with ground forces has been invaluable to our success," said Brannan."
Hightower also took initiative and organized the means to send packages to Marines operating at the various forward operating bases within the MEB-Afghanistan area of operations.
"We set up [assault support requests] to send packages to the Marines at smaller FOBs that only get mail occasionally and need the simple amenities," said Hightower. "I know how it feels to be isolated with 12 other guys and it's always a good day when packages come from home to remind you that there are people thinking about you."
His compassion for Marines at forward operating bases mirrored his leadership qualities when dealing with junior sailors.
"Hightower ensures that his junior troops are taken care of before himself," said Petty Officer 1st Class Traci Inniss, a leading petty officer for CASEVAC. "No matter what is going on, he is always there to help or take charge of the task at hand."
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan-Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Hightower, a casualty evacuation corpsman for Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, names all of the parts of the M-4 Carbine rifle during the weapons fundamentals qualification to earn the Fleet Marine Force pin here, June 10. Hightower earned the MEB-Afghanistan Sailor of the Quarter, Dec. 26, for the last quarter of 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso) , Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 6/11/2009 5:53 AM
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan-Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Hightower, a casualty evacuation corpsman for Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, presents his certificate, Feb. 2, for earning the MEB-Afghanistan Sailor of the Quarter award for the last quarter of the year, 2009. More than 350 candidates were eligible for the award, but it was Hightower who earned the achievement through hard work, leadership and initiative. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso), Lance Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, 2/2/2010 6:36 AM
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