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October 11, 2012 - Army Pfc. Khaley Jenkins, a medic with
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Special Troop
Battalion, Task Force Raptor. Jenkins has been in the Army since
July 2011. Photo by Army Spc. Alex Amen
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LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (10/21/2012) - When a man with blood
coming from the top of his head was escorted through the doors of
the Forward Operating Base Shank west aid station, Sept. 11, 2012,
the medics who work there jumped into action.
U.S. Army Pfc.
Khaley Jenkins, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd
Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Raptor, is one of those medics.
“Pfc. Jenkins came to us in March of 2012,” said U.S. Army Staff
Sgt. Matthew Gauthier, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 173rd Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Raptor, and
Jenkins' first-line leader. “At first she was timid, polite and
smart, but timid, and that's something we worry about with medics
because of the things we deal with: trauma, blood and danger.”
But Jenkins has surpassed first impressions and expectations
alike.
“I've seen a significant amount of improvement,” added
Gauthier. “Just recently, Jenkins has gone to the Soldier of the
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Month and the Soldier of the Quarter boards here and won both.
She has really risen to the occasion.”
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Humble and quiet, Jenkins stays focused on her career.
“I joined the Army in July 2011, right after I
graduated high school,” said Jenkins. “I wanted to be a
nurse, and I came upon the Army one day and someone told me
about being a medic.”
Helping people is something that runs in her
blood.
“My mom and grandma were both registered
nurses and ever since I was younger that's what I wanted to
do,” said the 19-year-old Burlington, N.C., native. “I like
helping people.”
Being an Army combat medic isn't
exactly the same as being a registered nurse, but for
Jenkins it's a first step.
“I'm taking online college
classes to become an registered nurse,” said Jenkins.
Until then she'll continue to gain real-world skills in
the small aid station at FOB Shank.
“It's rewarding
when people come in here and they don't feel good, or
something doesn't feel right, and you know the right
questions to ask to figure out what's wrong with them,” said
Jenkins. “People come in here to see us and need help and
it's nice to help.”
As she works towards becoming an
RN, Jenkins will continue to serve and care for her fellow
soldiers.
“I serve because I like doing my job, I
like being able to help people, in whatever way I can,” said
Jenkins.
Back in the FOB Shank west aid station, a
man had been escorted in bleeding from the top of his head.
The cut turned out small and easy to fix, and after an hour
of cleaning and stitching, the man with the head laceration
walked out of the aid station.
“Our job is giving
others the abilities to do their job, no one likes to go to
work when they're sick,” said Jenkins.
By Army Spc. Alex Amen
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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