Justin Nash

November 09, 2018 - 08:11 PM

Specialist (E-4)
United States Army
2 Years of Service
Mt. SAC Emergency Medical Service/Fire Technology

Born and raised in southern California, I was working on getting hired with a fire department. As one of MANY people with a fire academy and EMT, I needed to set myself apart as a candidate. I also had a slight issue with authority. While never having run-ins with the law, I did find myself jumping from job to job. I enlisted in the US ARMY as a Combat Medic in January 2010. I went to basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, an old man in military terms at 29 years old. After basic, I went to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas to do Combat Medic school. I was assigned to Fort Hood, to 2nd Batallion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (First Team). This storied unit dates back to before the Civil War when it was commanded by then LtCol Robert E Lee.

I deployed in 2011 to Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn and would patrol the local areas as a line medic assigned to Gold Platoon, Alpha Co (Infantry). We then pulled out of Iraq, as fellow soldiers from 1st Brigade Ironhorse physically locked the gate at K-crossing between Iraq and Kuwait, officially ending combat operations in the war. Unfortunately, an injury caused me to have to exit the Army.

In October 2012, I left Fort Hood and returned to SoCal, married my wife and started our family. I used my GI-Bill to get my Paramedic license from UCLA and currently work for AMR-Rancho as a 911 paramedic.