Tech. Sgt. Jason Crosby steps up to the plate, serves his country

Tinker Air Force Base Okla. -- Tech. Sgt. Jason Crosby is the quintessential Airman. He is a father of two, caring husband, a devoted churchgoer, a baseball and college basketball fan, and will put service before self. 

By all accounts, the Air Force is seemingly lucky to have him. 

"His professional courtesy, personal appearance and his willingness to tackle all challenges head-on shows he is truly a model noncommissioned officer," said Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Cherry, 72nd Air Base Wing command chief. "His performance on the job at Tinker combined with his expeditionary experiences in Iraq and his relentless pursuit of excellence in every endeavor makes him the quintessential Airman." 

Sgt. Crosby enlisted in the Air Force 12 years ago when he realized he wouldn't follow in the footsteps of Chicago Cubs legend Ryan Sanberg, and wanted to pursue a career in medicine. 

"Medicine is what I wanted," said Sgt. Crosby, a medic and noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Family Practice at the 72nd Air Base Wing's 72nd Medical Group. "I thought I wanted to be a (physician's assistant) but, the more I learned about it, the more I thought about being a nurse or paramedic." 

Assigned to Tinker for the past five years, Sgt. Crosby oversees the schedules of 16 technicians, six administrative technicians and seven nurses, in addition to his patient care duties. Patient care duties may include inserting an intravenous tube, giving injections, screening patients or assisting with minor procedures such as a mole or cyst removal, or a vasectomy. 

"I (also) provide a lot of oversight to the younger technicians in training on medical skills that technicians can't receive here on per say patients because (the 72nd MDG) is not a medical facility," Sgt. Crosby said. "We don't get the opportunity to see as many patients as Wilford Hall (Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas), so we work hard to try and make sure the training is up-to-date and young Airmen understand (Tinker) isn't all there is to being a medic." 

Even though Tinker doesn't have an extensive medical facility, Sgt. Crosby said he is quite pleased with his assignment and the Oklahoma City-metro community. 

"The nicest people in the world are in Oklahoma City," said Sgt. Crosby, who grew up as a military brat and followed his father, an Army sergeant first class, on various assignments. "I like the big city conveniences and small town mentality." 

In his career, Sgt. Crosby has been permanently stationed at two stateside Air Force installations - Tinker and Robins Air Force Base, Ga. - and deployed to Tallil Air Force Base, Iraq for a six-month bare-base operation in March 2003. 

"It was the most exciting thing I've ever done in the Air Force," Sgt. Crosby said of his tour in Iraq. "I really got to see the impact that medics have on the Air Force and the mission of keeping the warfighter fighting." 

Sgt. Crosby said he's in the Air Force for the long haul, at least 20 years.
"I don't know anywhere else where you can work for 20 years and draw a check for the rest of your life and still be young enough to start another career," Sgt. Crosby said.