CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - U.S. Army Medical Command selected Capt. Jacqueline Brinson, a member of North Carolina National Guard's 113th Sustainment Brigade, as this year's Army National Guard recipient of the Capt. John R. Teal Leadership Award. The award is named in honor of John Teal; the first medical officer killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Teal, a Medical Service Corps Officer for the 4th Infantry Division, died from injuries he sustained on Oct. 23, 2003 near Baqubah, Iraq after a roadside bomb detonated near his convoy. Upon his death, the Army Medical Command established the John R. Teal Award, which annually recognizes MSC officers and non-commissioned officers who have made significant contributions to the medical community and displayed exceptional soldiering skills.
Speaking about her award, Brinson said, "I was very excited and a bit emotional when I found out that I received the Capt. John R. Teal Leadership Award. I've worked long and hard supporting North Carolina National Guard units during their home-station mobilization and re-deployment events and it's a wonderful feeling knowing your efforts have been acknowledged by leaders in your career field as having made a difference in an organization."
Brinson, from Fayetteville, N.C., has worked in medical operations at the state and brigade level and simultaneously managed roles as NC Army National Guard Assistant Deputy Surgeon and the State Medical Detachment commander.
"Brinson's receipt of this award is an acknowledgment by the surgeon general and the medical operations consultant to the surgeon general, of her many years of outstanding duty and performance," stated Col. John Grote, senior medical operations officer for the 113th Sustainment Brigade.
Grote continued, "Capt. Brinson went above and beyond in her duties and succeeded. Her efforts ensured the medical readiness of the NC Army National Guard and the 113th Sustainment Brigade. Her actions while deployed, significantly contributed to the continued success of the 113th's readiness posture."
Brinson will receive a plaque, a surgeon general congratulatory note and an Army commendation medal to be presented by her home station commander.
Brinson's unit, is currently on a yearlong deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and will redeploy home to North Carolina this winter.
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