Saturday 8 July, 2017 was the 150th anniversary of the
Montana Militia. The 190th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment (CRD) (190th
CRD is administratively under the direction of the 495th Combat
Sustainment Battalion (CSB) and tactically under the 19th Special
Forces Group (SFG)) conducted airborne parachuting exercises to commemorate the
anniversary of the Montana Militia. The day was a special day not only for the
Montana National Guard, but also for a father and son. CW2 Scott Turner, who is
currently in the Utah National Guard with 1st Battalion, 19th SFG,
was able to participate in the jump. His oldest son, SGT Patrick Turner, is a
member of the 190th CRD and the Montana National Guard. This was their first
opportunity for the father and son team to jump together. Mr. Turner, a current
static line jumpmaster, was the “jumping” jumpmaster for the first lift, first
pass of jumpers. The number two jumper, just behind his dad, was Patrick. The
static line jump was made from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from a drop altitude
of 1,500 feet AGL (above ground level). The jump was a success and all jumpers
from the stick exited the aircraft, had good canopy control, and landed safely
within Marshall drop-zone on Fort Harrison. The father and son team was able to
complete two jumps that day and are looking forward to opportunities in the
future.
CW2 Scott Turner is the Readiness Enhancement Company
(REC) with the 1/19th SFG in Utah. His last assignment was as
Commander of the 1049 – 1052 firefighting detachments for over 5 years and
formerly assigned as a 120A Engineering Technician with Detachment 3, 230th
Vertical Engineers in Hamilton Montana.
Mr. Turner is a 1993 Graduate in Electrical
Engineering from Washington State University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer
in 8 states, a volunteer firefighter for 17 years, and the Commander of Corvallis
American Legion Post #91. His military career began in 1984 with a four year
enlistment with the 2nd Ranger Battalion and then entering the
National Guard after a 16 year break in service. His initial assignment in the
National Guard was with 20th Special Forces Group supporting the
intelligence detachment, transferred to Washington State to Special Operations
Detachment Pacific (SODPAC), and then to the Montana National Guard. He was
commissioned as a Warrant Officer One in February 2010 after completing Warrant
Officer Candidate School in Fort Rucker, Alabama and subsequently completing
120A Warrant Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in October
2010.
Mr. Turner deployed in 2010 and 2013 in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom as an augmentee to the 2nd Ranger
Battalion as the Ranger Battalion Engineer Liaison Officer. He was responsible
for the electrical engineering analysis, implementation, and project management
for the Task Force South and Central construction activities and earned his
Combat Action Badge during combat operations in Afghanistan.
Mr. Turner has earned the Ranger Tab, Master
Parachutist Badge, High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Badge, Expert Infantryman
Badge, along with a Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal,
Joint Service Accommodation Medal, multiple Army Accommodation medals, NATO
Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars.
SGT Patrick Turner enlisted in the Idaho National
Guard in 2009 as a 12N - Horizontal Engineer. He learned to operate heavy
equipment and was in the Idaho National Guard for 5 years with the 126th
Engineers earning the certification as Master Driver. In 2015 he completed an
interstate transfer to the Montana National Guard, attended 74D
reclassification course as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
specialist.
SGT Turner has earned his Basic Parachutist Badge and
three Army Achievement Medals.
