On the final day of National Volunteer Week, we’d like to take this opportunity to hear about the service of one of UGI’s employees, Joe Perugino.
Don’t forget: Today is the final day to help us raise funds for Operation Homefront of PA & DE! We will give $5 if you follow this blog, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Thanks to all who serve our country and to all who volunteer in our communities!
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Joe Perugino
Guest Blogger: Joe Perugino, Foreman, Customer Service, UGI PNG, Wilkes-Barre
In Oct of 1990, I decided I needed a change in my life so I enlisted in the PA Army National Guard. I was assigned to Head Quarters Battery in the Medical Section of the 1st Battalion 109th Field Artillery in Kingston, PA. Since I was already a Paramedic and wanted to serve our country, it seemed like the thing to do. In January 1991, I left for my Basic Training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina where I celebrated my 30th birthday and was the 2nd oldest there.
Initially, I was assigned as a Combat Medic to a Field Artillery battery as a PVT 1st Class (PFC). I was responsible for the medical welfare of approximately 60 personnel. After working very hard for 7 years, I worked my way up to Sergeant. I was now 2nd in charge of 10 lower enlisted soldiers. With this position, I was assigned to our Battalion Aid Station in which was the location that a sick or injured soldier was taken from the field.
Upon successful completion of Basic Non Commissioned Officers leadership course in 2003, I was then promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. With this position I was the highest enlisted medical personnel in the Medical Section and in charge of all activities within the Section. In March of 2005 I was offered a position as a Health Care Specialist which was the Non Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) of a Medical Clinic located in Philadelphia and was also promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC). This unit was a clinic from the PA Army National Guard Medical Detachment (MEDDET) with its Head Quarters (HQs) located at Ft. Indiantown Gap. While our primary mission was the Medical Readiness of the 28th Infantry Division, our mission was changed to Soldiers Readiness Processing (SRP) in 2006, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the fall of 2007, I was offered the position of Chief Medical NCO for the MEDDET and also the promotion to Master Sergeant (MSG), this being the highest enlisted position brought on greater responsibility. Being in charge of over 100 personnel, the responsibility was now accountability, assignments, health and welfare, safety, and environmental; along with being in charge of enlisted evaluations, promotions and reductions.
With all the operations going on overseas, the PA National Guard was called upon for deployments and I was ordered to Active duty to assist in conducting SRPs for over 5,000 soldiers in the spring of 2007. This also included travel to Camp Shelby,Mississippi where I was part of a team to evaluate the medical processing that was being conducted.
Coordination of staffing made it possible to continue our mission of completing medical screenings for over 15,000 over the comings years on drill weekends.
Then in the Feb 2010 I was assigned to the Division Surgeon Cell with the promotion to Sergeant Major (SGM). I was the Senior Medical NCO for the 28th Infantry Division. I was now the Division Medical Sergeant Major working with the Division Surgeon we were in charge of overseeing all medical aspects for the division soldiers, assisting with the coordination of all the continuing medical education of all the Combat Medics, to include National Registry Emergency Medical Technicians.
Jan of 2011 brought another activation for 6 months due to the continued operations overseas. This time I was placed 2nd in charge of the total SRP process. During the activation I made a decision with my wife that after 20 years of service I was going to retire from the National Guard.
The support received from my fellow employees and management at UGI enabled me to provide tremendous service to our country.
