JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - As a bright-eyed 17-year-old, entering the Army was Eugene Jeffers' first serious occupation outside of having a paper route and picking produce for a local farmer in Syracuse, Ohio.

"This was my first real job, and the only thing I have done since then," said Command Sgt. Maj. Eugene Jeffers.

Jeffers, who has plans of retiring next year, is a 30-year veteran who serves as 62nd Medical Brigade's command sergeant major. He expressed that he embraces his experiences and is proud of the changes in the Army he prepares to leave behind.

When Jeffers entered basic training June of 1982, he was engulfed in trying to figure out his new surroundings and all the challenges that came with his new career. He explained that originally he only planned to do four years and receive a college fund, but those thought are void based on the span of his career.

"I quickly realized that I was a part of something unique," Jeffers said. "You get transformed and realize that, I am no longer an individual I am know a Soldier. From there on that's who I am and all that I am."

Reflecting on the years Jeffers remembers a few career highlights such as when he jumped into Panama during Operation Just Cause in 1989 to save lives on the battlefield, when he received his expert field medical badge as a private, when he was appointed to command sergeant major when he was chosen to be the task force command sergeant major in Iraq and Afghanistan during two separate deployments and most recently became the command sergeant major of 62nd Med. Bde.

"I just look back upon everything with great fondness and joy," Jeffers said.

Not only does he appreciate his career highlights he feels that he has made an impact on his Soldiers, which is an important part of being a non-commissioned officer. He remembers one particular situation where he helped a Soldier who made a potentially career-ending mistake.

"I sat down with the Soldier and was completely honest with him," Jeffers said. "I said if you are not cut out to be a Soldier then that's fine and you have it in your heart to be successful, then here's what you need to do."

"After talking with him and sharing my guidance he later emailed me saying that he got promoted to sergeant and explained how great he felt to be a non-commissioned officer.

Col. Theresa Schneider, 62nd Medical Brigade commander, feels that Jeffers is an outstanding leader and is passionate about taking care of his Soldiers.

"He's the consummate soldier and medic," said Scheider, a native of Oradell, N.J. "A stellar leader with tremendous experience and passion for being a soldier and being a part of the Army. Working with him everyday I see being a leader is in his blood it's in his core to develop and mentor Soldiers."