SGT Brett Turnbough

Married to Bernadette; father of five daughters

When Sgt. Brett Turnbough acts, others follow.

Turnbough, 37, carried himself beyond his rank and served as a leader of peers during a recent series of missions, Col. Charles Bonasera, a National Guard commander, wrote in nominating Turnbough for Army Times Soldier of the Year.

First, Turnbough volunteered to deploy on a pre-deployment exercise in which he ensured day-to-day aviation readiness. He was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his actions.

On another mission, Turnbough, of Birmingham, Ala., voluntarily corrected deficiencies cited on an aviation inspection. In one case, he raised “petroleum readiness” from 11 percent to 87 percent, Capt. David Goodall, his supervisor, wrote to Army Times. Those actions earned Turnbough an Army Achievement Medal. Turnbough, who has no computer background, identified problems with a computer system used to track the unit’s helicopter maintenance levels, doggedly studied its software and fixed the problems, Goodall wrote. Turnbough’s command sergeant major, Wiley Russell, described the work as “inspiring.” Turnbough is a Warrior Leader Course graduate and former aviation corporal, a rare honor. Turnbough joined the Guard after 9/11 because he wanted to serve his country — and it shows, Goodall wrote.

“He is always there when the unit needs him and always puts the unit first.”