NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Thousands of former students who rave about his educational demeanor. An anti-drug program named in his honor. Military decorations for putting aside his personal safety to save others. Add those to a sheath of nomination letters from civilian and military leaders, and it’s no surprise that Sgt. 1st Class Garry Odom was awarded the 2006 Mary Ann Talley Instructor/Coordinator of the Year Award from the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedics (NAEMT).
Readiness noncommissioned officer for the 213th Area Support Medical Company, Odom is the first recipient of the award to come from our nation’s military ranks. The award was presented to Odom in Las Vegas on Friday, September 29. The presentation concluded the NAEMT Annual Conference and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Expo 2006. Odom said receiving the honor was a humbling experience.
“What I’ve tried to do was be a holistic kind of instructor. It’s my job to be able to go in and make sure that a student is getting the kind of instruction he can understand,” said the Little Rock resident. “I live by, ‘Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember. Let me do it, and I’ll understand.’”
Earning his first emergency medical technician (EMT) certificate in 1980, Odom has trained as a medic across the south, from Texas to Florida. He holds state and national certifications as an EMT and paramedic. Odom works as the combat medic coordinator for the Arkansas National Guard and is also a volunteer with Crystal Fire Department.
Having taught many EMT courses, Odom's former students are among his biggest supporters.
“It is difficult to convey the level of dedication that Garry has,” said Andrew Lachowsky, an Arkansas EMT. “He truly cares that each of his students learns the material and takes their education to heart. He obviously loves being an EMT and loves the role in providing care and compassion to others as an EMT.”
“Because of Garry’s efforts, National Guard combat medics will be less likely to encounter skill degradation and will reinforce their patient care skills for the Soldier on the battlefield. This new system will provide more EMT-[Basics] who can be recruited as volunteers and employees for the local EMS services in Arkansas,” wrote Danny Bercher, M. Ed., National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedics, in his nomination letter.
Bercher, chair of the department of EMS at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, went on to explain how Odom has arranged automobile extrication demonstrations for his combat medics. This is a requirement for EMT-Bs, but is a step above the required training for combat medics.
“There was no incentive for Garry to accomplish this program other than the satisfaction in knowing that his Army medics would be competent on the battlefield and more EMT-Bs will be available to provide patient care in the Arkansas civilian EMS system,” Bercher continued.
A combat veteran, Odom earned an Air Medal for Valor in 1991 for saving two troops from a mine field. His medic training programs have saved countless lives, according to a Guard medic who served in Iraq.
“When we were attacked on 24 April 2004 we were working in the dark, not knowing if we were next, but the one thing we knew was how to do our job,” wrote Sgt. Paula Reed, of Maumelle. “Because of our training from [Sgt. 1st Class] Odom, I believe lives were saved that day and many days afterward.”
Also nominating Odom for the award was Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Don C. Morrow, then-adjutant general of Arkansas. He noted that Odom crafted legislation that created a system by which Guard medics could earn state certification, providing them many employment opportunities. Danny Bercher, Department of EMS chairman at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, noted that Odom constantly hones his skills.
“Because of Garry’s efforts, National Guard combat medics will be less likely to encounter skill degradation and will reinforce their patient care skills for the Soldier on the battlefield,” he said.
In his 24-year military career, Odom has earned a number of awards and honors, including an Arkansas National Guard Award for Valor for his actions during a bridge fire at Camp Robinson and inclusion in the Jeep Gallery of Nominated Heroes. In 2005 he won the Arkansas EMT Instructor of the Year award. He implemented “Task Force Odom,” an anti-drug program and has delivered his message – “the drugs you use today will affect your tomorrow” – to more than 1 million students.
A national athletic trainer and former Navy corpsman, Odom said that his educational successes have come from hard work and a desire to help students learn.
“I love seeing that light come on. Once that light comes on, you’ve got a Soldier who is ready to go.”
NAEMT is a national association of EMTs and paramedics that represents paid and volunteer EMS workers worldwide. NAEMT’s goal is to serve its members through educational programs, information services, membership benefits, effective representation, and recognition of the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who provide pre-hospital medical care.
Each year, NAEMT recognizes excellence in various areas of pre-hospital medical care with the presentation of individual and organizational achievement awards. These awards honor America’s EMS providers and organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership within the profession and outstanding commitment to pre-hospital medical care.