Jared Hyer

Navy since April 1998, been on 3 ship deployments to the gulf, 2 Iraq deployments and 1 Afganistan deployment. I have been in VFA-94, VAQ-142, VFA-122 and NRD Portland. Awarded with 5 NAM's, 2 Recruiter of the Year and 1 Sailor of the Year. I have held the position of Recruiter in charge, Leading Petty Officer in work center and quality assurance, worked in maintenance control and have held Safe for flight qualification along with full system quality assurance representative. Been in charge of ordnance for over 115 aircraft and have been an ordnance board member along with unit administrator.
I hurt my lower back during an deployment to Afganistan back in December 2006, was told everything from "there is nothing wrong with you" to "suck it up everyone has back problems". It wasn't until I lost control of my bladder functions and feeling in groin and right leg that they took me serious (January 2011). I was rushed in for surgery and had "Displacement, intervertebral disc, lumbar; Instability, Lumbosacral; 2 Fractured, vertebra, Lumbar; Spondylolisthesis; and Cauda Equina Syndrome." I started with the comment "you'll get better in a few months" then "maybe 4 months" then "should be good in 9 months" to finally "you may never get better". I started my PEB in October 2011.