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ALUMNI PROFILEMaster of Business Administration 09 BANTA Jeremy I will bring your soldiers home safe a passionate statement made to hundreds of family and loved ones just hours before deployment to Iraq in 2003. Capt. Jeremy Banta of the Ohio National Guard was able to keep his promise despite many tenuous moments over the next 400 days. Each day for eight to 10 hours I would be completely out of direct control of my soldiers safety and the stress of that is unimaginable Jeremy shared. At the time Jeremy was Commander of the 1485th Transportation Company out of Dover Cochocton and Steubenville Ohio. His troops mission was to transport supplies through the Sunni Triangle using two of the most dangerous routes in all of Iraq. The technology wasnt like it is today. The convoy would be able to contact me and let me know they made it to the pick-up location and then within a few miles of base they were able to call and let us know they were almost back Jeremy recalled. Jeremys natural leadership pulled the troops through intense situations and bonded the team together well before deployment. In 2002 he was promoted to captain and suspected a tour to Iraq was pending. He began helping his soldiers and their families prepare for departure encouraging them to get their personal lives in order. Equipping soldiers for the perils of war continued well beyond his Iraq tour. Once home in the states Jeremy trained deploying units in logistics and transportation safety and strategies a job that kept countless soldiers safe each day. When asked about his life-saving contributions Jeremy quickly and humbly credits the brave soldiers under him saying I had a lot of good leaders. This spirit of servant leadership has continued to follow Jeremy throughout his career. He advanced higher in the Army while also completing an MBA from Franklin University in 2009. Four years later Jeremy was deployed again this time to Kuwait. The stresses of overseeing a combat unit were replaced with another pressure the balancing of soldier interests with Army philosophies and rules. This tour Jeremy served in a human resources capacity as a major in the 371st Sustainment Brigade. He oversaw multiple functions including soldiers requests for emergency leave. My second deployment really stretched my leadership style in a new way Jeremy recalls. My MBA from Franklin helped because it allowed me to see decisions from a more holistic and strategic view which was important Jeremy explained. Studying different leadership styles over the years shaped Jeremys approach to serving in the military. Between his two tours Jeremy transitioned from a more traditional command- centric Army approach to a personal leadership philosophy that guides his steps to this day in both civilian and military roles now as a lieutenant colonel. I am proud of the work we did both in 2003 and 2013. While I was in different leadership roles each time at the end of the day I just wanted everyone to come home safe and that is how I led. My second deployment really stretched my leadership style in a new way Jeremy recalls. My MBA from Franklin helped because it allowed me to see decisions from a more holistic and strategic view which was important. 15.A magazine for alumni and friends of Franklin University