An Army Medic’s Journey to Hospice Volunteer

Jules Smythe is the first to say she found her calling later in life. She’d always wanted to join the military and become a nurse, but it wasn’t until her 40th birthday that she formally enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Still, Smythe wasted no time catching up. She soon received the education and training she needed to become a registered nurse and a “68 Whiskey” — a combat medic. Stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington, she moved up the ranks quickly, eventually joining her company’s senior leadership team and working in administration. That experience taught her something about herself and, eventually, led her to pursue a degree in health management.

“I realized I had a desire for knowing and accounting for every person, every soldier, and every ambulance,” Smythe said. “I wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed, and that everything was on track and functioning as it should.”

Smythe ran the Tactical Operations Center (TOC), which is the command hub for JBLM’s military training, for several years before an injury forced her to retire from the Army. Not ready to give up her passion, Smythe pivoted, looking for a meaningful way she could use her skills to give back.

“The Army taught me to never give up, to push, push, push and find a way to do it,” she said. “That’s what a registered nurse does, and it’s what a volunteer does, too. We keep going until we make it work.”

Smythe volunteered in schools, clinics, and nursing homes and even worked as a nurse in the Dominican Republic for 21 days as part of a mission trip, but it wasn’t until she found Traditions Health that she felt like she was home.

“I was really looking for something that would fill my heart,” she said. “I searched and waited for a long time for something that called to me.”

Because she had run military training and operations while never actually being deployed herself, Smythe understood the importance of behind-the-scenes support for teams. She quickly jumped in to lend her expertise to the hospice care team — preparing packets for hospice patients, making copies, and, most importantly, tracking paperwork.

“There’s so much paperwork, and it’s so important,” Smythe said. “A person can’t stay in hospice if certain things aren’t tracked appropriately. There’s a lot of detailed information, much like the Army. There’s more to it than anyone knows, and if certain protocols aren’t followed correctly, a person could lose their hospice care status, which could be very detrimental to families in their time of need.”

Today, Smythe credits the Army with building her into a better, stronger person and leading her in the right direction in life.

“Even though my military career was short, it made me a better person so I can give back,” she said. “I learned it takes a whole team to make something work. At Traditions Health Ocean Springs, I’m appreciated, and I know I’m making a difference.”

Volunteer with Hospice at Traditions Health

As a hospice volunteer at Traditions Health, you serve as a critical member of our care team — helping us give the love, respect, and care our patients and families need. Whether you’re providing companionship or performing important administrative tasks, you play a vital role in enabling the larger team to meet patient and family needs.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities, or contact [email protected] to get started.