For Rajesh Jebraj, volunteering with Montgomery Emergency Medical Services is not just about answering calls—it is about fulfilling a lifelong calling to serve others.
Growing up in India, Rajesh dreamed of becoming a doctor. Although life ultimately led him down a different professional path, the desire to help people never left him. His first real introduction to emergency medical services did not come from a recruitment flyer, but through lived experience. After a medical emergency in his family years earlier, Rajesh saw firsthand how EMTs show up when people need help most.
After moving to Montgomery, that impression was reinforced by neighbors, including Jurij Mykolajtchuk and Ron and Noemie Gerschel, who spoke passionately about the township’s all-volunteer EMS squad. “What really drew me in was how people talked about EMS—not like a duty, but like a mission,” Rajesh recalls.
That sense of mission became unmistakable during the COVID-19 pandemic. “When the world shut down, EMS didn’t,” Rajesh says. “People were scared to leave their homes, but volunteers were still going out, still answering calls, still helping neighbors.” Watching Montgomery EMS operate on the front lines during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history solidified his decision to join.
“When the world shut down, EMS didn’t.”
The decision became even more personal when Rajesh’s oldest son entered the EMS cadet program. Soon after, Rajesh himself signed up, followed later by his second son. Today, volunteering has become a true family affair, with even the youngest eagerly waiting for the day he is old enough to join. Rajesh describes the experience as a blessing—an opportunity not only to give back to the community, but to grow together as a family rooted in service.
Among the many calls Rajesh has responded to, one stands out. Early one winter morning, a vehicle had gone into the water along River Road. Firefighters and EMS crews arrived within minutes. “No one was worried about the cold,” Rajesh remembers. “People were ready to jump into the water to try to save a life.” Although the patient ultimately did not survive, the call left a lasting impression. “That moment showed me what community really means—everyone doing everything they can, together.”
Within the squad, Rajesh found something else just as meaningful: a culture of mentorship and teamwork. From his earliest days of driver training, experienced members welcomed him, taught him, and supported him. Mistakes were treated as learning opportunities rather than criticisms, fostering trust and continuous improvement.
Today, Rajesh primarily volunteers weekend night shifts. “Friday nights work best for me,” he explains. “There are no work conflicts, and I can give my full attention to serving the community.”
Rajesh’s story is a reminder that EMS volunteers are not superheroes—they are neighbors who care deeply, show up when it matters most, and quietly make a difference every day.
