Not much is known about the early life of Turbo. There are few records or references that provide reliable information regarding his life before he became a soldier. However, it is known that he was born in the late 1st century and came from a city in western Greece called Epidaurus, which was a place well known for its religious temples and healing centers. The first substantive record of Turbo appears in 113 AD, when he rose to prominence in the Roman military. However, he is thought to have been a Primipilus at some time.
The first record of Turbo appears in 113, during the reign of Emperor Trajan. At this time, he was the commander of the Classis Misenensis, the most senior fleet of the Roman Navy and under the direct control of the Emperor. Under Turbo’s command, the fleet sailed to the east to take part in Trajan's invasion of the Parthian Empire sometime between 113 CE and 116 CE.