Navy Surgeon General, FORCM visit Marine Corps Forces Pacific and Naval Health Clinic Hawaii

By Capt. Dora Lockwood, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (NNS) -- Navy Medicine leadership held an all hands call with corpsmen from Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and Naval Health Clinic Hawaii, June 30.

Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and Force Master Chief Sherman Boss (FMF/SS/SW), director of the Hospital Corps, discussed the significance of their naval heritage and the important role corpsmen play on a global scale.

"You are part of a very special organization, an organization that has an enduring mission," said Nathan. "You are part of the Navy and Marine Corps team. A team that is designed to be out and about and around the world, patrolling and preserving peace. It's what we do."

Nathan described the esteem of being a Navy corpsman and the unique environments in which corpsmen work. He spoke of the bravery and sacrifice hospital corpsmen have demonstrated throughout history, making them the most decorated rating in the Navy. Nathan also expressed his gratitude to corpsmen for their ethos of care and for always being ready and agile, while providing excellent health care in any environment.

"I have so much respect for what Navy corpsmen do," said Nathan. "You have to work in a medical environment across every dynamic. You are on land with the Marines and special forces; you go to sea with surface warriors; you go under the sea on submarines; and you serve by supporting our flight surgeons and naval aviators above the sea. No other service does that."

During the visit, Nathan and Boss also answered a wide range of questions on topics including education opportunities, credentialing and certifications.

"You can get national certifications through Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online," said Boss. "Every Sailor should take advantage of it because it doesn't cost anything to get certifications through Navy COOL. Every day I am working for you to make sure the skills you learn in the military can equate to something in the civilian sector."

The all hands concluded with the Navy Medicine leaders expressing their gratitude to all corpsmen supporting the Navy and Marine Corps.

"I suit up every day because I get to serve with you," said Boss. "You continue to serve with distinction and I am so proud to serve with you. You are the finest Sailors of the U.S. Navy."

Sailors attending the all hands call were pleased that the Navy Medicine leaders spent with them.

"I appreciate that the surgeon general came to visit us today," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Joel Acevedo, from Irvington, New Jersey. "It means a lot to hear him speak of our sacrifice, and how our history has led us to be who we are today. I have never been more proud to be a United States Navy corpsman."

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.