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It’s the job of Navy hospital corpsmen to provide healthcare to those who serve. Through that job, especially during times of combat, their role allows them to create unique and special bonds between the Marines and sailors they look after.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua D. Watson, a hospital corpsman with the 21 Area Branch Medical Clinic, said the bonds created between corpsmen and Marines during a deployment is what makes the job special and enjoyable.
“The stuff that happens out there can never be replaced with anything that happens here,” said Watson.
Petty Officer 1st Class Marie E. Morris, a hospital corpsman with the 21 Area Branch Medical Clinic, says that for her, being in a social environment and being able to interact with people is what makes a job enjoyable.
“Being able to interact with the Marines that you deploy with is a big part of the job that I like,” said the 36-year-old Winamac, Ind. resident. She says she considers them her extended family.
Watson said being deployed with Marines sometimes involves picking up a rifle.
“When I was deployed with the police transition team in Fallujah, my staff sergeant told me we only have 16 guys, so you’re our doc, but you’re also a rifleman,” said Watson. “When we were out there alone in downtown Fallujah, there’s a bond you can’t get away from.”
Morris said being a corpsman has allowed her to do some amazing things throughout her military career.
“The last deployment I was on I got to do health initiatives where I would go out with the Female Engagement Teams and teach the local Afghan women about basic hygiene, malaria prevention and child care,” said Morris. “Going out with the FET teams was amazing. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things.”
Morris says even though she will not continue in the medical field once she is out of the military, the experiences she’s had will stay with her forever. Watson says whether he stays in the military or gets out, he will continue to help people. He said he will have transferable job skills and will look to get a job in emergency management.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2011 19:43 |
| Story ID: | 70351 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 169 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Hospital corpsmen continue to form close bonds with Marines, by Cpl Mark Garcia, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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