Name: Leticia Garza
MOS: Hospitalman
Unit: Naval Health Clinic
Age: 22
Hometown: Escondido, California
Date Joined: April 24, 2012
Growing up in Escondido, Calif., Seaman Leticia Garza said she always wanted to be a doctor. When she struggled to stay in school for financial reasons she turned to her husband for help.
“My husband who is in the Marine Corps suggested that I join the Navy and become a corpsman,” said Garza. “I wanted to be a doctor so I took him up on the offer and here I am now.”
Garza, a corpsman with Cherry Point’s Naval Health Clinic, works in the Woman’s Health Clinic ensuring that all women are healthy and ready to deploy.
“I make sure that all female Marines, Sailors and spouses are taken care of medically and are healthy enough to go on a deployment,” said Garza. “If they aren’t healthy or haven’t had their proper screening then deployment may not happen.”
Garza says the most challenging part of her job is learning numerous things in the medical field and having the ability to switch between departments such as moving from the WHC to “sick call.” However, she says that her diversity in her job is a great thing.
“Being flexible is a good quality to have which is what this job is all about,” she said. “Learning everything, switching areas and just overall being able to adapt to change is great.”
With the opportunity to diversify herself in the medical field, Garza says she doesn’t regret the path she chose.
“I love being a corpsman,” said Garza. “I never thought I would be where I am today.”