Afghanistan War Veteran, retired U.S. Army medic carries ‘toolkit’ learned in service to duties with Army medical materiel development team [Image 10 of 15]

FORT DETRICK, MD, UNITED STATES

11.10.2022

Photo by T. T. Parish 

U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA)

Natasha Davis has Army green running through her veins. Born in Frankfurt, Germany to Angela and Keith, both Army Veterans, Davis wanted to carry on the family tradition – she enlisted in October 1997 as a Combat Medic, inspired by her parent’s service and the opportunities Army service can provide. “I was born overseas in Germany and had dual citizenship until I turned 18,” said Davis, currently the Program Coordinator for the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity’s (USAMMDA) Warfighter Brain Health (WBH) Project Management Office at Fort Detrick, Md. “I joined the military because I see what the military offered my parents and I wanted help make a difference. Another reason was to get out of my parents’ house and get out on my own.” After 20 years in uniform, which Davis retired in 2017, carrying the lessons of Army service with her into the civilian world – these lessons prepared her well for her current duties with USAMMDA. “As the mission for the Warfighter changes, so do the technologies that they need on the battlefield,” said Davis, who was raised in Columbia, S.C. “Every lesson you learn in life can be used in different stages of your life. In the Army we carried aid bags on the battlefield, [which] had most of the instruments and medications need to help the Soldier on the battlefield. The aid bag is like a toolkit. My toolkit now helps me to ‘tactical’ the day here at USAMMDA.” The physical aid bag Davis carried with her during her 2004-2005 deployment at Forward Operating Base Orgun-E in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province is not unlike the mental aid bag she carries with her today as part of USAMMDA. The internal toughness developed during 20 years in uniform, as a medic, Health Care Specialist and Equal Opportunity Advisor, shines through as she reflects on her career, and what she and other Veterans offer in their continued public service. “Veterans having the opportunity to continue to serve once leaving uniform is important,” said Davis, who recently earned her Master of Health Care Management degree from American Intercontinental University. “The Army taught me to be a servant leader. Servant leadership is a style based on the desire to serve and give back to your community. All of the knowledge that [I learned] the military gave to me, and now I get to use that knowledge to help the Warfighter on the battlefield. That gives me great joy.” (Official U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)

• Date Taken: 11.10.2022
• Date Posted: 11.10.2022 10:03
• Photo ID: 7507312
• VIRIN: 221027-A-PJ332-004
• Resolution: 2683x4024
• Size: 6.7 MB
• Location: FORT DETRICK, MD, US
• Hometown: COLUMBIA, SC, US
• Hometown: FORT DETRICK, MD, US
• Hometown: FREDERICK, MD, US