Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Fraser | Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Mark Hicks is promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class by...... read more read more
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MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Jacksonville, Fla., native U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) 2nd Class Mark Hicks was promoted to petty officer first class recently at Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) in Millington, Tenn., and on Jan. 21 Hicks reenlisted in the Navy for another six years.
“This advancement to me is a dream coming true,” said Hicks. “My overall goal is to make chief and retire.”
Hicks is the son of Michael Hicks Sr. and Sheryl Walker. He is a 2001 graduate of William M. Raines High School, Jacksonville, Fla.
Hicks entered the Navy in 2001 and completed HM “A” School immediately following bootcamp. As an HM, Hicks supports the Navy mission assisting in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury and helping healthcare professionals provide medical care to Navy sailors and their families.
During his 12 years in uniform, Hicks has served aboard ship and ashore. His first assignment following “A” School was USS Detroit (AOE-4), a Sacramento-class fast combat support ship home ported in Earle, N.J. His next assignment was Naval Branch Health Clinic in Kings Bay, Ga. Following his assignment in Kings Bay he returned to sea duty aboard USS San Antonio, an amphibious transport dock ship based in Norfolk, Va. where he experienced a great deal of travel visiting countries such as Dubai, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Rome, Scotland, Spain and Turkey.
“I chose to serve in the Navy to see the world and have a successful career while defending this great nation,” said Hicks.
Hicks is currently assigned to NRC as a medical waiver processor where he is responsible for bringing qualified individuals into the Navy and ensuring the active duty Sailors are medically cleared before transferring to the reserve force. He also serves as one of ten command physical fitness leaders (CFL).
“I actually became a CFL to quit smoking,” said Hicks. “It is very important to keep in shape in order to live a healthy lifestyle and have a successful career in the Navy.”
Hicks has an identical twin brother, born five minutes apart, who is also in the Navy.
“My brother is a Chief Operation Specialist stationed on the USS Simpson (FFG-56) in Mayport, Fla.,” said Hicks. “The relationship that we have is unbreakable, he's my best friend.”
Hicks said his brother motivates him to stay focused and become a better sailor.
“There's not really much competition between the two of us but we both have the same personal goal to either match or outrank our father who's a retired Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic,” said Hicks. “He still continues to pull rank on the both of us so by making chief or outdoing him would be awesome.”
Hicks says he is excited that he has reenlisted in the Navy and can’t wait to go back to the fleet.
“The support I receive from NRC has to be my favorite part about being here,” said Hicks. “This has been a good tour."
Hicks’ military awards and decorations include the Joint Service Achievement medal, three Navy Achievement Medals, four Good Conduct Medals and qualifications as a surface warfare specialist and an aviation warfare specialist.
For more stories and current Navy Recruiting news visit www.cnrc.navy.mil
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2014 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 119958 |
| Location: | MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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