Photo By Edward Dixon | Graphic representations of the Fiesta medal that were unveiled during the Navy Reserve...... read more read more
SAN ANTONIO - Navy Recruiting District San Antonio is commemorating 100 years of Reserve service by dedicating this year’s Fiesta medal to the Navy Reserve.
Officially unveiled in March during a centennial celebration at the Navy Operational Support Center or NOSC San Antonio, the medal features the centennial logo on the front with NRD contact information on the reverse, executed in the Navy colors blue and gold.
“I was excited to see we were incorporating the Reserve centennial into the medal because I have 15 years of Reserve experience,” said Cmdr. Karen Muntean, executive officer of NRD San Antonio. “Getting to tie our medal to the Navy Reserve is very special to me. It’s a piece of my history.”
Originally from Calhoun, Tenn., Muntean is currently in a full-time support position as NRD’s second in command. She began her Navy career as a hospital corpsman in 1988 and after training spent two years with the Marine Corps then transitioned to the reserve component.
While a Reservist, Muntean completed both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree then received a direct commission. She subsequently served with a cargo handling battalion, was deployed to Kuwait during Operation Enduring Freedom and served with a Seabee battalion.
Muntean realized she loved active duty and requested a position in a full-time support capacity. She was accepted and took command of NOSC Green Bay in Wisconsin.
She said she understands the challenges as well as the commitment a reserve Sailor makes both as a drilling reservist and on active duty as a commanding officer.
“Even though a Reservist is on active duty just two days a month and two weeks a year, it is a full-time commitment. They are balancing two career paths while also supporting their families and their local communities,” Muntean said.
“While climbing a career ladder on the civilian side, they are simultaneously keeping up with Navy instructions, directives, readiness initiatives and an advancement schedule on the Navy side.”
Muntean explained that reserve leadership has additional responsibilities managing Sailors who they see only once a month, or once a year, if at all.
“Many times they’re even separated from (their Sailors) on those active-duty periods,” she said. “In addition, those reserve personnel have to be as ready as their active-duty counterparts who are on the job 24/7.”
Muntean said Navy Reservists are responding to an innate call to serve and that Navy Recruiting is happy to salute their dedication with the centennial medal.
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2015 16:55 |
| Story ID: | 158586 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | CALHOUN, TN, US |
| Hometown: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 417 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Navy Recruiting salutes the Reserve centennial with special medal, by L.A. Shively, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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