Navy Medicine Visits the Sunshine State for Tampa Navy Week

Photo By Larry Coffey | (l-r) A Young Middle School faculty member; HMC Melanie Drew, Navy medical recruiter; HM2 Ryan Gandy, NOSC Tampa; LCDR Annissa Cromer, executive assistant to RADM Rebecca McCormick-Boyle; RADM Rebecca McCormick-Boyle, NMETLC commander; CMDCM Mitchell Sepulveda, NMETLC CMC; and Selena Lewis, a Young Middle School teacher, together outside Young Middle School.  

TAMPA, FL, UNITED STATES

05.10.2018

Story by Larry Coffey 

Naval Medical Forces Support Command

Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-Boyle, Navy Medicine Education, Training and Logistics Command (NMETLC) commander, and Command Master Chief Petty Officer Mitchell Sepulveda, NMETLC Command Master Chief (CMC), were in Florida for Tampa Navy Week 2018.
The duo spent time with the Tampa-based University of South Florida (USF) Health senior vice president, and multiple deans, professors, staff and students from the colleges of medicine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, and physical therapy and rehabilitation sciences.
“We honor the trust to care for America’s sons and daughters,” McCormick-Boyle told a group of USF Health nursing students and professors as she described Navy Medicine’s guiding principles. “The American people trust we will provide the best possible health care for their sons and daughters serving in the Navy and Marine Corps. It’s a responsibility we take very seriously.”
McCormick-Boyle described a variety of ways enlisted Hospital Corpsmen and Navy Medicine officers care for America’s sons and daughters, including expeditionary medicine, garrison health care, wounded warrior care, research and development, education and training, and global health engagement.
“America’s Navy protects and defends our nation,” McCormick-Boyle said. “Navy Medicine’s key role in that mission is supporting readiness. We ensure Sailors and Marines are healthy and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. We support readiness on the sea onboard ships, above the sea on aircraft, below the sea on submarines, and on the battlefield. No ship leaves the pier, and Marines do not go into combat without their doc.”
Brief video clips explained the Navy Medicine enterprise, featured Sailors and crew describing service aboard the Hospital Ship Mercy, and highlighted Navy rescue efforts during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The audience was visibly moved by a clip of a hurricane survivor in tears, thanking the Navy helicopter rescuers who plucked her, her family and their three dogs from flood waters.
The Navy Medicine representatives also spent time with Tampa community and business leaders. Sepulveda joined McCormick-Boyle at the podium during the Tampa Bay Kiwanis luncheon to help present the Navy-focused overview “The Navy the Nation Needs.”
The former Master Chief Gunner’s Mate turned full-time rated Command Master Chief (CMDCM) described weapons systems he operated and managed during multiple deployments on multiple ships, and the aircraft his Sailors flew and maintained while he served as an aviation squadron CMC. McCormick-Boyle discussed the Navy’s mission, past and present, and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) priorities. She also described how the American public and businesses depend on the Navy to keep the sea lanes free lanes.
Local Navy recruiters and Navy Medicine officer program recruiters joined McCormick-Boyle and Sepulveda at three magnet schools where students study for a medical technical career or prepare for college in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) classes. The admiral discussed Navy Medicine careers and the importance of STEM. The master chief emphasized character, education, initiative and good choices, whether or not they chose military service.
McCormick-Boyle wrapped up Navy Week with the Navy Medicine presentation to approximately 50 middle school STEM students, staff and faculty, where she presented her personal challenge coin “chips” to students.
Navy Weeks are held in areas with a limited Navy presence and conducted by a flag officer and multiple Sailors who educate the public about their role supporting the Navy mission. Navy Medicine supports Navy Weeks with a flag officer or with Navy Medicine “ambassador teams” typically composed of enlisted Hospital Corpsmen and Navy Medicine junior officers.

• Date Taken: 05.10.2018
• Date Posted: 05.15.2018 11:36
• Story ID: 277041
• Location: TAMPA, FL, US