Faces of the Pacific

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica Wahls | DMT HM2 Luke Sweeney. Photo submission by service member's unit.  

SANTA RITA, GUAM

07.22.2019

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica Wahls 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5

“I wanted to find a sense of purpose and belonging. I was never a fan of mediocracy, and I admired
people that had gone before me and done challenging things in the Navy” Heart-felt words from
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Luke Sweeney, when asked what drives and inspires him.
Sweeney, hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio,​ enlisted in the U.S. Navy in ​Oct 6, 2008.A​fter graduating
from Recruit Training Command, he attended Hospital Corpsman "A" School in Great Lakes, Illinois.
Upon completion, he was selected to attend Dental assisting “C” school and Field Marine Force
Training (FMF) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. For the next 10 years Sweeney served as FMF
Corpsman alongside 2nd Marine Logistics Group Camp Lejeune, NC as well as 1st Marine Logistics
Group Camp Pendleton, CA.
Hoping to teach future servicemembers “to be lifetime learners, never feel comfortable with what
you already know or what you’ve already done, and constantly strive to better yourself mentally or
physically." he jokingly says “Choose your rate, choose your fate.”
Willingness to try new things opened the opportunity to join the east coast All Marine Boxing Team
for just under two years. HM2 reflects “This was a very unique opportunity for me as an E-3. I
enjoyed traveling around to many places, stateside and overseas. One of which happened to be
London, England competing in the Royal Albert Hall and dining with the Prime Minister.”
“After serving several years as an FMF corpsman I had the desire to cross over and experience the
expeditionary side of the Navy. More specifically, becoming a Diving Medical Technician (DMT). I
graduated Navy Dive School as a Deep Sea Diving Medical Technician on August 13, 2018. In
conjunction with my orders to EODMU 5 I attended Basic Airborne School in Ft Benning, GA.
Graduating September 14th, 2018.” Sweeney remineces ”Since then I have been serving here at
EODMU 5 as the DMT for the Dive Locker. As the DMT I am qualified to treat dive related injuries as
the primary inside tender for the FARC (Fly Away Recompression Chamber) Team. Responsible for
maintaining the Dive Lockers medical readiness as well as conduct and participate in Dive
operations alongside Divers and EOD techs.”

• Date Taken: 07.22.2019
• Date Posted: 10.18.2019 01:23
• Story ID: 348134
• Location: SANTA RITA, GU