Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Meagan Christoph | 200401-N-XT693-1001 BREMERTON, Wash. (April. 1, 2020) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jena...... read more read more
From undesignated airman aboard an aircraft carrier to leading petty officer of a military treatment facility immunization clinic.
Meet Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jena Escobar, assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Bremerton, who has known she wanted to be a Sailor most of her life.
“I knew I wanted to join the Navy since I was seven years old,” said Escobar. “Following in both of my grandfathers’ footsteps, along with many other family members. I was the first female in my immediate family to join.”
Born in Panama City, Fla., Escobar graduated from Kenwood High School in Clarksville, Tenn., before joining the Navy in early 2015.
“I started off my career as an undesignated airman on (nuclear aircraft carrier) USS John C. Stennis (CVN74),” she said. “I joined to become a corpsman in the Navy. At the time of my entry into the military I was told that the rate was completely closed for new corpsman and that I could join undesignated and eventually cross rate at a later time.”
An undesignated airmen is a Sailor in the aviation community without a set job. They will get the opportunity to work around the ship before choosing one.
“I was determined to become a corpsman regardless of how long it took or any crossroads it may lead me to along the way,” said Escobar. “Every month I applied for [corpsman] and [corpsman] only. I did not choose any secondary rating. I wanted to be a part of Navy Medicine regardless of how long it took me to receive a true rating or promotion. I knew I had a passion for helping others and that corpsman was the best way to fulfill that desire while serving my country.”
Because of the path she traveled to Navy Medicine, Escobar believes she has a whole different perspective of the Navy.
“Many people come into the Navy with an assigned job and an assigned pathway for their career, I feel as if I had to truly earn my rating doing a job that did not fulfill my initial goal,” said Escobar. “Looking back I am grateful that I took the career path that I did. I learned a whole new appreciation for the community that I am now a part, the community I once wanted so badly but I was told I couldn’t achieve. Here I am today, a product of determination and a representation of Navy Medicine.”
After becoming a corpsman, Escobar was assigned to NMRTC Bremerton as a team leader for Medical Homeport Family Medicine and the leading petty officer of the Immunization Clinic.
“My most exciting assignment has been working in immunization due to the amount of networking within the rest of Navy Medical Forces Pacific that is involved daily,” she said. “I get to interact, train, and assist 22 different commands within the region. Knowing that I get to leave this command with a direct impact in the lives of our active duty, dependents, and retirees in such a huge way leaves me with a great feeling of accomplishment in my duties. My job in the Immunization Clinic sets the tone for not only my future, my shipmates’ future, but the future leaders of America. Keeping them healthy and safe makes my job worth it.”
Escobar has expanded the way she helps people by serving as sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) victim advocate (VA) since reporting to NMRTC Bremerton.
SAPR victim advocates provide continuous victim support throughout the incident reporting process, initial and ongoing investigation, and court proceedings. They supply all information to the victim so that he or she can make the best decision and serves as a liaison between the victim and service providers.
SAPR VA’s also assist in the annual sexual assault training and pre-deployment sexual assault briefs for commands.
It’s a position that she hopes is never called after hours. But training for emergencies of all kind is being part of the Navy Hospital Corps.
“As a victim advocate we help Sailors get back on the path to recovery, whether this means mentally, physically, and/or emotionally,” said Escobar. “A victim advocate is their first defense to the road that leads them to getting back into the fight of supporting this country again. Helping them feel whole and well enough to continue with their daily life and job as a Sailor, husband, wife, child, partner, friend. Someone who has experienced a tragedy like sexual assault takes them out of the force and sometimes hinders their medical readiness. As an advocate, we guide them back to their full medical readiness.”
April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month across the country by both civilian and military communities. The 2020 Department of Defense theme for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is ‘Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission.’
“It is extremely important to protect the rights and dignity of anyone but especially our service members so they can continue to complete their duty to our country,” said Escobar. “Without the services of victim advocacy, the command runs the risk of unprotected rights and neglected wellbeing of a Sailor who has been assaulted. The advocacy program allows Sailors to feel supported in the most vulnerable time of their life.”
Escobar is proud to be a part of Navy Medicine and a victim advocate saying, “Being a part of Navy Medicine and a VA means that I am a part of an organization that strives to put the wellbeing of others before self. It also demonstrates a true dedication to the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, commitment when protecting patients and victim rights.”
When asked to sum up her career in Navy Medicine in one sentence, Escobar said, “The value of helping others is immeasurable.”
| Date Taken: | 04.16.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2020 13:25 |
| Story ID: | 367565 |
| Location: | BREMERTON , WA, US |
| Web Views: | 403 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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