Photo By Cpl. Isaac Copeland | (Photo by SPC. Dean Fleshman, Dean Fleshman of Alpha FSC, 1249th Engineers poses for a...... read more read more
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In the state of Oregon, situated in the heart of the state capital Salem, lies Salem Health. Walking those halls is a seemingly ordinary-looking person dressed in scrubs. Nothing about this Registered Nurse is ordinary. Former Army Specialist Nathanial (Dean) Fleshman is all kind eyes and warm feelings while caring for his patients. He also brings this cheerful dutiful attitude while doing the numerous tasks he deals with daily.
Service is an integral part of the Fleshman family. Dean is inspired by his grandfather's Army service during the Vietnam War. On Veterans Day, both growing up and now, Dean will spend time with his grandfather.
"He just wants to have the opportunity to visit, and we tend to maybe swap a few stories," said Dean.
Dean spent hours of his formative years listening to stories from his grandfather about his time in the Army. Those stories laid the groundwork for Dean's path to military service and to work in the medical field. Shortly before graduating high school in 2013, Dean joined the United States Army Oregon National Guard.
"I want to make sure that whatever I did, I would be proud to go back to him and say, hey, grandfather, this is what I did." said Dean.
While attending nursing school, he served six years as a 94E, Radio and Communications Security Repairer, performing maintenance checks and services on radios, transmitters, and communication equipment.
Dean's primary goals were attending nursing school and eventually commissioning into the Army Nursing Corps. Life often changes, and so did Dean's plans. His goals changed during his National Guard service and formed into something new.
"Being in the military helped me find my wife … It really helped me, not only start my family but have the confidence to start working on a doctorate program." Dean thoughtfully said.
After doing a job for six years, there is a wealth of knowledge that someone learns, and with Dean, it was no different. Dean narrowed down the important lessons to only a few out of the long list of lessons.
The first fundamental lesson that Dean learned during his time in the military was how to work and communicate with people from all different backgrounds. This skill is critical when he transfers it to his civilian life.
"Being able to figure out how to explain a medical condition or a medication to someone who builds houses for a living … all of those skills that I learned in interactions, from basic training from AIT from working in the military, it really kind of pulls through together." spoke Dean.
This skill is an absolute necessity not only in today's interconnected world but within the world of medicine as well.
The second critical lesson that Dean learned is decisive leadership.
"I had that confidence to be able to kind of temporarily fill that gap … instead of trying to either go with the flow or do the exact same thing and kind of try and sit on the sidelines, just be passive." communicated Dean.
The confidence and the ability to be a decisive leader have proved essential in nursing, where decisions directly affect a person's immediate health.
Those lessons were not the only life-changing aspects of Dean's time in the military. Dean met his wife, a fellow National Guard Soldier, while attending the same events. Marrying someone in the military further deepened the service and family aspect of Dean's life. Looking back on his life, Dean realized it would be radically different from where it is now if he didn't serve.
"I don't know if I would have had the confidence or the motivation to start pursuing my graduate level studies without having the history of service and what that service gave me," said Dean.
Even though he is no longer in the National Guard, the experiences and lessons he learned live with him daily. It made him a better man, citizen, and husband.
"I am grateful for the things that it brought me, my wife, my home, the daughter we are expecting here, like I feel that even if I fail, I can always try again or I can do better." Dean stated proudly.
Dean lives up to the old Army slogan "Be All You Can Be."
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2022 16:02 |
| Story ID: | 432717 |
| Location: | SALEM, OR, US |
| Hometown: | SILVERTON, OR, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Service and Family, by CPL Isaac Copeland, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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