By US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alec Kramer, Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command Bethesda Public Affairs
BETHESDA, Md. (Sept. 26, 2025) — Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Bethesda, working alongside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center staff and Army and Air Force partners, earned the Navy Surgeon General’s Blue H Health Promotion and Wellness Gold Star Award for 2024 —recognizing the command’s impact in advancing force health protection, sustaining medical readiness, and strengthening operational performance across the joint force.
The annual Blue H Award recognizes commands that excel in promoting health and wellness through prevention, readiness, and improved health behaviors. Evaluating areas such as nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, and tobacco cessation, the program identifies units that go beyond routine healthcare delivery to actively prepare Sailors, Marines, and joint partners for the demands of service. The program presents three levels of distinction: Bronze Anchor, Silver Eagle, and Gold Star. The Gold Star is the highest honor.
“This award highlights how NMRTC Bethesda exceeds expectations to provide community outreach, education, and wellness initiatives that maintain readiness, improve health behaviors, and foster a healthy lifestyle culture,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tya Rowe, NMRTC Bethesda Health and Wellness Program lead. “It is reassurance to the team that we have the tenacity to thrive at any goal we set out to attain, even if we are steps behind. Fine-tune and execute, again.”
The achievement reflects the combined efforts of a 15-member committee representing NMRTC Bethesda and Walter Reed departments including Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Nutrition, Safety, Women’s Clinic, and the Blood Bank. Over the past year, the team led readiness-focused events that reinforced critical health domains—ensuring service members are fit to fight and sustain performance in demanding environments.
Highlighted events included a New Year Resolution Campaign, Random Acts of Kindness Challenge, Heart Health Month, National Nutrition Month, Mental Health Awareness activities, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Awareness events, Men’s Health Month, a Suicide Prevention Fair, and Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Theses effort cascaded preventive health into force readiness by equipping Sailors, Marines, and joint partners with tools to improve endurance, resilience, and deployability.
“Our team takes pride in supporting not only Navy personnel, but everyone who serves or receives care here,” Rowe said. “This Gold Star reflects the collective dedication of staff and leadership to keep readiness and wellness at the forefront.”
NMRTC Bethesda’s mission is to maximize warfighter performance through optimized medical readiness tailored to operational requirements; enhance the readiness of the medical force to sustain expeditionary medical capability; and train and develop the Navy Medicine Force.
| Date Taken: |
09.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: |
09.30.2025 07:46 |
| Story ID: |
549648 |
| Location: |
MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: |
147 |
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0 |
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