Category: US Navy

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO–FORT SAM HOUSTON – (Dec. 9, 2024) – Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Alyssa Ziska-Ortega, of Laredo, Texas, the executive assistant assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio, was promoted to the rank of petty officer first class by Commanding Officer Capt. Jennifer Buechel, Nurse Corps, during a frocking ceremony held at the historic Quadrangle.

Participating in the ceremony were Ziska-Ortega’s father, brother, and best friend.

Ziska-Ortega was one of three Sailors within the Naval Medical Research and Development Enterprise to be selected for advancement to petty officer first class during Fiscal Year 2025.

Additionally, she is the first Sailor to be promoted to petty officer first class in NAMRU San Antonio’s history.

“The Navy has given me so many experiences that I feel would not have been possible had I not joined,” said Ziska-Ortega, who previously served with the Blood Donor Center at Naval Medical Center San Diego. “Being one of two of the first junior enlisted Sailors within NAMRU San Antonio is unique, so I hope that I can continue to be an asset to the command, be competent in my field, and be successful in reaching my educational goals as well as my career goals.”

San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations.

It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

SAN DIEGO — Navy Reserve Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command San Diego (NR NMRTCSD) hosted a leadership-focused training weekend, bringing together reserve leaders and Sailors from across the southwest region, Hawaii, Guam, and virtual assignments nationwide to enhance force readiness and alignment with Navy Reserve medical priorities, Dec. 6-8.

Capt. Elizabeth Bundt, Commanding Officer of NR NMRTCSD, emphasized the importance of the weekend’s theme, “Train the Leader,” as a cornerstone for bolstering readiness.

“We’ve brought in teams of reserve leaders who are assigned to units across the southwest region, as well as Hawaii and Guam, and those who are virtually assigned to us from all over the country,” said Bundt. “Our theme for the weekend is Train the Leader, breaking down warfighting readiness. We also had a group of Sailors who we’ve brought in to become force multipliers.”

One significant component of the training was enabling Sailors to become Basic Life Support (BLS) instructors. These Sailors will return to their reserve centers equipped to deliver critical training directly to their teams.

“They can go back to their reserve centers and provide that required training at the deck plate,” Bundt explained.

The weekend began with the reserve team joining the active component for a colors and awards quarters ceremony, fostering cohesion between the two forces. Reserve leadership, including Rear Adm. David G. Malone, Deputy Director, Reserve Medical Forces, Pacific, and Chief Medical Corps (Reserve), provided strategic guidance.

“Malone provided strategic level guidance on what the reserve component needs to focus on to provide support for the Navy and the Navy Reserves,” Bundt said. “Bringing our leaders together is particularly important this year. We’ve had a year of significant change as Navy Reserve medicine realigns to better match the Surgeon General’s campaign plan.”

The alignment efforts are a response to evolving medical readiness requirements and aim to create a more seamless integration between reserve and active components.

“As we look to the next year, we are focusing on how we can integrate more seamlessly with the active component to provide that strategic depth that the reserve force can offer,” said Bundt. “We’re also trying to find innovative ways to provide high-value training for those Sailors who need those sets and reps.”

In addition to leadership development, the reserve component’s role in augmenting force generation platforms at NMRTCs remains a critical mission.

“Ultimately, a big part of what the reserve component does is augment that force generation platform that the NMRTCs provide for the force,” Bundt stated.

The training weekend underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and leadership development as NR NMRTCSD continues to prepare its Sailors for the challenges of supporting Navy medicine and broader Navy operational goals.

The mission of NMCSD is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in southern California to provide patients with world-class care. Anchored in Excellence, Committed to Health!

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Pendleton held a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Event on Dec. 6, 2024, on the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Medal of Honor Promenade.

The First Class Petty Officer Association coordinated the event to honor the 2,403 service members and civilians who died in the attack on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Retired Navy Capt. Donald McMackin served as the guest speaker.

“It’s important we remember these significant events and the heroes in our history,” said McMackin, who was commissioned in 1980 and served either on active duty or in the reserves as a surface warfare officer until January 2011. “Today, we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor and honor the sacrifices of the warriors who were there.”

Recognizing his audience, McMackin also talked about the medical response to the attack.

“When the attack came, off-duty medical personnel and staff streamed back to the facilities,” continued McMackin. “Staff broke out supplies, made more bandages, prepared morphine injections … they set up triage areas, battle dressing stations, organized ambulances and transportation pools.”

A remembrance wreath was laid, “Taps” was played by retired 1st Class Petty Officer Cerbando Ramirez Jr., and a moment of silence was held.

Capt. Jenny Burkett, commander of NMRTC Camp Pendleton, provided closing remarks.

“Pearl Harbor tested our nation’s resolve and America answered the call to protect freedom and democracy … everyone was united by a shared commitment to justice and liberty,” said Burkett. “As we remember Pearl Harbor, let us commit ourselves to honoring the legacy of those who served and sacrificed. Let their stories inspire us to work for a more peaceful and just world, ensuring their sacrifices were not in vain,” she concluded.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Lt. Jillian Dunbar, a Navy environmental health officer from Elmhurst, Illinois, recently participated in a humanitarian mission along the Amazon River that represented both a professional milestone and a personal journey.

Assigned to the Brazil Medical Riverine Humanitarian Mission in August 2024, Dunbar joined a team of U.S. and Brazilian medical professionals aboard the Navio de Assistência Hospitalar Doutor Montenegro (U16) to provide medical care to isolated indigenous communities while exchanging critical expertise.

“This was my first time traveling outside the U.S. with the Navy,” Dunbar said. “The entire mission was impactful. It was an inspiring experience, specifically providing me with a hands-on opportunity to practice and refine my skills as an environmental health officer, but also learn new skills like diagnosing and treating tropical diseases and having cross-cultural communication with both the Marinha do Brasil and the indigenous communities.”

Dunbar arrived at Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Twentynine Palms in November 2022. Driven by a desire to serve her country and make a meaningful impact in public and environmental health, she has always strived to pursue opportunities that aligned with her passion for global health.

“There were a lot of factors that went into my decision to join the Navy,” Dunbar said. “Primarily, I wanted to serve my country and knew I could make an impact in public and environmental health. I have an interest in infectious diseases, so combatting outbreaks in military settings and ensuring troops are staying healthy is incredibly important to me. The Navy also allows me opportunities to participate in global health engagements where I can learn about different diseases and healthcare resources.”
Her fluency in Portuguese and completion of the Military Tropical Medicine Course earlier this year — a prerequisite for field deployments — made her uniquely qualified to join the mission, which brought U.S. and Brazilian personnel together to address public health and medical challenges along the Amazon.

“I do speak Portuguese, so while there are other locations for these missions, Brazil was a good fit for me,” Dunbar said. “I was invited on the mission to receive firsthand and clinical experience with diagnosing and treating tropical diseases.”

The five-week mission, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command as part of a health security cooperation initiative, began in early August, brought together U.S. Navy doctors, microbiologists and environmental health experts with their Brazilian counterparts to address public health challenges and provide medical care along the Amazon River. Commencing in Manaus, Brazil, the team traveled aboard the Navio de Assistência Hospitalar Doutor Montenegro (U16), delivering care to remote communities, diagnosing tropical diseases and collaborating on methods to improve public health outcomes in resource-limited settings.

The mission included stops at Aldeia Indígena Palmares, where Dunbar and her colleagues worked with Brazilian medical personnel to address urgent health needs, as well as Comunidade Indígena Feijoal and Umariaçu, where they facilitated medical knowledge exchanges, conducted health education sessions and treated patients. Each visit offered unique opportunities to enhance the teams’ understanding of tropical medicine while making a meaningful impact in underserved areas. Stops throughout the mission reinforced the critical importance of cultural sensitivity and teamwork in global health missions.

For Dunbar, the mission was defined by its human connections and the opportunity to explore another culture.

“The people were the highlight of this mission,” she said. “Whether it was meeting new officers from the U.S. Navy and forming bonds with them, collaborating with the sailors from the Marinha do Brasil and learning about our cultural differences, or conversing with the indigenous peoples while delivering healthcare, those connections made a huge impact. And the food was delicious.”

The Brazil mission was a capstone for Dunbar’s growing expertise in environmental health and infectious disease prevention. It provided her with the opportunity to apply her training in real-world scenarios and broaden her understanding of tropical medicine.

“This broader perspective is eye-opening and enriching and can refresh one’s sense of purpose that comes from helping others,” Dunbar said.
Reflecting on her experience, Dunbar urged other sailors to seek out unique assignments like her Brazil mission.

“I would highly encourage other sailors to accept unique opportunities like this mission,” she said. “Humanitarian missions are great for experiencing different cultures, environments and having this exchange of knowledge with various partners.”

Dunbar’s involvement in the Brazil mission underscores the Navy’s commitment to not only serving its operational needs but also advancing global health partnerships and addressing challenges faced by underserved populations worldwide.

As she returns to her duties at NMRTC Twentynine Palms, Dunbar carries with her the lessons, memories and connections forged during her time on the Amazon, ready to apply them in service of the Navy’s mission.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (Dec. 5, 2024) – Soldiers assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Research Services Directorate earned Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and Solider of the Year honors during the Fiscal Year 2024 Solider, NCO and Officer of the Year Competition Ceremony hosted by Col. James Jones, commander, Public Health Command, West.

Sgt. Gabriela Saldana of Austin, Texas, and Pfc. Tyler Houchin of Vine Grove, Ky., were announced as the winners for NAMRU San Antonio while Sgt. Samantha Salas earned a participation medal.

Both Saldana and Houchin were awarded Army Commendation Medals while Sgt. Carlos Torres of NAMRU San Antonio was awarded an Army Achievement Medal for his support of the competition, which for the first time included officers.

The Soldiers, joined by other personnel assigned to Public Health Command, West, took part in the three-day competition, Dec. 3 – 5, which consisted of an Expert Physical Fitness Assessment (EPFA), Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), Combat Water Survival Test, writing exam, land navigation, Army Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills, a 12-mile foot march, written essay, and an oral board.

“First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to the entire support team for putting on a fantastic, vigorous, and challenging competition,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Delroy Barnett, who served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker. “The competition was designed to promote esprit de corps while recognizing outstanding NCOs and junior Soldiers, and for the first time in command’s history, officers.”

According to Barnett, it is essential for Soldiers to possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and mindset to excel in challenging landscapes.

“I want to express my deepest respect and gratitude to all the participants,” said Barnett. “You are a testament to the finest qualities of the American Solider. Your achievements inspire us all, your resilience motivates us to push beyond our limits, and your unwavering commitment to excellence serves as a shining example for generations to come.”

NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations.

It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md.

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

SAN DIEGO — What began as a hopeful trip to Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) for labor turned into an unforgettable experience for Electronics Technician (Submarine) Navigation 1st Class Zachery Finley and his wife, Gabrielle Finley, when their baby boy Zachery Jr., was born in the hospital’s Flag Circle parking lot on Dec. 4.

Remarkably, this is the second unexpected delivery at NMCSD’s Flag Circle since September 2023.

“It all started around 1:30 a.m. when I began having contractions every five to seven minutes,” recalled Gabrielle Finley. “By 7:30 a.m., the contractions were every two minutes, so we decided it was time to head to the hospital.”

The couple was initially admitted to triage at NMCSD, but after being informed they were in the early stages of labor, they decided to return home to allow Gabrielle to labor naturally, as planned. “The staff was very understanding of my birth plan and explained that labor could still take several hours since this was my first baby,” said Gabrielle.

However, within 25 minutes of being home, everything changed. “I couldn’t sit comfortably anymore, and the pressure was overwhelming,” she said. “I realized I was ready to push, and we needed to get back to the hospital immediately.”

The couple’s tense return trip was filled with anticipation. “The ride back was high-anxiety,” Zachery Finley said. “At one point, while stuck at a red light near the hospital, she told me she could feel the baby’s head, but I didn’t fully realize how close we were.”

As they arrived at NMCSD, the couple’s doula, Marissa, was already waiting at the patient drop-off area in Flag Circle. Gabrielle was helped out of the car, but the moment she stood up, the baby’s arrival was imminent.

“One of the nurses, who happened to see us, ran inside and called a ‘Code Purple,’” Zachery explained. “And within moments, it was like a movie—staff came running from every direction with equipment and support.”

Gabrielle vividly recalled the teamwork and professionalism. “It was incredible. Everyone identified themselves and stayed calm. I delivered standing up with two nurses holding my legs, my doula supporting my back, and a team ready to care for me and my baby,” she said.

Despite the unexpected setting, the Finley’s felt supported throughout the entire experience. “The staff’s responsiveness was beyond anything we could have imagined,” Zachery said. “They were calm, professional, and so compassionate. It felt like the entire hospital had come to our rescue.”

Gabrielle described the emotions of the moment as overwhelming but exhilarating. “I was nervous about delivering outside, but the fresh air and the support of everyone around me made it memorable in the best way,” she said. “The delayed cord clamping was something I really wanted, and the staff made sure it happened, even in those circumstances. That meant so much to me.”

After Zachery Jr.’s birth, Gabrielle and her baby were taken inside for further care. Although the journey to the delivery room was unconventional, Gabrielle expressed deep gratitude. “The staff at NMCSD went above and beyond. From the nurses to the postpartum team, every single person made me feel supported, respected, and cared for,” she said.

Zachery added, “This was our first baby, and while we couldn’t have anticipated this, we wouldn’t change a thing. NMCSD proved to be the best place to bring our boy into the world.”

The Finley’s also praised their doula for being an invaluable part of the experience. “Marissa was with us every step of the way,” Gabrielle said. “She provided guidance and comfort, especially in those critical moments outside the hospital.”

Reflecting on the experience, Gabrielle said, “I’d do it 110 times over again. I can’t recommend NMCSD enough. It’s a place where families can trust they’ll receive the best care, even in the most unexpected situations.”

For media with any follow-up interest or questions, contact NMCSD Public Affairs at 619-380-3004.

The mission of NMCSD is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in southern California to provide patients with world-class care. Anchored in Excellence, Committed to Health!