NAVY MEDICINE

Facebook: U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Please send correspondence and submissions to Lisa Johnson (valisha.

johnson@med.navy.mil).

Navy Medicine Magazine printed its last quarterly publication in late 

2013 and launched an online version in October. The online magazine 

highlights the work of the more than 63,000 Navy Medicine professionals 

who provide the highest quality care to our Sailors, Marines and their 

families.

Navy Medicine Magazine online submission requirements: 

Articles must be between 600-1,000 words.

All information must be present tense/active voice.

Photos must be minimum 300 dpi.

Photos showing action are preferred.

All photos must be accompanied by a caption and photo credit.

Subjects considered:

News: News stories about activities at MTFs and the field. Any new 

processes and/or research and development news. Anything that 

improves the quality of care for our patients. Any articles showing how 

Navy Medicine is utilizing the electronic age. Any Navy Medicine support 

to military operations including everything from combat support to 

Humanitarian Relief/Disaster Response.

I Am Navy Medicine: Highlighting our Navy Medicine personnel.

Features: Feature stories about items of interest in Navy Medicine.

A Look Back: Historical stories featuring events and people from our 

Navy Medicine past. 

Navy Medicine in Focus: Photos from across Navy Medicine.

All submissions must be accompanied by complete contact information 

for author. In the event there is more than one author please assign one 

author to be primary correspondent.

Feedback Welcome

NAVY MEDICINE Almanac Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Communications Directorate

7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042-5122

E-mail: BUMED-PAO@med.navy.mil

Subscriptions are for sale by the Superintendent of Documents

Subscriptions may be ordered online, via phone, fax, or e-mail, 

or postal mail.

To order online, visit the U.S. Government Printing Office bookstore 

at http://bookstore.gpo.gov

To order by phone, call toll-free 1-866-512-1800 or, in the DC metro 

area, call 202-512-1800 

Send e-mail orders to contact center@gpo.gov

Send mail orders to:

U.S. Government Printing Office

P.O. Box 979050

St. Louis, MO 63197-9000

Address Changes (Please include old address): 

NAVY MEDICINE Almanac Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs Office 7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042-5122

E-mail: BUMED-PAO@med.navy.mil

NAVY MEDICINE ALMANAC is the annual professional magazine of the 

U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Its purpose is to educate its 

readers on Navy Medicine missions and programs. This magazine will also 

enhance reader awareness of the increasing relevance of Navy Medicine 

in and for our nation’s defense.

The opinions and assertions herein are the personal views of the authors 

and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, 

the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Navy.

The use of a name of any specific manufacturer, commercial product, 

commodity or service does not imply the endorsement by the 

Department of the Navy or the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

NAVY MEDICINE ALMANAC, (ISSN 0895-8211 USPS 316-070) is published 

annually by the Department of the Navy, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 

7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042. Periodical postage paid at 

Washington, DC. 

Authorization: The Secretary of the Navy has determined that this 

publication is necessary in the transaction of business as required by 

law. NAVY MEDICINE ALMANAC is published from appropriated funds by 

authority of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in accordance with Navy 

Publications and Printing Regulations P-35.

Vol. 106 

Surgeon General of the Navy 

Chief, BUMED

Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan

Deputy Surgeon General

Deputy Chief, BUMED

Rear Adm.Forrest Faison III

Force Master Chief

FORCM (SS/SW/FMF) Sherman E. Boss

Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Dora Lockwood

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Paul Ross

Managing Editor

Lisa Johnson

 4 | Admiral’s Call

 8 | Navy Medicine 101

10 | Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

12 | Navy Medicine East

15 | Navy Medicine West

18 | Navy Medicine Education and 

 Training Command

20 | Navy Medicine Locations Map 

22 | Naval Medical Research Center 

25 | Navy and Marine Corps Public 

 Health Center

26 | Afl oat Medical Capabilites

30 | Medical Corps

31 | Dental Corps

32 | Nurse Corps

33 | Medical Service Corps

34 | Hospital Corps

36 | Global Health Engagement

38 | Medical Home Port

39 | Wounded Warrior Care

41 | Mental Health Capabilites

CONTENTS

SPECIAL ISSUE

ON THE COVER

Visit us online at www.med.navy.mil 

Visit our online magazine at http://navymedicinemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/ 

Visit our award-winning blog at http://navymedicine.navylive.dodlive.mil/

Twitter: twitter.com/NavyMedicine

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Leia Dibiasie, right, assigned to the Arleigh 

Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), talks with 

a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to offer medical aid 

to affected citizens in support of Operation Damayan. (Photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mackenzie P. Adams) 
The Almanac | 2013 3
4 Navy Medicine

our Navy Medicine journey begins here! 

Welcome to the 2014 edition of our annual 

almanac! What an honor it is to share with 

you the great things our Navy Medicine team 

does around the globe, every day. Within these 

pages you’ll gain insight into how we ensure 

our Navy and Marine Corps warfighters are 

prepared to be effective in a multitude of 

missions, anywhere and at any time.

Our Navy is deployed around the world, maintaining 

sovereignty of the seas and partnering with our Marine 

Corps, whose hallmark is ‘ready to fight tonight.’ The men 

and women of Navy Medicine persistently provide the highest quality care to those Sailors, Marines and their families. 

We understand that we’re in this job to take care of those 

who rely on us and that will always remain our top priority.

One of the things I find the most professionally satisfying 

about Navy Medicine is that we operate across the entire 

dynamic -- in the air, on and below the sea, and on land. 

There is no other organization that provides medical care 

across all those unique dynamic environments.

Navy Medicine has a well-defined strategy focused on 

readiness, value and jointness. These priorities will continue 

to serve us well as we look to the future.

The hallmark of our Navy is readiness. The world and 

its citizens expect us to be ready and available whenever 

needed, and it’s Navy Medicine’s responsibility to ensure 

that happens. Keeping Sailors and Marines healthy and fit to 

fight at home and abroad is our first priority. Just as important is ensuring our own medical personnel are ready to go 

when called upon to support the warfighter.

We must make sure we are razor sharp in our quality of 

care, our efficiency and our value. Our Medical Homeport 

implementation continues to yield praise from patients and 

the operational forces. We have started to reduce what we 

spend in the private sector by providing more care in our 

Y

ADMIRAL’S CALL

Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan speaks during an admiral’s call at Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center. Nathan spent the 

day touring the facilities and speaking with employees throughout the campus. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Darren M. Moore)
The Almanac | 2014 5

own medical treatment facilities, and I expect us to continue 

on that trajectory. The next step is to build upon these successes and 

improve the 

standardization of care. 

We must 

continue to 

look intently 

at the value 

of what we provide. 

This will result in improved patient satisfaction and create 

an even more efficient and responsive care structure. 

Jointness is paramount as we move toward a more collaborative and plugged-in world across the Military Health System. With the standup of the Defense Health Agency and 

the establishment of multi-service markets, jointness initiatives are all around us. By partnering with our sister services 

and other federal health care institutions, non-governmental 

organizations, the private sector and our academic partners, 

we are becoming stronger. We’re building a better team together using the synergy of each of our strengths.

As we embark upon this next year, remaining on our 

steady course, we will need all hands to help keep us on 

track. I am certain that -- although it is impossible to foresee or fully comprehend all the challenges of the future -- 

Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, jokes with U.S. Army Maj. James Ryals, en route critical care nurse with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th 

Mountain Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, on the fl ight line of Bagram Air Field in Parwan province, Afghanistan. (Photo by 

Spc. Mark VanGerpen)

through your hard work, dedication, and collaboration, we 

can maintain our standards of readiness, jointness and value.

I am incredibly 

proud of the Navy 

Medicine military 

and civilian team 

that makes good on 

our promise to provide world class care 

--anytime, anywhere. 

Navy Medicine’s complete mission and vision including 

the strategy map and accompanying documents is available 

online at: http://www.med.navy.mil/Pages/MissionandVision.aspx.

--Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan

“One of the things I find most professionally 

satisfying about Navy Medicine is that we 

operate across the entire dynamic - in the 

air, on and below the sea, and on land. ”

Use your Smart Phone 

to view Vice Adm. 

Matthew L. Nathan’s 

leadership video by 

downloading a QR Code 

reader and scanning the 

QR Code.
6 Navy Medicine
The Almanac | 2014 7

Cpl. Jorge Salazar, assigned to the Wounded Warrior Battalion-West of 

Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), walks toward an MH-60S Sea 

Hawk helicopter assigned to the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat 

Squadron (HSC) 21. HSC-21 is based at Naval Air Station North Island and 

provided eight wounded, ill and injured service members and four Marine 

Corps staff members the opportunity to fl y along during scheduled fl ight 

operations. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin W. Galvin)
8 Navy Medicine

Priorities, Goals, and 

Looking to the Future

Since becoming the Navy surgeon 

general in November 2011, Vice Adm. 

Nathan’s focus remains in alignment 

with Navy and Marine Corps leadership 

as Navy Medicine supports the defense 

strategic guidance. To fulfill its mission, 

he has outlined three strategic priorities 

for the Navy Medicine enterprise: 

readiness, value and jointness.

Readiness: Keeping Sailors and 

Marines fit and healthy is what we do 

and why Navy Medicine exists. Navy 

Medicine must stay ready so that its 

personnel are always ready to respond 

to needs to support everything from 

humanitarian assistance to disaster 

response missions. Readiness is the 

hallmark of Navy Medicine.

Value: Navy Medicine provides 

exceptional value to those it serves by 

ensuring full and efficient utilization of 

its services, highest quality care through 

best health care practices and best use of 

resources. 

Jointness: Navy Medicine strives for 

jointness by working side by side with 

our sister services and non-government 

private sector organizations and our academic partners. The synergy of creating 

efficiencies, removing redundancies and 

allowing transparency will elevate care 

and reduce costs.

Regardless of the location, the men 

and women of Navy Medicine will continue to do what they have always done 

-- provide world-class care ... anytime, 

anywhere.

What We Do

Force Health Protection

The foundation of Navy Medicine 

is force health protection and direct 

support to our Navy and Marine Corps 

forces. We are in the readiness business 

– operating forward and being globally 

engaged, regardless of the challenge. 

Whether it is on, above or below the sea, 

on the battlefield or on the homefront, 

Navy Medicine enables Sailors and Marines to complete their mission. 

From the most advanced medical 

suites and staffs serving on amphibious 

ships, to the flight surgeons supporting the naval aviation enterprise, to the 

independent duty corpsmen serving in 

submarines, or to the Navy corpsmen 

embedded with Marines or special forces; we enable the warfighter. Wherever 

a Sailor or Marine goes, Navy Medicine 

is there.

In executing our mission, the 63,000 

active duty, reservists, government 

civilians and contractors are engaged 

in all aspects of expeditionary medical 

Dr. Keitaro Nakamoto, one of six physicians in U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka’s Japanese National Physician Graduate Medical 

Education Program listens to a baby’s heart during a routine checkup. (Photo by Tim Jensen)

NAVY MEDICINE 101
The Almanac | 2014 9

operations. The care we provide includes 

all dimensions of physical and mental 

well-being. Nowhere is our commitment 

more evident than in our active engagement in global military operations. As 

our involvement in overseas contingency 

operations have evolved, we have experienced a burgeoning demand to provide 

expeditionary combat casualty care in 

support of joint operations. Our Navy 

Medicine teams of physicians, nurses, 

corpsmen, dentists and mental health 

providers work in tandem with the 

Army and Air Force medical personnel 

and coalition forces to ensure the physical and mental well-being of our troops 

and civilians team members.

Warfighter Support

Caring for our Sailors and Marines 

at home and abroad is our first mission, but there is no greater honor than 

the opportunity to provide care to our 

wounded, ill, and injured. These brave 

men and women are heroes and we, 

who are fortunate enough to care for 

them, do not take this responsibility 

lightly. 

As our wounded warriors return from 

combat to begin the healing process, 

they deserve a seamless and comprehensive approach to their recovery. We 

help them to heal in body, mind, and 

spirit. Our focus is multi-disciplinarybased care, bringing together medical 

treatment providers, social workers, case 

managers, behavioral health providers, 

and chaplains. 

Global Health Engagement

Navy Medicine is truly a “global force 

for good,” when it comes to our global 

health engagement initiatives. Whether 

we are providing medical care through 

humanitarian assistance efforts, partnering with local ministries of health and 

NGOs, or conducting disease research 

and surveillance at one of our labs 

around the world, we are making a 

significant impact on operational forces 

and global health worldwide, ensuring 

our national security. 

This commitment was most noteworthy in the recent show of support to 

the Republic of Philippine government 

in the aftermath of super Typhoon Haiyan during Operation Damayan. This 

is just another example of how Navy 

Medicine serves the international community as a global leader in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/

DR). 

 

Excellence in Research 

and Development 

Navy Medicine would not be able 

to accomplish our mission without a 

vibrant Research and Development 

(R&D) community. The work that our 

researchers do is having a direct impact 

on the treatment we are able to provide, 

from the battlefield to the bedside. 

Many wounded warriors are walking, 

talking, and leading productive lives today because of the research and medical 

advancements in wound management, 

wound repair and reconstruction, as 

well as extremity and internal hemorrhage control and phantom limb pain in 

amputees. Our R&D programs are truly 

force multipliers to Navy Medicine’s 

success and enable us to remain agile in 

the world-class health care we provide to 

our service members and beneficiaries.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Devin Pluchino assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat 

Squadron 28 performs aircrew duties in an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter during a 

replenishment-at-sea. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Hunter S. Harwell)
10 Navy Medicine

and Marine Corps readiness, including the Navy Medicine 

Education and Training Command, Navy and Marine Corps 

Public Health Center and Naval Medical Research Command.

BUMED headquarters has nine departments that develop 

policy for a wide range of topics for our subordinate commands to execute. 

The nine departments are:

•M1: Manpower and Personnel— Total Force

•M2: Research and Development

•M3: Medical Operations

•M4: Installations and Logistics

•M5: Strategy and Innovation

•M6: Information Technology

•M7: Education and Training

•M8: Comptroller and Resource Management

•M9: Wounded, Ill and Injured

A Brief History

BUMED was established as part of the Department of the 

Navy by an Act of Congress on Aug. 31, 1842. It is the centralized administrative organization of the Medical Department, 

located at the Defense Health Headquarters (DHHQ) in Falls 

Church, Va. As such, it is the guardian of health care for the 

Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. 

BUMED moved to its current location at the DHHQ in 

June 2012 as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure 

Commission. The DHHQ is also home to the surgeons general 

from our sister services and the TRICARE Management Activity (TMA.) Outstanding care for the sick and injured, international contributions to the sciences of medicine and dentistry, 

and personal sacrifices and valor of its personnel in peace and 

combat, continue to earn the Navy Medical Department a 

prominent place in the historical pages of the Navy.

BUREAUOF MEDICINE 

AND SURGERY

The Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) 

is the headquarters for Navy Medicine. Under the 

leadership of Navy Surgeon General, Vice Adm. Matthew 

L. Nathan, Navy Medicine provides high-quality health 

care to beneficiaries in wartime and peacetime. 

Highly trained Navy Medicine personnel deploy 

with Sailors and Marines worldwide – providing critical 

mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and 

on the battlefield. At the same time, Navy Medicine’s 

military and civilian health care professionals are providing 

care for uniformed services’ family members and retirees 

at military treatment facilities around the globe. Every 

day, no matter what the environment, Navy Medicine is 

ready to care for those in need, providing world-class care 

anytime, anywhere. BUMED is responsible for all medical 

support for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy.

BUMED develops the policies and direction for Navy 

Medicine to ensure its patient and family-centered care 

vision is carried out. BUMED exercises direct control over 

naval hospitals, medical centers, dental clinics, preventive 

medicine units and technical schools for medical 

department personnel both inside the U.S. and around 

the world. BUMED also oversees support commands and 

their subordinate commands that are not involved with 

direct patient care but are important contributors to Navy 

The Defense Health Agency (DHA), established in October 2013, brings together 

the Army, Navy and Air Force medical communities in order to create an even more 

integrated system of care. The DHA manages the execution of policy issued by the 

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and oversees ten shared support 

functions in an enterprise-focused organizational structure and manages common 

business and clinical processes across the Military Health System. The DHA 

supports Navy Medicine and helps ensure the health status and readiness of our 

population.

DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY

Use your Smart 

Phone to view 

highlights of Navy 

Medicine capabilities 

by downloading a 

QR Code reader and 

scanning the QR 

Code. 
The Almanac | 2014 11

Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, left, Cmdr. Peter Shumaker, chairman of Dermatology, and Vietnamese delegates observe a procedure 

in Naval Medical Center San Diego’s Bioskills Simulation Training Center. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary 

Bell) 

Capt. Jeffrey W. Paulson, director of Surface Medicine Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), U.S. Fleet Forces Command, 

speaks to new interns at Naval Medical Center San Diego during the annual BUMED Operational Roadshow. (Photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist Seaman Pyoung K. Yi)
12 Navy Medicine

Navy Medicine East (NME) is composed of 18 military treatment facilities 

and their many branch clinics. The region has more than 24,000 Sailors, civilians, contractors and volunteers working 

across three continents. 

NME is anchored by Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP), Va., 

a premier academic multi-specialty 

teaching hospital, and the three Family 

Medicine teaching hospitals at Camp 

Lejeune, N.C., Jacksonville, Fla., and 

Pensacola, Fla. 

In 2013, NME and its commands 

totaled more than19,000 active duty, 

reserve and civilian personnel and had 

approximately 5.2 million patient encounters.

On July 31, Navy Medicine National 

Capital Area was disestablished and its 

assets – Naval Health Clinic (NHC) 

Annapolis, Md.; NHC Patuxent River, 

Md., and NHC Quantico, Va. – were 

consolidated under NME to reduce 

overhead and streamline efficiencies. 

The realignment under NME provides 

more than 375,000 annual patient visits 

to the region. NME now includes all 

Navy medical treatment facilities (MTF) 

on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Great 

Lakes and Europe.

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

Its nickname, “First and Finest,” 

refers to NMCP’s status as the Navy’s 

first hospital and its excellent care to 

patients. Seven branch clinics and two 

TRICARE Prime Clinics support the 

296-bed main hospital.

In 2013, NMCP staff totaled nearly 

7,000 active duty, reserve, civilian and 

volunteer personnel and had more than 

one million patient encounters.

Integration among the service 

branches is a big part of the future of 

military medicine, hence the creation 

of six enhanced Multi-Service Markets 

(eMSM). Locally, NMCP, McDonald 

Army Health Center, and Air Force 

Hospital Langley are joining forces to 

create one entity: the Tidewater eMSM. 

The three hospitals will become one 

market with the goal of recapturing 

patients sent to civilian doctors, or those 

going to an emergency room for nonemergencies, and ensuring all available 

appointment slots are being used. 

Naval Health Clinic Annapolis

NHC Annapolis provides clinical and 

support services at Hospital Point, U.S. 

Naval Academy’s Bancroft Hall, Branch 

Health Clinics Earle and Lakehurst, 

N.J., Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Philadelphia. Hospital Point and Bancroft Hall 

are physically located at the U.S. Naval 

Academy within the National Capitol 

Region eMSM. 

In 2013, NHCA had more than 

117,000 medical and dental patient encounters with a staff of nearly 350 active 

duty, civilian and contract personnel.

Naval Hospital Beaufort

Naval Hospital Beaufort (NHB)

Lt. Cmdr. Ian Fowler, a pain medicine physician, points out a structure in the shoulder of an actor portraying a chronic pain patient 

during the Ultrasound Guided Chronic Pain Skills Course. (Photo by Rebecca A. Perron)

NAVY MEDICINE EAST
The Almanac | 2014 13

opened in 1949 and is a 10-bed community hospital providing general medical, surgical and emergency services. 

NHB is the parent command for two 

branch health clinics located at Marine 

Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine 

Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, 

which processes and trains all incoming 

recruits for the Marine Corps’ eastern 

recruiting region. 

In 2013, NHB had more than 

280,000 patient encounters with a staff 

of more than 800 active duty and civilian personnel. 

Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune

Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune 

(NHCL) has six branch clinics aboard 

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and 

Marine Corps Air Station New River. To 

meet the needs of our growing population, NHCL added 110,000 square feet 

of facility space. NHCL also added a 

Level II Special Care Nursery and an 

Intrepid Spirit Concussion Recovery 

Center, both of which are a first in Navy 

Medicine and eastern North Carolina.

NHCL had more than 500,000 outpatient encounters and a staff of more 

than 2,000 in 2013.

Captain James A. Lovell Federal 

Health Care Center

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal 

Health Care Center (FHCC) is the nation’s first fully integrated VA and DoD 

medical facility. The FHCC consists 

of 88 hospital beds, 124 nursing home 

care beds, 125 domiciliary beds and 18 

Mental Health Psychosocial Residential 

Rehabilitation Treatment Program beds.

Lovell FHCC covers a 16-state regional area for active duty and reserve 

members in addition to providing comprehensive medical care for all eligible 

DoD beneficiaries living near North 

Chicago.

Naval Health Clinic Charleston

Naval Health Clinic Charleston 

(NHCC) continues to set the standard 

in the delivery of high quality, patientcentered care. NHCC’s staff of nearly 

400 active duty, civilian and contract 

personnel provided primary, specialty, 

ancillary and occupational health services during more than 118,000 patient 

encounters in 2013. 

Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point

Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point 

(NHCCP) offers a wide range of primary, specialty, ancillary and occupational 

health care services and houses Navy 

Medicine’s only stand alone Ambulatory 

Procedures Unit. NHCCP successfully 

launched the vanguard Warrior Wellness 

and Readiness Clinic, a Marine Centered Medical Home model of health 

care delivery, transforming garrison care. 

During a typical month, the staff has 

more than 8,000 outpatient medical 

encounters. 

Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi

Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi’s 

(NHCCC) core facility is located aboard 

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. 

NHCCC’s branch health clinics are 

located at NAS Kingsville and Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. 

The command’s NHCCC detachment is located at Fort Sam Houston in 

San Antonio, and it provides primary 

care services to our Navy students at the 

Medical Education and Training Command at Fort Sam Houston, and case 

management services and medical board 

management to our Navy and Marine 

Corps Wounded Warriors at Brook 

Army Medical Center. 

NHCCC’s staff comprises more than 

500 active duty, civilians, contractor 

personnel and had nearly 77,000 annual 

patient encounters. 

Naval Hospital Jacksonville

Naval Hospital Jacksonville is 

composed one Naval hospital and five 

branch health clinics in Florida (Jacksonville, Key West and Mayport) and 

Georgia (Albany and Kings Bay). NH 

Jacksonville has a total staff of more than 

2,400 military, civilian and contract personnel and had approximately 578,000 

patient encounters. 

Naval Health Clinic New England

Naval Health Clinic New England (NHCNE) comprises command 

headquarters in Newport, R.I., and 

three branch health clinics in Groton, 

Conn.; Portsmouth, N.H.; and Saratoga 

Springs, N.Y. NHC Newport provides 

care for 35 tenant commands on Naval 

Station Newport.

BHC Groton provides care for 70 

tenant commands and 18 submarines 

homeported at Naval Submarine Base 

New London, Conn. BHC Portsmouth 

provides care for the Portsmouth Naval 

Shipyard. BHC Saratoga Springs supports the medical and dental needs of 

the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit 

in Ballston Spa, N.Y. 

In 2013 NHCNE sites provided approximately 280,000 patient encounters.

Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River

NHC Patuxent River and its three 

Naval Branch Health Clinics (Indian 

Head, Dahlgren and Naval Air Facility 

Washington) provide ambulatory health 

care services. NHC Patuxent River provided approximately 120,000 medical 

and dental patient encounters in 2013. 

 Naval Hospital Pensacola

Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP), 

established in 1826, is one of the oldest 

Naval medical facilities. It is a community-sized teaching hospital composed 

of 34 beds with 10 branch health clinics 

spanning five states: Florida, Indiana, 

Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. 

NHP staff is comprised of more than 

2,000 military and civilian personnel. 

Naval Health Clinic Quantico

NHC Quantico provides health care 

and dental services to Marine Corps 

Base Quantico, the “Cross Roads” of the 

Marine Corps, because every officer new 

to the Marine Corps begins their career 

at The Officer Candidate School and 

The Basic School. 

There are five clinics attached to 
14 Navy Medicine

NHCQ supporting operations in 

West Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and 

Virginia. NHCQ also provides health 

care support to the Pentagon, Drug 

Enforcement Agency, Naval Criminal 

Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation, Foreign Service officers, 

and the veterinary clinic. NHCQ staff 

comprises nearly 600 personnel and 

has more than 160,000 annual patient 

encounters.

U.S. Naval Hospital 

Guantanamo Bay

U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo 

Bay (USNH GTMO) has the reputation for sustaining one of the highest 

patient satisfaction rates providing the 

highest quality health care to the base 

residents on U.S. Naval Station GTMO. 

The staff at USNH GTMO is also 

responsible for preparing for and providing disaster and humanitarian health 

care in the Caribbean region.

USNH GTMO staff comprises 

nearly 300 active duty, civilian, foreign 

national and contractor personnel and 

had approximately 28,000 medical and 

dental patient encounters. 

U.S. Naval Hospital Naples

U.S. Naval Hospital Naples 

(USNHN) comprises the main hospital 

in Gricigiano, a branch health clinic 

at Capodichino, and a detachment at 

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in 

Germany. USNHN’s staff is comprised 

of more than 530 active duty, civilian, 

contractor, and local national personnel, 

houses seven in-patient beds (expandable to 29) and had more than 50,000 

patient encounters in 2013.

U.S. Naval Hospital Rota

U.S. Naval Hospital Rota (USNHR) 

was originally founded as a base dispensary in 1956, and later commissioned as 

an MTF in 1967. USNHR comprises 

more than 400 active duty, civilian and 

contractor personnel and had nearly 

27,000 patient encounters in 2013.

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella 

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy 

is a 22-bed community hospital with 

one satellite clinic in Sicily and two 

branch health clinics located in the 

Kingdom of Bahrain and on the island 

of Crete. The facilities support personnel assigned to NAS (Naval Support 

Activities ) Sigonella, NAS Souda Bay 

and Bahrain, headquarters staff of U.S. 

Naval Forces Central Command as well 

as ships transiting the 5th and 6th Fleets 

Areas of Operation. The hospital is also 

a medevac receiving and staging area for 

the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the 

Middle East. 

The hospital and clinics comprise a 

staff of more than 500 military, civilians 

and local nationals.

2d Dental Battalion /Naval Dental 

Center Camp Lejeune

 2d Dental Battalion/ Naval Dental

Center Camp Lejeune is composed of 

five branch dental clinics and six dental 

annexes located onboard Marine Corps 

Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air 

Station Cherry Point, and Marine Corps 

Air Station New River. There are also 

six state-of-the-art mobile dental units. 

The facilities provide a wide range of 

general dentistry services, as well as 

prosthodontics, periodontics, endodontics and oral surgery specialty care. 

They are comprised of nearly 500 active 

duty and civilian personnel who had 

nearly 160,000 patient encounters in 

2013. 

A hospital corpsman hands a surgeon a requested instrument during a surgery at Naval 

Hospital Pensacola. (Photo by Mass Communication 1st Class James Stenberg)

NAVY MEDICINE EAST
The Almanac | 2014 15

Navy Medicine West’s (NMW) mission is to lead a functionally integrated 

regional health system known for its 

readiness, responsiveness, and reliability. 

NMW provides oversight and program 

guidance for integrated health care delivery, military treatment facility (MTF) 

performance, human resource strategy, 

system optimization and innovation, 

contingency response and future strategies. NMW is comprised of 12 commands (10 MTFs and two Naval Dental 

Centers).

NMW is staffed by more than 

16,000 active-duty Sailors, civilians, 

contractors and local national personnel 

who provide outstanding health services 

to more than 768,000 patients with approximately 3.8 million patient encounters each year. 

Naval Medical Center San Diego

Naval Medical Center San Diego’s 

(NMCSD) mission is to deliver topquality patient-centered health care, to 

prepare and deploy military personnel 

in support of Combatant Commander 

requirements and to shape the future of 

military medicine through education, 

training, and research.

NMCSD is a 272-bed multi-specialty 

hospital and ambulatory complex, with 

a staff comprised of more than 6,500 

personnel. The hospital and its branch 

health clinics treat more than 95,000 

enrolled beneficiaries from Miramar to 

El Centro, Calif. 

NMCSD celebrated the grand opening of two new branch health clinicsBHC Eastlake and Rancho Bernardo in 

April. The clinics each have 13 examination rooms. NMCSD is the amputee 

center of excellence for the Western 

Pacific caring for Marines assigned 

to Wounded Warrior Battalion West, 

Soldiers assigned to Warrior Transition 

Unit, and Sailors assigned to the medical 

transition company. In January, NMCSD commemorated its 25th anniversary 

of the current facility in celebration of 

the hospital’s dedication in 1988.

Naval Hospital Bremerton

Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) 

is a community-based acute care and 

obstetrical hospital, offering expert primary care, emergency care and a broad 

range of medical and surgical specialties. 

NHB is the parent command for 

three branch health clinics located at 

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval 

Base Kitsap Bangor and Naval Station 

Everett, as well as the Puget Sound Family Medicine Residency Program. NHB 

and its clinic staff consist of more than 

1,400 military, civilian, contract and 

volunteer personnel. 

Naval Hospital Lemoore

Naval Hospital Lemoore (NHL) is 

a 16-bed community hospital located 

onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore approximately seven miles west of 

Lemoore, Calif., in the central San Joaquin Valley. Under the NHL command 

umbrella are two branch health clinics: 

Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) 

in Fallon, Nev., and branch dental clinic 

(BDC) in Monterey, Calif., as well as 

Naval Medical Administration Unit 

(NMAU) also in Monterey, Calif. 

U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka

U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka 

(USNHY) is a 47-bed hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, near Tokyo. Branch health 

clinics are located in Sasebo, Iwakuni, 

Atsugi, Camp Fuji, and Yokohama in 

mainland Japan; Chinhae, Korea on the 

southern tip of South Korea; and Diego 

Garcia in the Indian Ocean. NHY comprises more than 1,200 personnel and 

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Resielyn Jose instructs Hospital Corpsman Rosanna 

Torres on how to ensure a syringe is free of air bubbles during a Hospitalman Skills 

Basic Course at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Josh Curtis)

NAVY MEDICINE WEST
16 Navy Medicine

had approximately 26,000 medical and 

dental patient encounters throughout 

the western Pacific. 

U.S. Naval Hospital Guam

U.S. Naval Hospital Guam (USNHG), a 38-bed community hospital 

with full-scope primary care, emergency 

services and limited specialty services, 

is comprised of the main hospital in 

Agana Heights and two branch health 

and dental clinics on Naval Base Guam. 

USNHG’s staff is comprised of more 

than 700 active duty, civilian and contractor pesonnel. 

U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa

U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa 

(USNHO) is the largest overseas military treatment facility in the Navy. Commissioned in 1977, USNHO has been 

providing quality medical care to the U. 

S. military community on Okinawa and 

throughout the region for more than 

35 years. In March, the hospital moved 

to a newly constructed facility located 

on Camp Foster in Ginowan City, Okinawa. 

The 82-bed facility is staffed with 

nearly 1,500 active duty personnel from 

all branches of service, U.S. and Japanese civilians, contractors and American 

Red Cross volunteers and had more 

than 300,000 patient encounters. USNHO operates branch health clinics on 

Camp Kinser, MCAS Futenma, Camp 

Foster, Camp Courtney, Camp Hansen, 

and Camp Schwab.

3d Dental Battalion

U.S. Naval Dental Center Okinawa

3d Dental Battalion/U.S. Naval 

Dental Center (3D DENBN/USNDC) 

Okinawa, Japan provides care to a 

patients in 11 different specialties; 

comprehensive dentistry, endodontics, 

exodontics, general dentistry, dental hygiene, operative dentistry, oral surgery, 

orthodontics, pedodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics. 3D DENBN/

USNDC Okinawa consists of more 

than 350 personnel assigned to both the 

headquarters and 11 dental facilities; 

eight of which are located on Okinawa, 

one in Iwakuni, Japan and two in 

Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. 

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton

Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton 

(NHCP) is a new 500,000 sq. foot, 

four-floor facility on a 70-acre site 

near the main gate of Marine Corps 

Base Camp Pendleton. The $456 million construction project is the largest 

American Recovery and Reinvestment 

Act of 2009 project in the Department 

of the Navy. The hospital was delivered 

six months ahead of schedule and $100 

million under budget. The hospital 

contains 42 inpatient beds, provides 

outpatient and inpatient care for active duty, retired personnel, and family 

members. 

1st Dental Battalion/Naval Dental 

Center Camp Pendleton

 1st Dental Battalion/Naval Dental 

Center Camp Pendleton (1ST DENBN/NDCCP) provides dental treatment 

and support for the Marines and Sailors 

assigned to I Marine Expeditionary 

U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa opened for business in March at its new location on Camp Foster, beginning a new chapter in the 

history of the largest overseas medical facility in the Navy. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa) 

NAVY MEDICINE WEST
The Almanac | 2014 17

Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, 

Marine Air Ground Task Force Training 

Command Twentynine Palms, Calif. and 

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. 

The scope of services provided include 

oral diagnosis, preventive dentistry, comprehensive and general dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, 

and oral and maxillofacial surgery. 1ST 

DENBN/NDCCP is comprised of more 

than 400 active duty, civil service, and 

contract personnel who staff 14 dental 

treatment facilities and four mobile dental 

units. 

Naval Hospital Oak Harbor

Naval Hospital Oak Harbor (NHOH) 

is a 12-bed hospital located on Naval 

Air Station, Whidbey Island, Wash. The 

hospital is a TRICARE Prime facility that 

serves active duty and family members, as 

well as eligible retired military personnel 

and their families. 

Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms

Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms 

provides exceptional health care to eligible 

beneficiaries working and living in the 

Combat Center, the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and the Marine 

Mountain Warfare Center Bridgeport, 

Calif.

Naval Health Clinic Hawaii 

The Naval Health Clinic Hawaii 

(NHCH) team is committed to operational readiness and accessible, coordinated, 

compassionate and patient-centered care. 

NHCH is comprised of two large clinThe front view of the replacement Naval hospital aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Photo by Douglas Allen)

Lt. Cmdr. Melanie Johansson, of Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Emergency Medicine 

Department, engages in the intubation of ‘3G’, the new adult mannequin of NHB’s 

Simulation Lab during a recent ‘mock’ code blue (cardiac/respiratory arrest) drill. (Photo by 

Douglas H. Stutz) 

ics, Makalapa at Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam (JBPHH) and Kaneohe Bay at 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Other smaller 

clinics are located at Camp H.M. Smith, 

Wahiawa, and Barking Sands on the island 

of Kauai. 
18 Navy Medicine

Navy Medicine Education and 

Training Command (NMETC) is the 

single point of accountability for Navy 

Medicine’s formal education and training services. 

The NMETC command headquarters is located on board historical Fort 

Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, 

the hub of military medical education 

and training. NMETC directly supports 

the Navy Surgeon General’s priorities of 

readiness, value and jointness through 

its 21 commands, activities and detachments located across the United States. 

The command manages and executes 

medical and operational training for Navy, joint and allied military personnel.

Examples of NMETC readiness, 

value and jointness include managing 

Navy Medicine’s Modeling/Simulation standardized training scenarios and 

equipment purchase, helping ensure Navy Medicine personnel have the tools to 

meet their mission of providing health 

care and maintaining a healthy and fit 

force. NMETC Academics maintains 

oversight of curricula at Navy Medicine 

Learning Centers and the tri-service 

Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), which provides education 

and training programs for Navy, Army 

and Air Force medical personnel.

NMETC has a 70-person Reserve 

Unit in Jacksonville, Fla. that supports 

Reserve component training around the 

world. 

NMETC also has three subordinate 

commands – Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) in 

Pensacola, Fla.; Navy Medicine Training 

Support Center (NMTSC) at Fort Sam 

Houston in San Antonio, Texas; and 

Navy Medicine Professional Development Center (NMPDC) at Bethesda, 

Md.

 

Navy Medicine Operational 

Training Center 

NMOTC provides professional, 

technical and consultative services in 

operationally related fleet and Fleet Marine Force medical matters worldwide 

by training approximately 23,000 Navy 

and Marine Corps personnel, and more 

than 150 international students annually. NMOTC also performs 35,000 

aeromedical physical and psychological 

evaluations, 9,600 Aviation Selection 

Test Batteries, as well as up to 250 medical evaluations for Navy, Marine Corps, 

Army and Air Force repatriated Prisoners of War each year.

 Through its oversight of six detachments and nine training centers across 

the U.S., NMOTC conducts education and training programs for medical 

department personnel in the various operational medical disciplines, by managing, coordinating and providing selected 

operational programs (aviation physicals 

Navy students in the Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program (BMTCP) treat a “patient” in distress while training in the Nurse 

Synthesis Lab at the Medical Education and Training Campus located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. (Photo by 

Lisa Braun)

NAVY MEDICINE EDUCATION

AND TRAINING COMMAND
The Almanac | 2013

and survival training) and services in 

direct support of the operating forces. 

More than 600 personnel support 63 

instructional programs within aviation, 

surface and undersea warfare, expeditionary forces, and special operations.

Navy Medicine Training 

Support Center 

NMTSC provides support to the 

fleet and Navy Medicine by serving as 

the homeport for health care professionals associated with the San Antonio 

medical training pipelines. NMTSC 

serves as the Navy component command to the Medical Education and 

Training Campus (METC) and other 

medical programs in the San Antonio area, providing administrative and 

operational control over Navy staff and 

students. At any given time, NMTSC 

has over 2,500 students and over 500 

instructors and support staff onboard. 

Additionally, NMTSC has two detachments (Naval Medical Center San Diego 

and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth) 

supporting clinical phases of advanced 

Corpsman schools. 

 Navy Medicine Professional 

Development Center 

NMPDC educates, trains, and supports medical department personnel to enable readiness, wellness, and 

health care to Sailors, Marines, their 

families and all others entrusted to Navy 

Medicine, be it on land or sea. NMPDC 

manages Navy Medicine’s graduate professional educational programs, dental 

residency and fellowship programs, postgraduate education programs, officer 

corps graduate programs and continuing education, officer commissioning 

programs for MSC and NC, board certification and maintenance reimbursement, scholarly research, and leadership 

and professional development courses. 

NMPDC actions that directly impact 

Navy Medicine’s readiness, value and 

jointness priorities include maintaining 

collaborative relationships with more 

than 100 military and civilian activities, and training approximately 3,000 

personnel from the federal uniformed 

services, civilian employees, and allied 

foreign military members annually. 

19

Ensign Cris Forero, a student at Naval Survival Training Institute, lights a night fl are 

after a day-long water survival course. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st 

Class Bruce Cummins)

Dr. Nancy Reeves looks at digital images for dental restoration during the digital 

dentistry course at Navy Medicine Professional Development Center. (Photo 

courtesy of Navy Medicine Professional Development Center)
 California

 NMC San Diego

 NH Twentynine Palms

 NH Camp Pendleton

 NH Lemoore

 NHRC San Diego

 USNS Mercy

 Connecticut

 NSMRL Groton

 Florida

 NH Jacksonville

 Navy Drug Screening

 Lab Jacksonville

 NH Pensacola

 NMOTC Pensacola

 NOMI Pensacola

Hawaii

 NHC Hawaii

 

 Illinois

 Captain James A. 

 Lovell Federal Health 

 Care Center

 Maryland

 Walter Reed NMMC, 

 Bethesda

 NMRC Silver Spring

 NHC Annapolis

 NMPDC Bethesda

 NHC Patuxent River

` North Carolina

 NH Camp Lejeune

 NHC Cherry Point

 2nd Dental Battalion 

 Ohio

 NAMRU Dayton

Rhode Island

 NHC New England

 South Carolina

 NH Beaufort

 NHC Charleston

 Texas

 NAMRU - San Antonio

 NMTSC San Antonio

 NMETC San Antonio

 NHC Corpus Christi

 Virginia

 BUMED Headquarters

 NMCPHC Portsmouth

 NMC Portsmouth

 USNS Comfort

 NOSTRA Yorktown

 NHC Quantico

 Washington

 NH Bremerton

 NH Oak Harbor

NAVY MEDICINE LOC

HEADQUARTERS

MILITARY SEALIFT 

COMMAND 

HOSPITAL SHIPS

` C

NMC San Diego

NH Twentynine Palms

NH Camp Pendleton

NH Lemoore

NHRC San Diego

Captain James A. Love

Federal Health Care Cente

NH Oak Harbor

NH Bremerton

NMTSC San Antonio NAMRU - San Antonio

USNS Mercy

NMETC San Antonio

NAVY R

MED

CEN

NOM

NHC Hawaii

NHC Corpus Christi
SINGAPORE

CATIONS

ell 

er

REGIONAL 

DICAL 

NTERS

NAVAL 

HOSPITALS/

HEALTH CLINICS

NAVY MEDICINE 

SUPPORT UNITS

NATO ROLE 3 

HOSPITAL

NAVY MEDICINE 

RESEARCH 

UNITS

SYMBOLS

ABBREVIATIONS

NSMRL Groton

BUMED Headquarters

NH Jacksonville

NH Pensacola

OVERSEAS LOCATIONS

EGYPT

NAMRU-3 

CAIRO

NH Yokosuka 

JAPAN CUBA

NH Guantanamo Bay

GUAM

NH Guam

ITALY

NH Naples

NH Okinawa

PERU

NAMRU-6 

LIMA

NH Sigonella

SPAIN

NH Rota

NMC Portsmouth

NH Beaufort

NHC Charleston

NH Camp Lejeune

NAMRU Dayton

NMRC Silver Spring

AFGHANISTAN

NATO Role 3 Hospital

Kandahar 

BUMED - U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and 

 Surgery

NAMRU - Naval Medical Research Unit

NH - Naval Hospital

NHRC - Naval Health Research Center

NMC - Naval Medical Center

NMCPHC - Navy and Marine Corps Public 

 Health Center

NMETC - Navy Medicine Education and 

 Training Campus

NMMC - National Military Medical Center

NMPDC - Navy Medicine Manpower, 

 Personnel, Training and 

 Education Command

NMRC - Naval Medical Research Center 

NOMI - Naval Operational Medicine 

 Institute

NSMRL - Naval Submarine Medical 

 Research Laboratory

USNS - United States Navy Ship

USNS Comfort

MI Pensacola NMOTC Pensacola

NMCPHC Portsmouth

Navy Drug Screening Lab Jacksonville

NMPDC Bethesda

Walter Reed NMMC 

3rd Dental Battalion

NHC Patuxent River

NHC Annapolis

NHC Cherry Point

 2nd Dental Battalion

NHC New England

NOSTRA Yorktown

NHC Quantico

NMRC-Asia
22 Navy Medicine

NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

The Naval Medical Research Center 

(NMRC), in Silver Spring, Md., is a 

global enterprise conducting health and 

medical research, development, testing, 

evaluation and surveillance to support 

DoD personnel worldwide. With a 

cadre of scientific leadership and technical expertise focusing on force health 

protection and enhancing deployment 

readiness, the NMRC team represent 

years of experience in science, medicine 

and the military. In support of the Navy, 

Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectious diseases; 

biological warfare defense; combat 

casualty care; operational dental needs; 

environmental health concerns; bone 

marrow transplantation; aerospace and 

undersea medicine; medical modeling, 

simulation and operational mission support; warfighter performance; and epidemiology and behavioral science. NMRC 

has an outstanding network of national 

and international research partnerships 

along with cooperative agreements with 

strategic security partners and host nations to meet the mission of supporting 

the warfighter.

CONUS and OCONUS Labs 

The main areas of study for the 

NMRC, are infectious diseases, operational and undersea medicine, bone 

marrow research, and biological defense 

research. Scientists are conducting research on infectious diseases considered 

to be significant threats to deployed 

warfighters. Researchers are working to 

minimize the impact of these diseases by 

preventing infection or clinical disease, 

and in most cases the best approach is 

the development of new vaccines. Researchers are developing novel strategies 

to prevent and treat combat casualties 

with early, far forward interventions. 

Other researchers are developing new 

technologies and interventions to improve performance and reduce injury to 

Navy submariners and military divers. 

In the area of biological defense, researchers are discovering ways to protect 

military personnel from biological attack 

by developing agent-specific identification assays, vaccines and therapeutics. 

Naval Health Research Center

Naval Health Research Center 

(NHRC), located in San Diego, is meeting the expeditionary operational medicine needs of the Navy, Marine Corps, 

as well as Army and Air Force personnel. 

NHRC works closely with operational 

units to conduct medical modeling and 

simulation analysis; monitor the effects 

of combat exposure on psychological 

health; manage career-span deployment 

health and readiness programs, improve 

warfighter performance, and assist in the 

implementation of military-specific HIV 

prevention programs around the world. 

Naval Submarine Medical

 Research Lab

 Naval Submarine Medical Research 

Laboratory (NSMRL), located at New 

London Submarine Base, Groton, 

Conn., conducts research into submariner wellness, psychological fitness, 

shipboard health and performance, 

underwater bioeffects and submarine 

survival and escape, and human systems. 

Researchers work with many partners 

including the Naval Undersea Warfare 

Center, Navy Experimental Diving 

Unit, Army Research Institution of Environmental Medicine and others. 

Dr. Luis Martinez adjusting the output from the ozone generator during sterilization 

testing. (Photo courtesy of Naval Medical Research Unit-San Antonio)
The Almanac | 2014 23

Naval Medical Research Unit 

— San Antonio 

Naval Medical Research Unit San 

Antonio (NAMRU-SA), located at Joint 

Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston, 

San Antonio, Texas, conducts medical, 

craniofacial, and directed energy biomedical research focused on enhancing 

the health, safety, performance, and operational readiness of Navy and Marine 

Corps personnel and addressing their 

emergent medical and oral/facial problems in routine and combat operations. 

NAMRU-SA is comprised of two 

directorates: Combat Casualty Care and 

Operational Medicine (CCC&OM) 

and Craniofacial Health and Restorative 

Medicine (CH&RM). The CCC&OM 

directorate has three departments: 

Expeditionary and Trauma Medicine, 

Immunodiagnostics and Bioassay Development, and Directed Energy Bioeffects 

and Human Systems Integration. The 

CH&RM directorate also has three 

departments: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Biomaterials and Environmental 

Surveillance, and Maxillofacial Injury 

and Disease. In addition, the command 

has a Veterinary Sciences department 

that supports both directorates in executing their science mission. 

Naval Medical Research Unit 

– Dayton

The research efforts of Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton (NAMRU 

- Dayton), located at Wright-Patterson 

Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, focus on 

maximizing warfighter performance and 

survivability through aeromedical and 

environmental health research to deliver 

solutions to the field, the Fleet and for 

the future. Researchers conduct aerospace-relevant basic and applied research 

in the biomedical and acceleration and 

sensory sciences. Devices such as the 

Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device, 

the Disorientation Research Device, 

and the Neuro-Otologic Test Center 

(NOTC) provide unique capabilities for 

research. Researchers in the Environmental Health Effects Directorate assess 

the toxicities of chemicals and materials 

via various routes of exposure at the molecular, cellular, organ and whole-body 

levels, all leading to derivation of stateof-the-science health protective exposure 

standards for our military and civilian 

populations. Our unique capabilities 

include extensive inhalation facilities, in 

vitro cell laboratories, and the development and use of physiologically based 

pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models and 

their application in risk assessment. 

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 

– Asia 

The relocation of U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2 (NAMRU-2) 

Pacific from its temporary location 

in Pearl Harbor to a new location in 

Singapore was completed in late 2013 

and is now known as Naval Medical 

Research Center – Asia (NMRC-Asia). 

NMRC-Asia and the NAMRU Phnom 

Penh laboratory conducts basic and applied biomedical research to prevent, 

mitigate, and control infectious diseases 

of military relevance in Southeast Asia 

and supports U.S. interests in the Pacific 

Theater. NMRC-Asia implements a 

Spatial Disorientation Dome at the Naval Medical Research Unit - Dayton, Spatial Disorientation (SD) Laboratory. (Photo Courtesy of 

Naval Medical Research Unit-Dayton)
24 Navy Medicine

variety of classical, modern and next 

generation scientific methods sustainable in low-resource environments. Researchers form partnership with regional 

governments (Cambodia, Lao People’s 

Democratic Republic, Singapore, and 

Vietnam), international health organizations, and U.S. government agencies to 

completed the laboratory’s testing capacity, surveillance networks and scientific 

investigations of infectious diseases. 

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit

- No. 3 

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 

No. 3 (NAMRU-3), located in Cairo, 

Egypt, with a detachment in Accra, 

Ghana, studies, monitors and detects 

emerging and re-emerging disease 

threats of military and public health 

importance in the Middle East, Africa, 

Southwest Asia, and Eastern Europe. 

Researchers develop mitigation strategies against these threats in partnership 

with host nations and other international and U.S. agencies. NAMRU-3 

works closely with the World Health 

Organization (WHO) and the Center 

for Disease Control. It is committed 

to collaboration for capacity building 

with the Egyptian Ministry of Health 

and Population. NAMRU-3 is also a 

WHO collaborating center for emerging 

and re-emerging diseases and a reference 

laboratory for rotavirus, malaria and 

avian influenza.

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 

- No. 6 

U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 

No. 6 (NAMRU-6), located in Callao, 

Iquitos, and Puerto Maldonado, Peru, 

conducts research on infectious diseases 

in Central and South America, with an 

emphasis on those with the potential 

to affect military operations. Today 

NAMRU-6 partners with host nation 

military organizations, government 

agencies, and academic institutions 

throughout Latin America. NAMRU-6 

established productive relations with the 

Ministries of Health of several countries 

and collaborates closely with numerous 

U.S. universities and non-governmental 

organizations. NAMRU-6 focuses 

research and surveillance on infectious 

diseases of military and public health 

significance in the region, including malaria and dengue fever, yellow fever, viral 

encephalitides, leishmaniasis, Chagas’ 

disease, and enteric diseases such as shigellosis and typhoid fever. NAMRU-6 is 

the only U.S. military command in all 

of South America.

For more information on the Naval 

Medical Research Center, http://www.

med.navy.mil/sites/nmrc/Pages/index.

htm.

Dr. Amber Nagy titrating buffers for Ph calibration. (Photo courtesy of Naval Medical Research Unit-San Antonio)

NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER
The Almanac | 2014 25

Navy and Marine Corps Public 

Health Center (NMCPHC) is the Navy 

and Marine Corps’ center for public 

health services. NMCPHC is headquartered in Portsmouth, Va. It provides 

leadership and expertise in the development of policy and guidance in occupational and environmental medicine, 

disease surveillance, monitoring prevention, public health emergencies, and risk 

communication. Its core product lines 

are: Deployment Health, Disease Prevention, Public Health Response, Health 

Promotion and Wellness, and Health 

Information Management. 

Ten field activities provide further 

depth to our services through the Naval 

Dosimetry Center, Navy Bloodborne 

Infection Management Center, Navy 

Preventive Medicine Units (Norfolk, 

San Diego, and Hawaii; and the newly 

re-established unit in Rota Spain), Navy 

Drug Screening Laboratories (Great 

Lakes, Ill., San Diego, and Jacksonville, 

Fla.) and the Navy Entomology Center 

of Excellence.

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER

Emmanuel “Joe” Hawks, is one of the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center employees responsible for the testing and 

calibration of audiometric, hearing conservation and industrial hygiene equipment Navy-wide. (Photo courtesy of Navy and Marine 

Corps Public Health Center)

Chief Cryptologic Technician Danielle Gent, right, assigned to the U.S. Pacifi c 

Command Joint Intelligence Operation Center, receives information about health 

and nutrition from Tracy Navarette, a health promotion coordinator from the Naval 

Health Clinic Hawaii, while conducting a visit in the Wellness Vehicle. (Photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jerine Lee)
26 Navy Medicine

AFLOAT MEDICAL

CAPABILITIES

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP

(LHD, MULTI-PURPOSE) 

LHDs are the largest and most versatile amphibious assault 

ship. The LHD is capable of transporting approximately 1,800 

troops, along with helicopters, boats and amphibious vehicles. 

LHDs have the largest medical capability of any amphibious 

ship currently in use. LHDs are capable of receiving casualties from helicopter and waterborne craft and are designed to 

function as primary casualty receiving and treatment ships in 

amphibious operations. 

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP

(LHA, GENERAL PURPOSE)

LHAs can transport approximately 1,900 troops, 

along with helicopters, boats and amphibious vehicles. 

LHAs are capable of receiving casualties from helicopter 

and waterborne craft and are designed to function 

as primary casualty receiving and treatment ship in 

amphibious operations.

AMPHIBIOUS COMMAND SHIP (LCC)

 LCCs serve as command centers for amphibious operations. 

They are equipped with sophisticated electronic and communications equipment and normally 

serve as the flagship of both the 

strike group. LCCs have adequate 

medical facilities to care for embarked personnel but limitations 

preclude use as a casualty and receiving treatment ship.
The Almanac | 2014 27

DOCK LANDING SHIP (LSD) 

LSDs transport and land Marines, 

their equipment and supplies either 

by embarked landing craft or amphibious vehicles, helicopters, and 

landings via landing craft air cushion 

(LCAC). LSDs are similar to LPDs 

with larger well decks but limited 

troop and cargo carrying capacities. 

LSDs offer limited use as a casualty 

receiving and treatment ship if augmented with medical personnel and 

supplies.

AMPHIBIOUS TRANSPORT DOCK (LPD)

LPDs transport and land Marines, 

their equipment and supplies by embarked anding craft, amphibious vehicle 

or helicopter. LPDs contain enhanced 

command and control features and a robust communication suite that improves 

its ability to support embarked landing 

forces. LPDs could be used as emergency or overflow casualty receiving and 

treatment ship if augmented with medical personnel and supplies.

DOCK SURFACE COMBATANT

CRUISER (CG)

DESTROYER (DDG)

FRIGATE (FF)

LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP (LCS)

Surface combatant ships have limited medical capabilities and staffing. Their ancillary cabilities consists 

of a basic laboratory. They are manned by at least one 

independent duty hospital corpsman and one general 

duty junior hospital corpsman.
28 Navy Medicine

HOSPITAL SHIP (T-AH) 

Hospital ships are operated by Military 

Sealift Command (MSC) and are designed 

to provide emergency, onsite care for U.S. 

combatant forces deployed in war and other 

operations. The T-AHs function as a mobile, 

flexible, rapidly responsive afloat medical capability able to provide acute medical 

and surgical care in support of carrier and 

expeditionary strike groups and Navy/joint 

forces elements. Functioning under the 

provisions set forth in the Geneva Convention, they have capabilities equivalent to a 

CONUS general hospital. A secondary mission of the T-AHs is to provide full mobile 

hospital services by designated government 

agencies HA/DR, limited humanitarian care 

or peacetime military operations. Dietitian Lt. Cmdr. Brandee Oppelt gives a lending hand to a local hospital staff 

member with passing out food to the pediatrics ward during a U.S. 4th Fleet medical 

subject matter expert exchange with Honduran medical professionals. (Photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson)

Capt. Kevin Knoop, second from right, commanding offi cer of the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), inspects 

a Honduran patient with Shellsea Portillo, right, a medical student, at a hospital in Puerto Cortes, Honduras. (Photo by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson)

 M


The Almanac | 2014 29

USS George Washington (CVN 73) joined in the relief effort in the aftermath of the devastation caused by super Typhoon Haiyan. 

(Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Trevor Welsh)

AIRCRAFT CARRIER (CVN)

CVNs operate offensively in a high density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of a carrier strike group 

(CSG). CVNs provide credible, sustained forward presence, convential deterrence, and support aircraft attacks in sustained 

operations in war. CVNs’ supportive missions, including medical support of the crew members on board, are facilitated by a 

self-sufficient carrier hospital, which is a 52-bed facility. The carrier’s medical department also serves as a consultative and primary MEDEVAC facility for the other vessels in the CSG, which may consist of another 2,000 crewmembers. 

Sailors carry stretchers in response to a mass casualty drill on the fl ight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). (Photo by 

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Raul Moreno Jr.)
30 Navy Medicine

MEDICAL CORPS

A Brief History

On March 3, 1871, the 41st Congress enacted the Appropriations Act 

which established the Medical Corps as 

a separate entity and as a Staff Corps of 

the Navy. However, the term “Medical 

Corps” and the existence of Navy physicians, long pre-date this Congressional 

Act. Early in 1798, the first physicians 

were awarded commissions in the Navy 

as “Surgeons” and “Surgeons Mates.” 

Their mission was simple: provide medical care aboard ships and shore stations.

This early Navy Medical Department 

was a crude institution that did not 

yet include permanent Navy hospitals. Navy physicians served at Marine 

(later Public Health) hospitals and other 

makeshift facilities spread throughout 

the eastern seaboard. A bill establishing 

permanent Navy hospitals was signed 

into law on Feb. 26, 1811. Some twenty 

years later, the first of these hospitals 

went into commission at Portsmouth, 

Va. On Aug. 31, 1842, the Bureau of 

Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) was 

created to oversee administration of 

hospitals and medical supplies. And 

1871, the title of “Surgeon General of 

the Navy” was created for the chief of 

BUMED. 

The Medical Corps’ scope has grown 

in complexity since 1871. Navy physicians now serve with the Marine Corps, 

in the Attending Physician’s Office to 

Congress and the White House. They 

also serve in the aviation and undersea 

medical communities, and as astronauts 

exploring the frontiers of space. The Navy Medical Corps continues to pave new 

frontiers in biomedical research, medical 

education and training, and patient care 

delivery at our clinics, hospitals, aboard 

our afloat platforms, and in combat 

theaters.

Primary Responsibility of 

Medical Corps Officer

The Navy Medical Corps is currently 

comprised of more than 3,800 active 

duty and approximately 540 Reserve 

physicians who are practicing or training 

in dozens of medical and surgical specialties with over 200 subspecialties. 

Areas of Specialties

• Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Pediatrics

• General Surgery

• Orthopedics

• Otolaryngology

• Ophthalmology

• Emergency Medicine

• Radiology

• Psychiatry

• Obstetrics/Gynecology

• Preventive Medicine

• Occupational Medicine

• Aerospace Medicine

• Undersea Medicine

• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

• Neurosurgery

• Neurology

• Anesthesiology

• Urology

• Pathology

• Physical & Rehabilitative Medicine

• Dermatology

• Over 200 subspecialties

Possible Duty Stations

Navy physicians are stationed at 

medical treatment facilities, medical education institutions, clinics, and 

hospitals located within the United 

States and various overseas locations, at 

research units, and in various joint commands. Navy physicians are assigned as 

operational medical officers providing direct support to Navy and Marine 

Corps commands, squadrons, battalions 

and units. Navy physicians deploy in 

support of combat operations, disaster 

relief, and humanitarian assistance missions, providing patient care ashore and 

afloat.

“I trained at a civilian 

medical school and 

residency program then

joined the Navy. My 

experiences having served 

at sea, on land, in CONUS 

and OCONUS have been 

above and beyond my 

imagination.” 

- Capt. Mae M. Pouget, 

BUMED,chief diversity offi cer 
The Almanac | 2014 31

DENTAL CORPS

A Brief History

The Navy Dental Corps was established as a unique staff corps on 12 

August 1912, when President William 

Taft signed a bill into law authorizing 

the Secretary of the Navy “to appoint 

not more than 30 acting assistant dental surgeons to be part of the Medical 

Department of the United States Navy.” 

This legislation held that all Navy dentists appointed must be “trained in several branches of dentistry, of good moral 

character, of unquestionable professional 

ability” and “shall pass a satisfactory 

physical and professional examination.” 

Just over one year later, the Surgeon 

General reported to the Secretary of the 

Navy that the Medical Department now 

had the ability to provide dental care 

that would allow the Navy to accept recruits who would otherwise be rejected 

for defective teeth. 

Dental Corps officers have been active in every wartime engagement since 

World War I. World War I saw the first 

deployment of dentists with Marine 

Corps units. World War II saw the Navy 

Dental Corps swelling to its highest 

levels ever – ultimately reaching 7,000 

dental officers and 11,000 dental technicians by war’s end. The Korean War 

saw new approaches to frontline dental 

care with the use of Mobile Dental and 

Dental Laboratory Units. In the Vietnam War, Dental Companies deployed 

in support of Marine Ground and Air 

Combat Units; in addition to caring for 

Marines, dental personnel participated 

in many civic action programs rendering humanitarian aid to Vietnamese 

civilians. In the aftermath of the Beirut 

Marine Barracks Bombing (1983), two 

dental officers ashore took initiative in 

setting up triage and providing support 

for blast survivors. During the Gulf War, 

dental personnel served aboard two hospital ships, three fleet hospitals, and 21 

dental clinics in three countries. Today, 

the Dental Corps continues to maintain 

high operational readiness for operations in worldwide, while it trains for 

all contingencies. Navy dentists deploy 

routinely with Marine expeditionary 

units and aboard ships, where beyond 

their dental duties they assume roles in 

triage and surgical support at Marine 

Battalion Aid Stations and Battle Dressing Stations. 

Dental personnel continue to play 

a significant role in peace keeping and 

nation building through humanitarian 

assistance and disaster relief missions in 

third world countries. As impressive as 

their past was, the Dental Corps continues to improve on all fronts. Proud 

in uniform, outstanding in performance, the Navy Dental Corps is always 

dedicated to providing the best for our 

Sailors and Marines.

Primary Responsibility of Dental 

Corps Officer

 The Navy Dental Corps comprises 

more than 1,000 active duty and nearly 

270 Reserve dentists who ensure dental readiness while optimizing dental 

health. 

Possible Duty Stations

 Navy dentists are stationed at medical 

treatment facilities, with Marine battalions, clinics, and hospitals located within 

the United States and various overseas 

locations. Navy dentists are provide direct 

support to Navy and Marine Corps commands, squadrons, battalions and seabee 

detachments. Navy dentists deploy in 

support of combat operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance missions, 

providing patient care ashore and afloat.

“Serving my country while 

doing what I’m passionate 

about and highly trained 

to do are the fundamental 

reasons why I love my job 

as a Dental Corps offi cer. 

The mentorship and 

quality of care provided 

within the military 

health care system is 

second to none.” 

- Cdr. Karen Stokes, Comprehensive Dentistry T2 

chief resident, Naval Postgraduate Dental School
32 Navy Medicine

NURSE CORPS

A Brief History

Nurses have contributed to the care 

of the ill and wounded in the Navy long 

before the establishment of the corps. 

During the Civil War, Catholic nuns 

served as volunteers aboard the Red 

Rover, the Navy’s first commissioned 

hospital ship. In 1898, nurses were employed by the Naval Hospital Norfolk, 

Va., to care for the sick and wounded 

from the Spanish-American War. Finally, after years of effort, the bill to 

establish the Navy Nurse Corps was approved by Congress and became law on 

May 13, 1908. By October of that year, 

the first nurses, later called “The Sacred 

Twenty,” reported for duty at the Naval 

Medical School Hospital, Washington, 

D.C., formerly the home of the Bureau 

of Medicine and Surgery.

Since then, active duty and Reserve 

Navy nurses have advanced steadily 

in military and professional standing. 

Navy nurses have served worldwide; 

flying with the wounded from battletorn areas, working in the fleet on large 

vessels and hospital ships, establishing 

native nursing schools, clinics, and small 

hospitals in remote areas of the world, 

and practicing, teaching, supervising, 

administering or commanding Navy 

medical treatment facilities of all sizes.

A primary mission of the Navy Nurse 

Corps is to teach and develop the hospital corpsmen. Nurse Corps officers 

can function in positions ranging from 

staff nurse to commanding officer, from 

quality improvement coordinator to 

nurse researcher, and as primary health 

care providers such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse 

midwives. They serve aboard sea-going 

vessels, pierside, on deployments or 

humanitarian missions, and at clinics or 

inpatient facilities. 

Primary Responsibility of 

Nurse Corps Officer

The Navy Nurse Corps is currently 

comprised of approximately 3,000 active duty and more than 1,200 Reserve 

nurses who provide care or support 

either through direct patient care at the 

bedside or as a provider, in an administrative role, as an instructor, recruiter, 

quality management manager, or researcher. 

Areas of Specialties

• Medical-Surgical

• Manpower

• Education and Training

• Nursing Researcher

• Maternal/Infant 

• Pediatrics

• Public Health

• Mental Health

• Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

• Emergency Room/Trauma

• Perioperative

• Critical Care

• Certified Nurse Anesthetist

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

• Family Practice Nurse Practitioner

• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Midwife

Possible Duty Stations

Navy nurses are stationed at medical 

treatment facilities, medical education 

institutions, clinics, recruiting centers, 

hospital corps school, expeditionary 

medical facilities, forward operating 

bases fleet surgical teams, aircraft carriers 

and various overseas locations and joint 

commands. Navy nurses are assigned 

to unique settings ranging from expeditionary medical facilities to Marine 

Corps medical battalions and surgical 

support teams. Navy nurses deploy in 

support of combat operations, disaster 

relief, and humanitarian assistance missions, providing patient care ashore and 

“As a Navy nurse, 

your opportunities for 

professional growth and 

development are limitless... 

you’ll be given opportunity 

to work in a variety of 

specialties, progressing 

from the role of novice 

to expert nurse. I can’t 

imagine a more exciting, 

fulfi lling nursing career.”

- Capt. Iris Boehnke, 

 Naval Hospital Bremerton director for 

 Nursing Services 
The Almanac | 2014 33

MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS

A Brief History 

During World War II, 1,429 officers 

were given temporary appointments in 

the Hospital Corps and a total of 845 

pharmacists, optometrists, and other 

specialists allied to medicine and dentistry were given temporary appointments as Naval Reserve officers. These 

two groups emphasized the need for a 

permanent officer category to complement officer corps then comprising the 

Medical Department.

The Army-Navy Medical Service 

Corps Act of 1947 provided a permanent commissioned corps of specialists 

to complement the existing Medical Department officer categories. The original 

legislation provided for the Corps to be 

comprised of four sections: Supply and 

Administration, Medical Allied Sciences, 

Optometry and Pharmacy and authorized the Secretary of the Navy to create 

other sections, as necessary. The Women’s Specialist Section was established 

in 1952, and in 1965, was re-titled the 

Medical Specialist Section to permit the 

appointment of male officers. The Podiatry Section was established in 1953. 

Since 1991, the Reserve component 

of the Medical Service Corps has continued to work alongside active duty personnel to administer and provide quality 

health care throughout the world. 

Primary Responsibility of Medical 

Service Corps Officer

 The Medical Service Corps comprises 

approximately 2,700 active duty and 

more than 300 Reserve officers who 

support Navy Medicine’s readiness and 

health benefits mission. MSC is one of 

many specialties meeting today’s needs 

and tomorrow’s challengers. 

Areas of Specialties

The Medical Service Corps, the most 

diverse corps within Navy Medicine, is 

comprised of 31 subspecialties, organized under three major categories:

Healthcare Administrators : 

• Financial Management 

• Education/Training Management 

• Patient Administration 

• Health Care Info Systems 

• Manpower, Personnel 

• Healthcare Facility Planning 

• Operations Analysis 

• Plans, Ops, & Med Intel 

• Healthcare Administration 

• Material Logistics 

Clinicians: 

• Audiology 

• Clinical Psychology 

• Occupational Therapy 

• Optometry 

• Pharmacy 

• Dietetics 

• Physical Therapy 

• Physician Assistant 

• Podiatry 

• Social Work 

Scientists: 

• Entomology

• Environmental Health 

• Industrial Hygiene 

• Medical Technology 

• Aerospace Physiology 

• Aerospace Exp Psych 

• Research Psych 

• Radiation Health

• Physiology 

• Microbiology

• Biochem/Toxicology 

 

Possible Duty Stations

MSC officers are stationed at medical 

treatment facilities, clinics, and hospitals 

located within the United States and 

various overseas locations, at research 

units, and in various joint commands. 

MSC officers provide direct support to 

Navy and Marine Corps commands, 

squadrons, battalions and seabee detachments. MSC officers deploy in support 

of combat operations, disaster relief, and 

humanitarian assistance missions, providing patient care ashore and afloat.

“Being a medical 

department offi cer allows 

me to gain leadership and 

management experience. 

The number one benefi t 

is the opportunity to serve 

those that fi ght for our 

freedom.” 

- Lt. Sonny L. McGowan, 

Naval Medical Center San Diego 

assistant department head, Patient Administration
34 Navy Medicine

HOSPITAL CORPS

A Brief History

Established by Congressional Law 

on June 17, 1898, the Hospital Corps 

is the only enlisted corps in the military. 

They are the most decorated singular 

group of enlisted men and women with 

22 Medals of Honor, 174 Navy Crosses, 

31 Distinguished Services Medals, 946 

Silver Stars, and 22 ships named in their 

honor. In the early 1900’s the Hospital 

Corps numbered less than 2,000, but 

that is stark contrast to the more than 

26,000 of today, honorably serving in 

support of the Navy and Marine Corps. 

The essence of a hospital corpsmen is 

the honor they carry of the sacred trust 

of treating their fellow injured and ill 

service members, the unspoken bond. 

The HM rating is the largest and 

most diverse in the Navy. Because of the 

broad spectrum of Navy enlisted classifications (NEC) available to a hospital 

corpsman, the performance of their 

duties span from the special operation 

environments of Afghanistan, under the 

sea, to most advance hospitals in the 

world utilizing the most advanced technology and sciences, and scores of other 

environments. Where ever there are 

Sailors and Marines, a Navy corpsman 

will be there. 

All corpsmen attend boot camp for 

10 weeks and then HM ‘A’ School for 

14 weeks. After completion of A school, 

corpsmen may go directly to Fleet, or 

medical treatment facilities, or Field 

Medical Training Battalion (eight weeks) 

for duty with the Fleet Marine Force. 

Within the rating, there are 38 occupational specialties, which require further 

technical training via C-schools. Most 

specialty training is long and intense; 

many are at least one year in length. 

Some of the most demanding specialties, 

such as independent duty corpsmen, go 

through a series of schools as their career 

progresses. One of the specialties, morticians, requires civilian licensing prior to 

entry into the Navy.

The HM rating has 26,462 on active 

duty, 639 Full Time Support and 4,526 

Selective Reservists. There are more 

than 500 hospital corpsmen supporting 

Health Service Augmentation Program 

and Individual Augmentee missions and 

more than 7,500 serving in Type 2 or 

4 Sea Duty on ships, submarines, SEABEE and other operational platforms. 

At any given time, there are more than 

2,700 in training. 

Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Corpsman/Independent Duty Corpsman 

HM 8427/8403

Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) provide medical and operational services 

for Marine Reconnaissance personnel engaged in direct action and reconnaissance operations, independent of a medical 

officer. They perform paramedical skills, minor surgical procedures, and routine and emergency medical health care as 

well as instruct personnel in measures for prevention of illness and treatment of injuries associated with any operational 

environment, swimming, open and closed circuit SCUBA diving, military freefall and amphibious operations. Also referred 

to as Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen (SARC), they understand diving physics and use of decompression 

tables, how to recognize signs and symptoms of all types of diving injuries as well as perform duties as hyperbaric chamber 

operators and inside tenders. The SARC’s advanced skills in combat trauma and dive medicine has recently led to duty 

assignments with the United States Special Operations Command proving that they continually live up to their motto of: 

“THE DIFFICULT ANYTIME, THE IMPOSSIBLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY”

“Corpsmen take care of 

the Navy’s most valuable 

resource -- people! I am 

entrusted with the care and 

well-being of every Sailor on 

the submarine. 

- Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SS/SW) Cody McNeely
The Almanac | 2014 35

The specialties listed below exemplify the diversity of the HM community.

HM-8467 - Occupational Therapy Tech

HM-8482 - Pharmacy Tech

HM-8483 - Surgical Tech

HM-8485 - Behavior Tech

HM-8486 - Urology Tech

HM-8489 - Orthopedic Castroom Tech

HM-8493 - Dive Medicine Tech

HM-8494 - Dive IDC

HM-8496 - Morticians

HM-8503 - Histology Tech

HM-8506 - Medical Laboratory Tech

HM-8541 - Respiratory Therapy Tech

HM-8701 - Dental Assistant

HM-8702 - Advanced Dental Asst.

HM-8708 - Dental Hygienist

HM-8752 - Basic Dental Lab Tech

HM-8753 - Advanced Dental Lab Tech

HM-8765 - Maxillofacial Tech

Medical Laboratory Technician 8506

Medical lab techs perform and/or supervise the 

application of basic and advanced laboratory procedures 

such as: collecting, processing and analyzing biological 

specimens and other substances; clinical diagnostic 

laboratory tests in one or more areas of the laboratory 

following prescribed procedures; monitor results, and 

make corrections within predetermined guidelines; assist 

in obtaining and processing specimens used in clinical 

laboratory analysis; Perform preventive and corrective 

maintenance of equipment and instruments; utilize 

computer systems to perform and verify laboratory results; 

perform and monitor quality control within predetermined 

limits. Becoming a medical lab tech requires individuals 

with a sharp intellect, strict attention to detail and a high 

level of dedication to fulfill a role that is critical to the 

success of Navy Medicine in treating patients in various 

medical treatment facilities and Marine units around the 

world.

“As a corpsman you are 

guaranteed an opportunity 

for career options and 

experiences. Medical is an 

asset that is always needed.”

- Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/NAC/

AW/CAC) Jason Eusebio

HM-0000 - Hospital Corpsman Basic

HM-8401 - SAR Medical Tech

HM-8402 - Submarine IDC 

HM-8403 - Recon IDC

HM-8404 - Fleet Marine Force

HM-8406 - Aerospace Medicine Tech

HM-8407 - Radiation Health Tech 

HM-8408 - Cardiovascular Tech

HM-8409 - Aviation Physiolog

HM-8410 - Biomedical Equipment Tech

HM-8416 - Nuclear Medicine Tech

HM-8425 - Surface Force IDC

HM-8427 - Recon Corpsman

HM-8432 - Preventative Medicine Tech

HM-8434 - Hemodialysis Tech

HM-8452 - Radiographer

HM-8454 - Electronneurodiagnostic Tech

HM-8463 - Optician

HM-8466 - Physical Therapy Tech
36 Navy Medicine

Navy Medicine’s reach can be found 

around the globe through its many 

global health engagement initiatives. 

Whether we are providing medical care 

through one of our yearly humanitarian 

assistance efforts, partnering with local 

ministries of health and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or conducting disease research and surveillance 

at one of our labs around the world, we 

are making a significant impact on operational forces and global health worldwide, ensuring our national security. 

A key piece in Navy Medicine’s 

global health engagement mission are its 

three overseas infectious disease research 

and surveillance activities; the Naval 

Medical Research Unit Three (NAMRU-3), Cairo, Egypt, with a major field 

site in Accra, Ghana; Naval Medical 

Research Unit Six (NAMRU-6), Lima, 

Peru, with a field laboratory in Iquitos, 

Peru; and Naval Medical Research Unit 

Two (NAMRU-2/NMRC Asia), located 

in Singapore with a field site in Phnom 

Penh, Cambodia. Navy Medicine’s 

two labs in the U.S., Naval Medical 

Research Unit San Antonio and Naval 

Medical Research Unit Dayton, Ohio, 

also provide support to the overseas labs 

and conduct groundbreaking medical 

and environmental health research. The 

NAMRUs are all unique and invaluable forward deployed extensions of the 

Department of Defense’s (DoD) infectious disease research and public health 

preparedness network. They also play a 

key role in national defense by addressing emerging and re-emerging infectious 

disease threats; evaluate new DoD sponsored drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics, 

and respond to combatant command 

interests. 

Navy Medicine laboratories around 

the globe conduct training with academic partners, NGOs, and subject 

matter experts. In fiscal 2013 our overseas labs conducted more than 14,000 

days-worth of laboratory, epidemiology and research ethics training to 

foreign national personnel. This year, 

Navy Medicine saw the groundbreaking achievements in malaria vaccine research from the Naval Medical Research 

Center, who worked with federal and 

industry partners to provide force health 

protection against malaria in advancing 

a promising new vaccine. As a result, 

operational forces and those around the 

world potentially affected by malaria 

will have a greater chance of being immunized from this disease. 

This year Navy Medicine also saw 

the outstanding and compassionate 

work that its personnel, NGOs, and 

forces from 10 countries conducted 

onboard USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) 

during Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13). 

PP13 went to Samoa, Tonga, Papua 

New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Kiribati 

and the Solomon Islands, providing 

humanitarian assistance and strengthened disaster response preparedness 

throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region. The work that was done there is 

truly remarkable and life changing for 

those who received care and for those 

who went on the mission. In terms of 

jointness, Navy Medicine also has two 

medical officers who are assigned to the 

World Health Organization (WHO) 

in Geneva, Switzerland, and the WHO 

European Regional Office in Copenhagen, Denmark. Having these two 

officers at the WHO is a great example 

of our interoperability between Navy 

Medicine and the WHO in joining 

forces together for global health efforts. 

Presence does matter in our global 

health engagement efforts. Navy Medicine is unique in that it doesn’t need an 

address to operate when America dials 

911. Navy Medicine can respond at a 

moment’s notice and provide care ... 

anytime, anywhere.

Lance Cpl. Xavier L. Cannon and members of the Philippine Armed Forces help 

civilians off a Marine Corps C-130 aircraft during humanitarian relief efforts after 

Typhoon Haiyan. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry)

GLOBAL HEALTH ENGAGEMENT
The Almanac | 2014 37

Pacifi c Partnership 2013 personnel help 

deliver boxes of donated medical supplies to 

the Gizo Branch of the Solomon Islands Red 

Cross during Pacifi c Partnership 2013. (Photo 

by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class 

Samantha J. Webb)
38 Navy Medicine

MEDICAL HOME PORT

The Navy’s Medical Home Port 

(MHP) model transforms the delivery 

of primary care to an integrated, teambased approach offering a comprehensive suite of services. The MHP team 

offers a comprehensive suite of services 

to meet the needs of Navy Medicine’s 

beneficiaries. The goal is to provide 

patient-centered care that protects the 

patients’ relationship with their primary care maganer and MHP team, 

improves access to health care services 

and quality of care, increases patient and 

staff satisfaction, while controlling the 

costs of healthcare. MHP ensures that 

beneficiaries have enhanced access to 

top-quality primary health care services 

including readiness, prevention, behavioral health, and disease management. 

Focus on Team-Based Care, Provider 

Continuity, and Access

 MHP teams work collaboratively to 

meet patient’s needs. The core team is 

comprised of a provider, nurse, medical assistant or hospital corpsmen, and 

clerk. Based on patients’ demand for 

health care services, MHP teams can 

also integrate behavioral health provider, 

pharmacist, case manager, or other integrated staff. The team structure allows 

members of the MHP team to operate 

at the top of their license and work 

more efficiently and effectively. Through 

standardized guidance, patients are 

scheduled to their assigned PCM and 

MHP team to ensure provider continuity.

Patients benefit from the team structure and provider continuity because it 

encourages the development of trusting, 

productive patient-provider relationships. Increased provider continuity 

positively correlates to patient’s receptiveness of healthcare advice and treatment regimen compliance. The MHP 

team is better able to address the needs 

of their enrolled patient population, 

thereby improving patient access to care. 

The team also expands access by leveraging information technology tools such 

as Tri-Service Workflow to standardize 

documentation of care and secure messaging to provide patients virtual access 

to the MHP team. Military treatment 

facilities review key access and continuity performance measures to monitor 

MHP success. 

Improving Access to Care 

The MHP team leverages asynchronous secure messaging, a Web-based tool 

to communicate sensitive information 

between individuals and their healthcare 

teams. Secure messaging improves access 

to care by providing patients direct, virtual access to their MHP Teams 24/7.

Through secure messaging, patients 

can request appointments, referrals, 

test results, and refills. MHP teams can 

message patients about private health 

matters, including sending educational 

materials and appointment reminders in 

a secured, virtual environment.

Emphasis on Health

MHP aims to improve population 

health by emphasizing preventive care, 

proactive intervention, care coordination, and chronic disease management. 

MHP provides a wide array of healthcare services, positioning them as a comprehensive clinic for patient’s primary 

care needs. By integrating of behavioral 

health (BH) providers, an MHP team 

can address the unmet BH needs in 

primary care. BH providers can support 

the management of chronic medical and 

behavioral health conditions to improve 

health outcomes and control cost. 

Goal of Decreasing Costs

MHP promotion of responsible use 

of the Emergency Room (ER) lowers 

costs. By ensuring patients’ access to 

their PCMs and MHP teams, patients 

are less likely to visit the ER for primary 

care needs or use costly network care. 

Building the patient-MHP provider 

relationship has also reduced unnecessary ancillary tests, as well as, avoidable 

hospitalizations and specialty care visits. 

MHP teams can identify, diagnose, and 

treat conditions before it advances to a 

tertiary care state.

Care delivered in Medical Home Port model includes, but is not limited to, readiness, 

prevention, wellness, behavioral health, and disease management. (Photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 1st Class James Stenberg)
The Almanac | 2014 39

WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE

Traumatic Brain Injury 

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is 

defined as a blow or jolt to the head or 

a penetrating injury that disrupts brain 

function accompanied by new onset or 

worsening of at least one of the following: Alteration of Consciousness (AOC), 

Loss of Consciousness (LOC), PostTraumatic Amnesia (PTA), neurological 

deficits, or an intracranial lesion. TBI is 

associated with blast exposures in combat, but can also occur aboard ships and 

in garrison, especially in training and 

sports environments. Approximately 

85% of all DoD TBIs occur in garrison. 

TBIs are classified as mild, moderate, severe, and penetrating, with mild 

TBI (mTBI), also known as concussion, 

being the most common (approximately 

84%). The most common symptoms of 

mTBI are headaches, dizziness, fatigue 

and others like vision and memory problems and irritability. 

Navy Medicine provides care for 

patients with TBI at all levels of severity. Care for mTBI consists primarily 

of rest and education. The majority of 

Service members (approximately 85%) 

who experience mTBI fully recover with 

no residual symptoms. Individuals who 

sustain moderate or severe TBI require 

tailored and uniquely individualized 

therapies. 

Navy Medicine has developed a TBI 

Enterprise Plan to provide comprehensive policy guidance and standards 

regarding TBI training, treatment, and 

reporting. In addition to Navy-unique 

TBI programs, Navy Medicine works 

closely with operational medical leaders 

and Army, Air Force, Veterans Affairs, 

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, and Defense Centers of Excellence 

for Psychological Health and TBI.

Concussion Restoration 

Care Center (CRCC)

Navy Medicine has worked closely 

with the Marine Corps to staff and 

equip a Concussion Restoration Care 

Center (CRCC) at Camp Leatherneck, 

Afghanistan. The CRCC was created to 

provide musculoskeletal and post-concussion care in theater to service members who can likely return to duty after 

a short period of rehabilitative care, but 

whose injuries are not severe enough to 

require medical evacuation. The CRCC 

is staffed with a sports medicine family 

physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and a psychologist. This 

team augments the Combat Operational 

Stress Team and Marine medical staff attached to the Medical Battalion.

The Role of Case 

Management in the Care of the 

Wounded Warrior

Navy Case Managers provide services 

to active duty service members, including Wounded, Ill & Injured (WII), and 

all other military beneficiaries. WIIs 

often face extensive treatment and rehabilitation for life-changing physical, 

psychological and cognitive injuries. 

The complexity of medical health care 

requiring multiple resources, treatment 

and providers in addition to the complexities of the military and VA health 

delivery systems can be overwhelming to the WII service members. This 

complexity necessitates the need for 

case manager as a key point of contact 

to coordinate care and support services. 

Navy Case Management’s Lead Coordinator role allows for a medical or 

non-medical case manager to serve as 

the WII’s primary point of contact and 

coordinate the care. 

Navy Clinical Case Management 

along with Navy Safe Harbor and the 

U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior 

Regiment working together, allows for 

a more holistic transition of the WII 

into the VA or civilian care systems by 

addressing both the medical and the 

non-medical needs concurrently to help 

reduce the stress and confusion of transition through the utilization of the Lead 

Coordinator concept.

Lt. Orlando Cabrera (left) conducts a strength test on a patient experiencing muscle 

pain at the combined aid station on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan. 

(Photo by Cpl. Paul Peterson)
40 Navy Medicine

WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE

Comprehensive Combat 

and Complex Casualty Care

The Comprehensive Combat and 

Complex Casualty Care (C5) rehabilitation program is located at Naval 

Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD). 

Working in concert with other services 

at NMCSD and with community partners, C5’s continuum of care addresses 

the physical, emotional, spiritual, and 

mental health well-being of its patients.

Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care (C5) is a program of 

care that manages severely wounded, ill 

or injured patients from medical evacuation through inpatient care, outpatient 

rehabilitation, and eventual return to active duty or transition from the military. 

My Ongoing Recovery 

Experience (MORE)

The online program called Navy 

MORE (My Ongoing Recovery Experience) program provides never-beforeachieved continuity of care for military 

personnel, family members and retirees 

in early recovery from. The program is a 

customized, interactive and confidential 

recovery tool. It is available free-ofcharge to military personnel, family 

members and retirees who are in the 

Navy Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Services program. 

Project C.A.R.E. (Comprehensive 

Aesthetic Restorative Effort)

As a result of combat trauma and 

training accidents, a great number of 

service members suffer major life altering injuries, to include limb loss and 

severe disfigurement, which can lead to 

emotional distress and an altered selfimage.

To help the traumatically wounded 

recover, both physically and emotionally, 

Project C.A.R.E. provides emotional 

support along with surgical and nonsurgical care in an effort to improve 

appearance and restore function. It 

has been found that even the slightest 

improvement can dramatically increase 

self-esteem and quality of life. This 

treatment aids in the holistic approach 

to care and treatment for not just the 

injured, but their care takers as well.

Utilizing a team approach with multiple surgical, medical, and supportive 

services, each patient is individually 

evaluated and a treatment plan is formulated. Depending upon the circumstances, a combination of surgical and nonsurgical treatments is planned, along 

with an emotional recovery plan to 

include support groups, mental health 

counseling, or both. 

2nd Lt. John Bobrousiecki, patient, Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center of 

Excellence, pulls weights during his kinesiotherapy session at the Hunter Holmes VA 

Medical Center. (Photo by Spc. Mark VanGerpen)

Use your Smart Phone to 

view this “Scrubbing In” video 

by downloading a QR Code 

reader and scanning the QR 

Code.
The Almanac | 2014 41

Operational Stress Control (OSC) 

Resources

The foundation of Navy Operational Stress Control (OSC) is the Stress 

Continuum Model that provides Sailors, 

leaders and family members a visual 

tool for assessing stress responses and 

practical steps to take to mitigate stress 

injuries. 

The Naval Center for Combat and 

Operational Stress Control was created 

to improve the psychological health of 

Navy and Marine Corps forces through 

training, education, care system improvement and facilitating research and 

information distribution. 

Operational Stress 

Control and Readiness 

(OSCAR) Teams

The Marine Corps, in collaboration with Navy Medicine, has deployed 

the Operational Stress Control and 

Readiness (OSCAR) program. This 

model maintains the psychological 

mental health of the USMC by training Marines in the early identification 

and management of mental health issues in their peers. If the mental health 

problems that are identified cannot be 

handled in a peer-to-peer fashion, then 

Ground Combat Element Marines 

across all three Divisions can utilize 

their own uniformed mental health 

provider. OSCAR providers and Behavioral Health Technicians partner with 

Marines as well as other service partners 

organic to the Ground Combat Element 

such as medical officers and chaplains to 

generate early intervention and prevention support throughout all phases of 

deployment. They are embedded within 

units both in garrison and in field training evolutions as an organic resource to 

provide a variety of non-clinical support 

activities including psychological health 

surveillance, command liaison and 

consultation, preventative psychological 

health training, and coordination with 

external mental health services.

Special Psychiatric Rapid 

Intervention Team (SPRINT)

Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Teams (SPRINT) are Navy 

Medicine’s primary response resource in 

providing rapid short term support following operational mishaps and critical 

events involving loss of lives. SPRINTs 

are located at Naval Medical Center 

Portsmouth, Va.; and Naval Medical Center San Diego. The mission of 

SPRINT is to provide individuals with 

educational and supportive services 

in group and individual settings designed to facilitate the normal recovery 

process and reduce the potential for 

future problems impacting operational 

readiness. SPRINT activation incidents 

include aviation mishaps, motor vehicle 

accidents with death resulting, natural 

disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, 

etc., and attacks on Navy vessels. A full 

team is typically comprised of a psychiatrist and/or psychologist, social worker, 

psychiatric nurse practitioner, chaplain, 

and neuropsychiatric technicians. 

 

Overcoming Adversity and Stress 

Injury Support (OASIS)

The OASIS Program has developed 

and refined a model of treatment incorporating evidenced-based therapies, 

integrative treatment approaches and 

comprehensive psychiatric management 

of patients’ medications. The program 

begins with treatment focused primarily 

upon developing effective coping skills. 

Trauma therapy approaches are gradually introduced over the first two weeks 

with progression as tolerated throughout 

the remainder of a ten week program. A 

“moral injury” treatment component has 

been introduced and has become a more 

integral component of treatment based 

Navy Lt. Dennis White, a psychiatrist, and Petty Offi cer 3rd Class Allan Lee, a corpsman, 

both with the Regimental Combat Team 7 Observational Stress Control and Readiness 

Team, pose by a sign at Combat Outpost Hanson. (Photo by Sgt. Ned Johnson)

MENTAL HEALTH CAPABILITIES
42 Navy Medicine

upon positive patient feedback and staff 

assessments of effectiveness. Along with 

highly trained and experienced treatment staff, integrative approaches are 

provided by experienced community 

volunteers specializing in various practices, offering a comprehensive program 

to treat mind and body. OASIS operates within a military treatment setting 

that respects the patients’ military identities and provides a familiar and secure 

structured environment

Behavioral Health 

Integration Program

The Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) in the Medical 

Home is an innovative way to combine 

two best practices for behavioral health 

integration in the primary care setting. 

BHIP created three Medical Home 

Port (MHP) team members whose sole 

responsibility is to assist the MHP team 

in addressing the behavioral health 

needs of all patients. Internal Behavioral 

Health Consultants support the primary 

care manager in addressing the behavioral health needs of the population. The 

Care Facilitator, typically a nurse who 

provides care facilitation at the request 

of the PCM, focuses on patients with 

depression and/or PTSD. An External Behavioral Health Consultant also 

remains readily available to the MHP 

team for consultation.

USMC Wounded Warrior 

Clinical Services Staff

It is essential that wounded, ill and 

injured Marines and Sailors receive 

coordinated care for a successful recovery. Effective treatment programs for 

injured Marines and Sailors, assigned to 

Marine Corps units, are individualized 

and complex. The course of recovery 

can be long, may require multiple and 

repetitive needs assessments, complex 

documentation, and include medical 

and psychological health (PH)-related 

interventions as the injured Marine or 

Sailor makes the transition back to a 

functional and productive life, either 

back to military duty or to civilian life. 

Many specialists may be involved—including but not limited to trauma surgeons, mental health providers, physical 

therapists, occupational and vocational 

therapists, etc. The Marine Corps 

Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR) 

is the one over-arching program that 

follows an injured Marine or assigned 

Sailor through this entire transition 

which often takes more than a year. 

Currently, a total of 11 BUMEDcontracted staff members support this 

comprehensive program world-wide at 

the WWR Headquarters, East and West 

Coast Battalions and their Detachments 

for injuries related to PH and TBI. 

Currently, staff are assigned at Camp 

Lejeune, NC, Camp Pendleton, Ca., 

Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Quantico, Va. WWR staff, Marine Corps units 

and families are also provided support. 

Program objectives include increasing 

Marines and Sailors awareness of PH 

and TBI symptoms and resources and 

improving the continuity and coordination of care for the wounded Marines 

and Sailors transitioning back to military duty or civilian life.

Reserve Psychological Health 

Outreach Program (PHOP)

The Psychological Health Outreach 

Program (PHOP) has 55 staff throughout CONUS--22 Outreach Coordinators and 33 Outreach Support Team 

Members, co-located with Reserve 

Commands in 11 regions--five Navy 

Reserve teams and six Marine Forces 

Reserve teams. These dynamic teams of 

licensed clinical professionals provide 

command consultation to reserve units 

and comprehensive Behavioral Health 

Screenings (BHS) to assess functioning 

on several levels including: psychological, physical, social, and family wellbeing.

After the initial screening, PHOP 

teams provide effective follow-up support which includes linking the client 

with “good fit” providers that can be 

military or community-based depending 

on the clients location, socio-economic 

status, and eligibility. In addition to 

psychological health services, the PHOP 

Lt. Larkin E. Magel, assistant program director for Naval Medical Center San Diego’s 

residential PTSD program, OASIS, speaks with a Marine residential patient during a 

class that helps combat veterans more effectively communicate in their relationships. 

(Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Pyoung K. Yi)

MENTAL HEALTH CAPABILITIES
The Almanac | 2014 43

teams also assist with concrete service 

referrals, which can include, but are 

not limited to affordable mental health, 

housing, food and employment assistance. 

Returning Warrior Workshops 

(RWWs)

Making a successful transition from 

the war zone to the home front is the 

focus of Returning Warrior Workshops 

(RWW). The workshops are expensepaid weekend events for about 200 

service members and their spouses or 

significant others. In addition to presentations from senior military leaders who 

have been in combat, there are breakout 

sessions where participants discuss and 

learn to resolve stressful situations arising in deployment and reintegration. A 

number of support services are available 

at the workshops along the with counselors, psychological health outreach coordinators and chaplains to assist service 

members in re-acclimating with their 

families and to civilian life. 

Project FOCUS

Project FOCUS (Families Over 

Coming Under Stress) is Navy Medicine’s vanguard program on family psychological health and resiliency building 

which addresses family functioning in 

the context of the impact of combat 

deployments, multiple deployments 

and high-operational tempo for Navy, 

Marine Corps, Army and Air Force active duty and reservists. The application 

of a three tiered approach to care-community education, psycho education for 

families and brief-treatment intervention for families, has shown statistically 

significant outcomes in increasing family functioning and decreasing negative 

outcomes in both parents and children. 

The program takes a de-stigmatized approach to care and is integrated within 

the community context. The program is 

recognized at the highest levels of leadership as the model for prevention/intervention psychological health services 

for military families. To date more than 

400,000 service members, families, providers and community members have 

received FOCUS services at more than 

23 locations. 

Substance Abuse 

 Rehabilitation Program

Navy Medicine’s Substance Abuse 

Rehabilitation Program (SARP) provides 

substance use screenings for potential 

alcohol and drug problems among all 

active duty, retired, & qualified family 

members across the enterprise. SARP 

provides education, Intensive OutPatient (IOP) Substance Abuse Treatment 

and case manages addictions treatment. 

The program works closely with Navy 

Drug and Alcohol Program Advisors 

(DAPA), Marine Corps Substance 

Abuse Control Officers (SACO), and 

Coast Guard Command Drug & Alcohol Representatives (CDAR) to provide 

care.

Chief Personnel Specialist Tricia Carothers, assigned to Navy Region Northwest Reserve Component Command, right, and her 

spouse Jason, left, share a lighthearted moment during a briefs at the Returning Warrior Workshop held at the W Hotel in Seattle. 

(Photo by Cmdr. Abdul Memon)
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE

7700 ARLINGTON BLVD

FALLS CHURCH VA 22042-5122

OFFICIAL BUSINESS