Hospital Corpsman |
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Service Details |
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What are you doing now:
Working at a printed plastics company full time and writing in my free time. I write both Christian fiction and non-fiction and also have a few non-Christian books. My books are available on Amazon. I'm currently an associate member of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers.
Instead of spending a lot of time on social media, I enjoy coming here to TWS. I think it's interesting researching our fallen fellow shipmates and creating memorial profiles for them. I'm also a member of the TWS Memorial Team and spend time researching and updating memorial profiles created by other members which may be missing information. If you need help creating a profile, editing your own, or need tips or help researching a veteran, please feel free to contact me.
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Other Comments:
To view my Army profile, click here.
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1985-1987, HN-0000, National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Bethesda, MD
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1987-1989, HM-0000, Sewell's Point Branch Health Clinic, Norfolk, VA
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1989-1989, HM-0000, Break in Service
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1989-1995, Army National Guard (ARNG)
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Reflections on PO3 Myers's
US Navy Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I was one of those people who wanted to go to college but didn't have the financial means to do so right out of high school. I felt the Navy would be a good job where I could learn a skill as well as some much-needed discipline. I also chose the Navy because both of my parents served in the Navy. Once people find out both my parents were also Hospital Corpsmen, they automatically think that influenced my choice to become a Corpsman. Not so. My test scores were high enough to choose almost any job, but the two top picks in my mind were Hospital Corpsman and Air Traffic Controller. The medical field sounded like the best fit for me.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I attended boot camp in Orlando, FL, and then Hospital Corps School at Great Lakes, IL.
Toward the end of Corps School, we were all given a list of the various duty stations that had openings for our rank and NEC. I don't remember what my choices were or why I chose Bethesda Naval Hospital. While there, I worked in the maternity ward (3 West). Although it was called the maternity ward, we also took care of mothers who had not yet delivered their babies and were admitted to the hospital for various complications of pregnancy.
I wanted to learn as much as I could about the medical field. My primary objective was to be involved in emergency medicine, which I was able to do at Sewell's Point Branch Medical Clinic in Norfolk, VA. I was first assigned to sick call but then was transferred to the urgent care clinic. Not only did I get to do many of the jobs involved in taking care of the sick and injured in the clinical setting, but I was also an Emergency Medical Technician on the ambulance crew. After I was certified as an EMT, I took the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course. With both of those certifications, I could be assigned to the ambulance as either the EMT or the driver.
I think I would've enjoyed making a career in the Navy, but I got out to attend college. Looking back, there are times I wished I would've stayed in and made the Navy my career, but because I'd been told that once I would've gotten a promotion to HM2, I would probably end up doing more desk work than actual patient care, the job didn't sound interesting anymore. I think I would've applied for FMF and hoped to have been stationed with the Marines.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I was never in a war zone or involved in humanitarian or peacekeeping operations.
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DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
No.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Sewell's Point Branch Medical Clinic will stand out as the best of the places where I was stationed for many reasons.
The main reason was I felt all of my medical training and experience was used to the highest degree while working in both the Urgent Care Clinic as an EMT/driver on the ambulance crews. Even though a lot of the cases weren't life-threatening, I left at the end of the day knowing that I made a difference in a patient's life whether that was by helping them during an illness, suturing wounds, and during those times when a patient's life depended on whether or not I did my job correctly.
Another reason I enjoyed my time there was working alongside non-medical personnel such as the base police and the Marines. Besides the medical things I did every day, I got to learn about both law enforcement and what the Marines did for their jobs and during training.
I can't say any of my duty stations were the worst. Everything had its bad side. Nothing horrible ever happened, so I tend to forget about the things I didn't like and focus on the positive things.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
In four short years, there are so many from which to choose. I think one of the most important things I learned was how to work as a team during emergency situations with a variety of people. I've applied this to other areas of my life, even in non-emergency situations.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Would it be bad to say the highest achievement during my time in the Navy was not losing my temper and causing bodily harm to another person? I'm sure other jobs have things about them that can be very frustrating, such as team members who do as little work as possible and leaders who are less competent at the job than the people they're leading. There were also times I had to deal with obnoxious drunks. So I do think, with the hot temper I have and fully admit to, that not losing it was a big achievement, although not the greatest.
On a serious note, I think the greatest achievements were the things most people never saw - which could be one reason I never earned any medals or got letters of commendation and so on. I didn't really need those things to boost my ego. When I was finished treating a patient, and they thanked me and/or told me what a good job I did, that was all the recognition I needed. Even without those words, I would've kept doing my job to the best of my ability.
Two gifts were given to me that I still have. One of the base police officers gave me a shoulder patch from his uniform because he said he always enjoyed working with me. A young girl I sutured gave me her school picture because she said I deserved an award for being so nice to her and taking care of her. I think those things actually mean more to me than a whole box full of medals, letters, and certificates.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The police shoulder patch and the picture I mentioned in the previous question also fit nicely as an answer to this question.
I also received a third-place trophy for the Clinics Command (Norfolk) EMT Round-up. This was a friendly competition among teams of EMTs and drivers from the various clinics in the area. Once people find out only three teams signed up and participated, they often say my partner ended up with the "loser's trophy". I don't see it that way. I learned a lot about myself and my partner, and became close friends after the competition. When I see the trophy, I'm reminded of the friendship and the friendly competition.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Mrs. Stouffer, who was the civilian charge nurse of the obstetrics ward at Bethesda Naval Hospital, taught me hands-on medical care, which, until then, was mostly book learning. HM3 Paul McFadden who was my main trainer as I worked through my provisional EMT ambulance runs in Norfolk because he was always patient when teaching.
The person with the most positive impact was CWO Ferguson, who was a Physician's Assistant I worked with in Norfolk. He may have been a much higher rank than me, but I feel we became very close friends. Neither of us ever crossed the line that could've caused big problems; however, I do consider him my greatest teacher, military and personal advisor, and best friend from my time in the Navy. He was one of those people who was serious and expected me to be when that was what the situation required, yet also knew just when to crack a joke to relieve stress and tension. He stuck to the principle of "praise in public and reprimand in private" - although I was never on the end of a reprimand from him. I would list him as the best leader I ever worked with, and I still try to put into practice those leadership and friendship examples he taught me by leading by his example.
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LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
I've lost contact with all but a few people I was stationed with over the four years I served, so if anyone out there reads my profile and remembers me, feel free to contact me.
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CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
For some reason, the thing that stood out and popped into my head when I read this question was a drunk we treated at the Urgent Care Clinic (UCC). No, I don't think obnoxious drunks are funny at any time, especially when they need medical care and won't cooperate in any way. It's even less funny when I got woke up at around 0200 to help in the UCC because the ambulance crew was out and the clinic was short-staffed. Even less funny when there were three drunks there at the same time.
This guy wouldn't cooperate and said because he was a PO1 and I was only a PO3, he didn't have to do what I told him. I got the doctor to talk to him, and the doctor had the best way to sober him up. He made the guy stand at attention until he could do so without moving - apparently not an easy thing to do if you're drunk. The doctor also made sure the guy knew I was in charge and the one giving orders regardless of his rank.
I laughed after the patient was treated and released because I thought it was hilarious how the doctor handled the situation and how shocked a PO1 could be that a PO3 was permitted to give him orders, and they had to be carried out.
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I attended a four-year college and earned a BS in environmental science, although I've never actually worked in any field related to that degree. I currently work as a technician at a printed plastics company and write novels and non-fiction books in my free time.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I don't belong to any military associations unless you count this website.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Three of the things I learned during my time in the service are a good work ethic, being respectful to people regardless of their position, and how to get along with people who may not share my beliefs or opinions. Those three things are good to maintain regardless of where I work or travel.
I don't really miss anything from the service. That may be because I only spent four years in the Navy and didn't have many of the experiences other veterans have had.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
I always tell people who are interested in joining or have recently joined the Navy to take advantage of every educational opportunity they can get. There are so many places that will hire veterans because of the level of training they receive in the military.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US Navy |
The questions that were asked in this section have my mind running at high speed, recalling all of the people and events I remember. KC 10.20.23
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