Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX –
NMETC Public Affairs
The Navy’s surgeon general made his second trip since
assuming his new position in December, visiting Navy Medicine commands in San
Antonio Feb. 18 and 19.
Vice Adm. C. Forrest Faison, U.S. Navy surgeon general and
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery chief spent two days on a whirlwind tour in
“Military City USA” with Force Master Chief Terry Prince, his force master
chief and Hospital Corps director.
Faison’s first stops were to the Navy Medicine Education and
Training
Command and the Navy Medicine Training Support Center at
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. He said visiting Navy Medicine
education and training organizations early on was intentional and meant to send
a message.
“You play a critical role in Navy Medicine’s success,”
Faison told NMETC military and civilian staff during an all
hands call to discuss the future of the Navy and Navy Medicine. “This is where
our corpsmen train. Our success is dependent
upon their success, and their success is dependent upon your success.”
Lt. j.g. Andrew Duffin, a medical service corps officer
serving in the NMETC operations department, was one of three NMETC staff
recognized by Faison during the all hands call. Faison presented Duffin one of
his personal coins for managing several projects that significantly impacted
NMETC success.
“I think Vice Adm. Faison’s visit showcased a strong
transition in our senior leadership,” Duffin said. “He came across as charismatic
and genuine.
“His vision for the future of Navy Medicine is a proactive
one that puts the focus back on what all of us in Navy Medicine are passionate
about, the patient,” Duffin added. “As a person who constantly questions
everything, it was refreshing to hear his focus on the ‘why’ in our business.
Far too often, why we do things is overlooked in favor of processes and
procedures.”
Faison also visited and held all hands calls with NMTSC Navy
officer and enlisted instructors serving at the Army, Navy and Air Force
tri-service Medical Education and Training Campus and at several officer
medical training programs located on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
Faison also visited the Naval Medical Research Unit-San
Antonio and then wrapped his two-day visit with a tour of the METC, where he
was able to meet and speak with enlisted students.
The highlight of Faison’s visit seemed to be the time he
spent with the most junior enlisted personnel. This included serving as the
guest speaker for a Hospital Corps “A” School class graduation, now a joint
Navy and Air Force program called the Basic Medical Technician/Corpsman
Program. He told the graduates he had three requests of them – requests that
span all ranks and medical specialties.
“Always be worthy of the trust that has been placed in your
hands in the privilege of caring for America’s sons and daughters, to care for
them as you would care for your loved ones, providing them the best care
possible and doing all in your power to return them home to their families safely,”
Faison said. “Always be worthy of the uniform you wear. For Navy
Medicine, that uniform also represents hope, caring,
compassion, strength and dedication to those who look to us for help and
support. As you assume leadership positions, always be worthy of the privilege
and responsibility of leadership. As
leaders, a trust will be placed in your hands to care for those you have the
privilege to lead.”
NMETC manages Navy Medicine’s logistic and enlisted and
officer education and training programs, medical operational training for
medical and medical support personnel deploying worldwide.
NMETC is part of the Navy Medicine team, a global health
care network of Navy medical professionals around the world who provide
high-quality health care to eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel
deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support
on the sea aboard ships, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.