Naval Medical Forces Pacific

Today, we celebrate the 128th birthday of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps.

On June 17, 1898, an act of Congress formally established the Hospital Corps, bringing together the loblolly boys, surgeon's stewards, and apothecaries of the early Navy into a single, trained enlisted force. In the 128 years since, our corpsmen have earned a reputation as the most decorated enlisted rating in the Navy, caring for Sailors and Marines aboard ships, on submarines, at our hospitals and clinics, and right alongside the warfighter in the field.

From a morning PT session and colors to camaraderie and the reaffirming of their oath, Naval Medical Forces Pacific Hospital Corpsmen, past and present, came together to mark the occasion.

Happy 128th birthday to our corpsmen, and thank you for everything you do!

⚓ Meet the Navy's First Medical Sailors: The Loblolly Boys ⚓

In honor of the upcoming Hospital Corps 128th Birthday on June 17, we are throwing it back to the very beginning of Navy Medicine. Long before they were called "Corpsmen," these medical heroes were known as Loblolly Boys.

Here is a quick look at the unique history of the rate that started it all:

🥣 What is in a name?
The term comes from British slang for porridge ("lob" means boil, and "lolly" means broth). Loblolly boys fed warm gruel to sick and injured sailors.

🔔 Grit, sand, and sick call
By 1818, their duties were officially defined. They rang a bell to announce sick call, prepped the surgeon's tools, and filled tubs with sand to catch blood during surgery.

🇺🇸 The trailblazers
Early pioneers like John Wall (1798) and Joseph Anderson (1800) served aboard the Navy's first sailing ships during the Quasi-War.

From Loblolly Boys to the most highly decorated enlisted rate in the U.S. Navy today, the legacy of service and sacrifice remains unchanged.

Help us celebrate our Navy Medicine heritage! Tag your favorite Doc in the comments below! And, to read more about the history of our Hospital Corps, check out the link in the comments below! 👇

Leading the way in preventive medicine! ⚓️🩺

Shoutout to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka for their proactive approach to cancer screening, which has been recognized by Defense Health Network (DHN) Pacific Rim leadership as a network best practice!

Through targeted outreach, walk-in health events, and expanded self-referral mammography services, the USNH Yokosuka team significantly surpassed Defense Health Agency's goals over the past year:

✅Breast cancer screening rates climbed to 82.8% (exceeding the 78.64% goal)

✅Cervical cancer screening rates reached 83.3% (exceeding the 75.21% goal)

"Behind every percentage point is a patient who may have an opportunity to detect cancer earlier," said Lt. Christian Sanchez, USNH Yokosuka’s HEDIS champion.

By removing logistical barriers and embedding population health into daily operations, USNH Yokosuka is proving that preventive care is readiness medicine. Their innovative approach serves as a model for military treatment facilities across the region!

BZ to the entire Yokosuka team for their dedication to preserving health, maintaining readiness, and ensuring our force remains prepared to execute the mission. 👏

📰 To read all about it, check out the link in the comments below! 👇

🎉 Congratulations to Naval Medical Forces Pacific’s awardees! 🎖️

Yesterday, we recognized four of our staff whose work keeps Navy Medicine ready to render assistance and keep our warfighters mission ready.

⚓ Lt. Cmdr. Cindy Weise received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. As a Reserve program director, Weise turned plans into deployed people, supporting the orders and manpower that powered major operations like Keen Edge and Pacific Partnership. That's force generation in action, getting the right Sailors to the right place at the right time.

⚓ Chief Hospital Corpsman Caitlin Barrera received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. As a Reserve program leader, Barrera helped keep more than 1,300 Reserve Sailors aligned, fit, and ready to answer the call, reaching a 96 percent fitness pass rate with zero failures. Her work strengthens the people side of readiness, making sure our Sailors are prepared when the mission needs them.

⚓ Mr. Kenneth Frystak received the Civilian Service Commendation Medal. As a regional accountant, Frystak is part of the financial backbone that keeps research, platforms, and people funded, clearing complex transactions and strengthening the command's audit readiness. Our civilians are vital to this mission, and his stewardship is a clear example of why.

⚓ Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jessica Belfour received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. Leading the unit deployment cell, Belfour helped move medical teams forward, supporting expeditionary units that delivered Role 2 care to warfighters where it mattered most. That's the heart of our mission, putting capable medical teams where the fight is.

Bravo zulu to all our awardees for doing their part to keep our warfighters medically ready to fight and win!!! 👏

🐾 They serve with us. They protect us. And now, our corpsmen are training to save THEM on the battlefield! 🐕‍🦺

Recently, Navy Hospital Corpsmen at NMRTC Twentynine Palms teamed up with Army veterinary personnel for a specialized Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care (K9 TCCC) course. For the first time, this life-saving training was broadly offered to corpsmen across the command, equipping them with the skills needed to treat our Military Working Dogs (MWDs) in austere environments.

From trauma assessment and hemorrhage control to treating heat injuries and managing airways, our corpsmen are learning how to bridge the critical gap between an injury in the field and definitive veterinary care. Because when a K9 is injured on a mission, a corpsman is often the very first medical provider on the scene.

The best part? The principles of K9 casualty care closely mirror the human TCCC our corpsmen already know, proving once again how adaptable and ready our corpsmen are.

🗣️ "K9s play a big role in the military whether it's sniffing bombs or any sort of drug bust. So, it’s only right to treat them like they're one of us," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jaeden Masse.

We couldn’t agree more! Shoutout to our Navy and Army teams for this incredible joint-service collaboration. When different branches work together, our entire force gets stronger. 💪

Drop a 🐾 in the comments to show your support for our Military Working Dogs and the medical personnel who keep them in the fight! 👇

Today and Every Day, We Remember: Memorial Day Observance at NMFP

Our Sailors and civilian personnel paused this morning for a solemn colors ceremony to observe Memorial Day and honor the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation.

Standing together in silence, we reaffirm our commitment to the values these brave men and women defended. Their legacy of selfless service continues to inspire the Navy Medicine mission to support our warfighters and ensure a ready medical force.

Today and every day, we remember.

Artemis II Recovery Team: The ERSS 14 and ERCS 11 Experience

A huge THANK YOU to Lt. Cmdr. Kristine Tolentino Parra and Lt. Stephanie Ryan for sharing their experiences supporting the historic Artemis II recovery mission this past April.

Parra, a general surgeon for Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System (ERSS) 14 at NMRTC Camp Pendleton, and Ryan, with En Route Care System (ERCS) 11 at NMRTC San Diego, gave our Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) team an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at this historic event.

Their firsthand accounts highlighted the critical role of our Expeditionary Medicine (EXMED) teams in real-world, no-fail operations. During their presentation, they emphasized that mission success in such a complex environment requires seamless integration. They detailed how familiarizing themselves with the recovery ship, mastering the equipment, understanding partner medical teams' capabilities, and rigorously drilling together were the keys to ensuring a highly effective medical response.

Through their careful preparation, these teams provided comprehensive medical support to the Artemis II astronauts and the entire Navy team assigned to the recovery event.

The NMFP team enjoyed learning from their operational insights. We could not be prouder of how our EXMED teams represented NMFP and Navy Medicine, proving our expeditionary capabilities on the world stage.

Celebrating 118 Years of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps

NMFP proudly celebrates the 118th Birthday of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, honoring a legacy defined by this year's theme: "Total Force, One Mission, Nursing Excellence from Shore to Sea." Our Navy nurses represent the best of our Navy, blending clinical expertise with strategic leadership and tireless commitment to our warfighters and their families. Whether stationed at the hospitals or serving in austere operational environments, the Navy nurses are the vital link ensuring our Sailors and Marines remain a ready force.

Capt. Karen Belcar, regional chief nursing officer for NMFP and DHN-PR, highlighted the Nurse Corps' unique role.

"Our legacy is built on resilience, leadership, and service before self," Belcar said. "We stand at the intersection of readiness and healing, ensuring our force remains medically ready while delivering safe, high-quality, and compassionate care."

Happy Birthday, Nurse Corps!