Seaman Zion Johnson, a native of Lancaster, South Carolina, was recently recognized as Blue Jacket of the Quarter while assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Jacksonville, Florida.
Blue Jacket of the Quarter is awarded to a junior sailor who exemplifies outstanding dedication to duty and superior performance by going above and beyond their assigned job.
“My favorite part about my job is that I get to help serve and protect those around me,” Johnson said.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Lancaster.
“I grew up learning that if you work hard enough and put in the effort for what you believe in, you can achieve your goals, no matter the difficulty,” Johnson said.
NMRTC Jacksonville’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research.
NMRTC Jacksonville, co-located with Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville, has five units across Florida and Georgia to support warfighter medical readiness to deploy and clinician readiness to save lives. NH Jacksonville and its five branch health clinics serve 175,000 active duty, active duty family members, and retired service members, including 54,000 patients enrolled with a primary care manager.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
“America is a maritime nation, and for 250 years, America’s warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom,” Navy officials said.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on secure undersea fiber optic cables, Navy leaders emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the fabric of America.
Johnson is living out a dream of service to the country.
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