MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Lt. Cmdr. Thuyvi Amy Truong, a native of Sacramento, California, recently received the Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO) Warfare qualification serving aboard the U.S. Navy warship, USS Boxer, operating out of San Diego, California.
Truong joined the Navy nine years ago and is a 2002 Florin High School graduate.
The SWMDO warfare qualification is designed strictly for Medical Corps officers who go through nine months of didactics, observing and shadowing different warfare areas on board an amphibious assault ship, followed by three months of studying and culminating with an oral board examination by each warfare areas' subject matter experts.'
"This qualification is important as it helped me better understand what the different ratings in the Navy do," said Truong. "It helped me gain a greater appreciation for the blood and sweat that sailors put into their work to ensure our nation's borders and interests are safe. This experience has made me even more proud to be serving those who serve us."
Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship and the sixth U.S. ship to bear the name of the original HMS Boxer, which was captured by the British during the War of 1812.
Amphibious assault ships transfer Marines, equipment and supplies and can support helicopters or other aircraft. Boxer’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 crewmembers and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.
As Truong and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.