MILLINGTON, Tenn. – As Americans reflect on the service of military men and women this Veterans Day, some may not realize that they are fellow residents with those who serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Taina Anderson, a resident of Sacramento, California, supports and defends freedom around the world, as a Navy utilitiesman, who is responsible for being a medical assistant and scribe for Sutter Medical Foundation. Anderson is a 2004 El Sereno High School graduate.
Reservists seamlessly support and actively aid military missions while continuing to lead their own independent lives in the civilian world, according to Navy officials.
“The Navy Reserve is a 100K strong team of sailors embedded across the fabric of society, loyal and dedicated patriots, serving both in uniform and civilian jobs, ready to defend the homeland and deploy across the world in a moment’s notice,” said Vice Adm. Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve.
The Navy Reserve provides strategic depth to America’s Navy as it protects the American homeland and advances economic prosperity by preserving freedom of the seas.
In addition to serving in the Navy Reserve, Anderson has worked at her civilian job for over three years. Anderson balances her civilian life with her part-time Navy service by prioritizing her job in the Navy.
“I want to be for personnel, what I didn't have in the beginning of my Navy career,” said Anderson. “I make sure to put the time aside, when needed, whether it's every day or every few days. If I have free time at work to take care of things, I will. If I have to stay up until midnight answering emails or taking care of paper work, I will.”
As a Navy reservist, Anderson serves with Naval Mobile Constrution Battalion 18 responsible for assisting and preparing patients for various procedures, providing patients instructions about their care, stocking exam rom, ensuring proper documents are completed for patients as well as providers, maintaining patients medical records, and performing diagnostic testing.
Anderson is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Anderson is most proud of earning NMCB 18 Junior Sailor of the Year, receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2017, earning NMCB 18 Junior Sailor of the Quarter fiscal year 2019/ 4th Quarter and earning a Expedetionary Warfare Specialist and Seabee Combat Warfare specialist.
“I was very grateful that my leadership even considered putting me in the running,” said Anderson. “I truly appreciate and I'm humbled that my battalion recognized it as well. This means so much to me!”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Anderson, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Anderson is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My grandfathers and my dad both served in the military,” said Anderson. “I joined, not to continue with the tradition but because, I wanted something different for myself. I know for sure, if my grandfathers were still alive, they would be very proud of me.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Anderson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means, I get to be a part of something that not many people get to be a part of,” said Anderson. “I get to be a part of a different family that not many people will ever understand. I get to escape the civilian life from time to time to experience a different stress and life that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I get opportunities and benefits that most will never get. Mostly, I proudly get to say, I served my country as a Seabee in the United States Navy.”
Reservists seamlessly support and actively aid military missions while continuing to lead their own independent lives in the civilian world, according to Navy officials.
“The Navy Reserve is a 100K strong team of sailors embedded across the fabric of society, loyal and dedicated patriots, serving both in uniform and civilian jobs, ready to defend the homeland and deploy across the world in a moment’s notice,” said Vice Adm. Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve.
The Navy Reserve provides strategic depth to America’s Navy as it protects the American homeland and advances economic prosperity by preserving freedom of the seas.
In addition to serving in the Navy Reserve, Anderson has worked at her civilian job for over three years. Anderson balances her civilian life with her part-time Navy service by prioritizing her job in the Navy.
“I want to be for personnel, what I didn't have in the beginning of my Navy career,” said Anderson. “I make sure to put the time aside, when needed, whether it's every day or every few days. If I have free time at work to take care of things, I will. If I have to stay up until midnight answering emails or taking care of paper work, I will.”
As a Navy reservist, Anderson serves with Naval Mobile Constrution Battalion 18 responsible for assisting and preparing patients for various procedures, providing patients instructions about their care, stocking exam rom, ensuring proper documents are completed for patients as well as providers, maintaining patients medical records, and performing diagnostic testing.
Anderson is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Anderson is most proud of earning NMCB 18 Junior Sailor of the Year, receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2017, earning NMCB 18 Junior Sailor of the Quarter fiscal year 2019/ 4th Quarter and earning a Expedetionary Warfare Specialist and Seabee Combat Warfare specialist.
“I was very grateful that my leadership even considered putting me in the running,” said Anderson. “I truly appreciate and I'm humbled that my battalion recognized it as well. This means so much to me!”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Anderson, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Anderson is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My grandfathers and my dad both served in the military,” said Anderson. “I joined, not to continue with the tradition but because, I wanted something different for myself. I know for sure, if my grandfathers were still alive, they would be very proud of me.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Anderson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means, I get to be a part of something that not many people get to be a part of,” said Anderson. “I get to be a part of a different family that not many people will ever understand. I get to escape the civilian life from time to time to experience a different stress and life that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I get opportunities and benefits that most will never get. Mostly, I proudly get to say, I served my country as a Seabee in the United States Navy.”