BOSTON - Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Eric Garneau, from Port St. Lucie, Fla., led USS Constitution’s efforts that resulted in the command being awarded the Navy Community Service Award for Health, Safety, and Fitness, Jan. 30.
The award is presented to the command that promotes healthy, safe, and fit lifestyles through a variety of initiatives, including athletic events, health and safety awareness activities and programs, nutrition, hygiene, youth violence prevention programs, and recreational programs such as Special Olympics.
“We’ve improved leaps and bounds from previous years,” said Garneau. “Our Sailors have done substantially better on the Navy’s physical fitness assessment, using all safety equipment while in the workplace, and living overall healthier lives. The results have really presented themself here at this command by having fewer Sailors need sick days, fewer Sailors on limited or light duty, and quality of work has substantially increased.”
USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.
During the War of 1812, USS Constitution earned the United States’ first major victory against the Royal Navy with the defeat of HMS Guerriere and, during that battle, gained the nickname ‘‘Old Ironsides’’ when cannon balls were observed bouncing off her tough live oak hull.
Today, the Sailors stationed aboard provide free tours and visitation as the ship serves to promote the Navy’s history and supports public education about the importance of naval power to more than 600,000 visitors each year.
Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crewmembers must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment