PENSACOLA, Fla. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Raphael Abellon, a native of Fremont, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Pensacola operating out of Naval Air Station Pensacola.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anna-Liesa Hussey, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Abellon joined the Navy seven years ago. Today, Abellon serves as a hospital corpsman.
“Growing up watching military movies, I always wanted to join,” said Abellon. “Becoming a corpsman was the perfect combination of pursuing a medical career and frontline deployments with the Marines.”
After graduating high school in the Philippines in 2013, Abellon moved to Fremont, California. Today, Abellon relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Fremont to succeed in the military.
“I was taught to have a strong moral character growing up, which carried over in the most important way,” said Abellon.
These lessons have helped Abellon while serving with Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Pensacola.
Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Pensacola, also known as Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP), is older than 26 U.S. States and is in its second century of service. It is one of the country's oldest and most respected military medical facilities. NHP continues to provide health care to over 150,000 beneficiaries in its main facility and ten branch clinics across five states.
Today, the sixth Naval Hospital building was the first to be built outside of the NAS Pensacola installation. Initially commissioned as the Naval Regional Aerospace Medical Command in 1978, it continues its mission of providing healthcare to America's heroes and their families throughout the Gulf Coast region. In 2001, a 2-story, 73,000 square foot Outpatient Clinic was added to the Naval Hospital.
NHP's mission is to deliver high-quality healthcare to warfighters and beneficiaries, ensuring a medically ready force through strategic integration, innovation, and well-trained personnel.
Serving in the Navy means Abellon is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“With the Navy-Marine Corps partnership, we are able to project power all over the world,” said Abellon.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through underwater fiber optic, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Abellon and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
Serving in the Navy means Abellon is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“With the Navy-Marine Corps partnership, we are able to project power all over the world,” said Abellon.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through underwater fiber optic, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Abellon and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of the lessons I’ve learned in my time in the Navy because now I am able to mentor sailors to achieve success,” said Abellon.
As Abellon and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
As Abellon and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means I am able to make a difference in people's lives; whether it’s here in the U.S., back home in the Philippines, or forward deployed overseas,” added Abellon.