PENSACOLA, Fla. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Diamond Sanders, a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, 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 |
Sanders joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Sanders serves as a master-at-arms.
“I joined the Navy because of the travel and education opportunities offered by the military,” said Sanders.
After growing up in Pittsburgh, Sanders moved to Morgantown to attend West Virginia University and graduated in 2022. Today, Sanders relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Morgantown to succeed in the military.
“I learned to keep an open mind about people and what you can learn from them,” said Sanders.
These lessons have helped Sanders 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 Sanders 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.
“Each branch contributes to our national security, but the Navy in particular provides unique readiness with sea capabilities,” said Sanders.
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.
Sanders and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“In my first command in Korea, I had the opportunity to work as the command public affairs officer,” said Sanders. “It was great to experience a role outside of my typical work for the Navy, but also confidence-building to have earned the trust of my leadership to do the job.”
As Sanders and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“It’s all about the commitment I made to my country seven years ago and the courage to stand by that commitment continually,” added Sanders.