PENSACOLA, Fla. – Hospitalman Sierra Loebs, a native of Wasilla, Alaska, 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 |
Loebs joined the Navy four years ago.
“I was in Pearl Harbor when the ballistic missile false alarm happened,” said Loebs. “I was an electrician at the time not knowing what was going on made me want to join to be a part of the people who are more informed. So, I decided to join the Navy the next day and within a week I was at boot camp.”
Growing up in Wasilla, Loebs attended Twindly Bridge Charter School and graduated in 2012. Today, Loebs relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Wasilla to succeed in the military.
“Being from Alaska we do a lot of physical outdoor activities that make us tougher,” said Loebs. “I joined when I was 25, and I think my upbringing made joining less of a culture shock as it is for some.”
This continues to help Loebs 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 Loebs 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.
“The Navy has a large cyber security and naval presence that protects us against threats from our advisories,” said Loebs.
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.
Loebs and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m most proud of recently winning the DAISY Award,” said Loebs. “The DAISY award is given to a medical provider who has shown compassionate care to a patient or patients.”
As Loebs 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 have the opportunity to protect my family,” added Loebs. “It’s going above and beyond what a regular citizen does. When we join the military we give a lot of our freedoms away to protect our families and loved ones.”