LEMOORE, Calif. – Petty Officer 1st Class Benjamin Parker, a native of Antioch, California, provides beneficiary care and expeditionary medical readiness while serving at Hornet Health Clinic Lemoore aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jerome Fjeld |
Parker joined the Navy ten years ago. Today, Parker serves as a hospital corpsman.
“I was homeless after my mother passed away,” said Parker. "I had no support and wanted to go to school. The Navy was my way out."
Growing up in Antioch, Parker attended homeschool and graduated in 2010.
Skills and values similar to those found in Antioch are important to succeed in the military.
“My hard background taught me empathy and gave me a passion for caring for others,” said Parker. "Seek to first understand because you never know what someone else is dealing with."
These lessons have helped Parker while serving in the Navy.
Naval Health Clinic Lemoore has a Fleet Centered Medical Home Port. The Fleet Centered Medical Home Port is an active duty-only clinic located at NAS Lemoore’s operations side in the Hornet Health Clinic. Care delivered at the Hornet Health Clinic is provided by a Primary Care Manager and is focused on the operational readiness of the aviation community.
Naval Health Clinic Lemoore provides quality health care to more than 18,000 people at NAS Lemoore, California and NAS Fallon, Nevada to ensure the Navy and Marine warfighters are medically ready to fight today, tomorrow, and beyond. The command also provides dental care and medical administrative support to Navy, Marine Corps and international students at the Naval Postgraduate School, Defense Language Institute and the Center for Information Dominance in Monterey, California.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”
As a member of the Navy, Parker is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
Parker has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“Corpsmen save lives on multiple levels,” said Parker. "For me, the biggest impact is helping those who aren't injured but are hurting on the inside."
As Parker 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 progress personally as well as professionally,” said Parker. "I went from homeless to gainfully employed with two degrees, a wife, two children, and a career helping others."
“Even if it's challenging, get what you can out of your career,” added Parker. "You can come out of it better if you look for the opportunities to take advantage of."