LEMOORE, Calif. – Matt Karjalainen, son of Salt Lake City, Utah, residents, provides beneficiary care and expeditionary medical readiness while serving with Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore at Naval Health Clinic Lemoore.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vanessa White, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Karjalainen previously served in the Navy for 20 years. Today, Karjalainen serves as an Environmental Program Manager.
“My dad was in the Air Force and wanted me to join the military, so I decided to join the Navy,” said Karjalainen.
Growing up in Denver, Karjalainen attended Washington High School in Ogden, Utah and graduated in 1997.
“Growing up, I learned to be punctual and to never be late,” said Karjalainen. "I also was taught to learn something to help you stand out, take constructive criticism well and use it to strive to obtain your goals."
These lessons have helped Karjalainen while serving in the Navy.
Naval Hospital Lemoore was originally commissioned in July 1968 as a 67-bed hospital by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D.C. In May 2000, the current building was dedicated and in September 2017 it was redesignated as Naval Health Clinic Lemoore.
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, Karjalainen 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.
“The Navy is important to national defense because protection is all over the world,” said Karjalainen.
Karjalainen has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy was being able to serve my country for 20 years and retire,” said Karjalainen.
As Karjalainen 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 to me gives you a sense of commitment,” added Karjalainen.