MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Herbert Amarillo, from Kahului, Hawaii, was recently named Navy Medicine’s Junior Radiology Technician of the Year while serving aboard U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Rota, Spain.
Amarillo is a 2006 graduate of Maui High School. Additionally, Amarillo earned a degree from American Public University in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Kahului.
“Growing up, I learned that the concept of ‘Ohana’ goes beyond blood relatives,” Amarillo said. “It’s about supporting the people around you. Whether it's sharing food, helping during hard times, or celebrating together, you learn how strong and meaningful community ties can be.”
Amarillo has served in the Navy for nearly 10 years.
“I joined the Navy to travel the world and pursue a higher education,” Amarillo said.
Today, Amarillo serves as a hospital corpsman, assisting health care professionals in providing medical care to Navy personnel and their families.
“My favorite part of my job is the sense of fulfillment I get from helping to diagnose patients based on their chief complaints,” Amarillo said. “I also enjoy the opportunity to encounter new and interesting cases each day. It makes the work day engaging and meaningful.”
According to Navy officials, NMRTC’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research.
NMRTC Rota serves as a force multiplier in Navy Medicine’s strategic global medical support mission throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East while also supporting operational readiness and maintaining a strategic repository of expertise at the Naval Hospital Rota Military Treatment Facility within the Iberian Peninsula.
Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Amarillo has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of being named Navy Medicine’s Junior Radiology Technician of the Year for 2024,” Amarillo said.
Amarillo serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means sacrifice, growth and pride,” Amarillo said. “It's not always easy, but knowing I'm contributing to something that truly matters makes it all worth it.”