MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Lt. Brittney Grossman, from Oak Harbor, Washington, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Grossman is a 2014 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. Additionally, Grossman earned a degree from Boise State University in 2019 and is working toward a Master of Business Administration in health care administration.
After graduating from Boise State, Grossman worked as an X-ray technician in Boise until commissioning as a Navy officer in 2021.
“I was born into the Navy, with my parents meeting at their first duty station in Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine,” Grossman said. “They both retired out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island – where I swore I would never join the military. Once I graduated from Boise State University and started working at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, I realized I wanted more challenges, leadership opportunities and education. So what did I do? I decided to commission!”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Oak Harbor.
“Growing up in Oak Harbor, I learned how to be self-reliant and how to learn,” Grossman said. “With lots of boredom, free public transportation and two working parents, I was able to find my own means to start working at 15 and solve my own problems. I was given a long leash, which pushed me to be self-reliant. I also learned how to learn – this is something that has followed me throughout my undergraduate degree in Idaho, my master’s degree online and the numerous courses I’ve taken in the Navy. I’m always hungry for information and for understanding people, processes and unknown topics.”
Today, Grossman serves as a radiation health officer.
“My favorite part about being a radiation health officer is teaching sailors about medical imaging equipment, like X-ray machines,” Grossman said. “Teaching in general is something I really enjoy doing.”
According to Navy officials, NMRTU’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research.
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.
Grossman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of completing an operational tour aboard USS George. H.W. Bush and obtaining my warfare device during my first duty station,” Grossman said. “That was the epitome of being ‘In the Navy.’ It allowed me to have shared experiences with my parents, but also gave me a big picture perspective of what our mission is and how I support it every day on shore duty.”
Grossman serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Being in the Navy means showing up every day and contributing to something bigger than myself,” Grossman said. “It means having positive effects not only on the sailors directly near me, but also playing a part in protecting our country.”