MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Barron, a native of Midland, Texas, serves with Navy Medicine at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Rota, Spain, supporting the health and readiness of sailors and their families as a hospital corpsman.
Barron graduated from Midland Senior High School in 2017.
Barron joined the Navy four years ago.
“I initially joined the Navy to become an explosive ordnance disposal technician,” Barron said. "After dropping, I lucked into the opportunity to become a hospital corpsman. I later became a physical therapy technician, which also gave me the opportunity to come to Rota, Spain, for the last three years, which I have loved.”
Barron currently works as a physical therapy technician, providing rehabilitative care to a wide range of patients.
“I work with active-duty service members, their families and local nationals to rehabilitate them back to functional ability so they can return to the fleet and continue doing their job,” Barron said.
Barron has supported patients during some of their most challenging moments.
“I have had the opportunity to work with people on some of their worst days,” Barron said. “They may be struggling to walk, move their body or be independent, and helping return them to a functional level, sometimes better than before we first met, has been extremely rewarding.”
Barron's upbringing helps shape the way he connects with patients.
“I am from the South, and Southern hospitality sometimes feels like simply sparking a conversation with strangers and being personable and kind,” Barron said. “In physical therapy, you may have never met your patients before, and building that connection since we work together for months has been a great asset.”
The types of patients Barron works with might surprise many people.
“I think people would be surprised by the patients I get to work with,” Barron said. “I see anyone from 12 to 85 years old, active duty to civilian, pilots, doctors, divers, swimmers, basketball players, moms and dads, and runners. Every day I learn new things.”
Earning Junior Sailor of the Year was a defining moment in Barron's career.
“Earning Junior Sailor of the Year this year was an amazing feeling,” Barron said. “Being recognized by your leadership and peers after taking advantage of opportunities that at times felt unnoticed made the recognition extremely meaningful.”
Serving in the Navy carries significant meaning for Barron.
“You always hear the conversation about being the one percent, but being a part of it and seeing the impact you have while being such a small portion of the American population makes the uniform that much more meaningful and gives it purpose,” Barron said.
Barron's encourages others to consider Navy Medicine as a career path.
“There are really good times in the Navy and Navy Medicine, and there are so many duty stations and locations you are able to see and visit while serving," Barron said.
Some of Barron's most memorable experiences have come from serving overseas.
Earning Junior Sailor of the Year was a defining moment in Barron's career.
“Earning Junior Sailor of the Year this year was an amazing feeling,” Barron said. “Being recognized by your leadership and peers after taking advantage of opportunities that at times felt unnoticed made the recognition extremely meaningful.”
Serving in the Navy carries significant meaning for Barron.
“You always hear the conversation about being the one percent, but being a part of it and seeing the impact you have while being such a small portion of the American population makes the uniform that much more meaningful and gives it purpose,” Barron said.
Barron's encourages others to consider Navy Medicine as a career path.
“There are really good times in the Navy and Navy Medicine, and there are so many duty stations and locations you are able to see and visit while serving," Barron said.
Some of Barron's most memorable experiences have come from serving overseas.
“Being able to spend Christmas Eve in a Christmas market in Germany with friends and then the next morning snowboarding on top of a mountain was an unexpected but great way to spend the holidays,” Barron said.
Barron said Navy Medicine provides a unique perspective on healthcare.
“I have never worked on the civilian side of healthcare, but what makes this different is knowing we are helping for a bigger picture,” Barron said. “We are all small pieces of a big machine. Helping one person return to a ship helps that ship, which helps the strike group, which helps the region. It feels like a domino effect.”
Barron credited mentors and leadership for helping him continue to grow professionally.
“I want to thank my mentors and leadership,” Barron said. “I went up for a board once before, and it didn’t go as planned, so I was discouraged. They continued to push me and saw what I didn’t see in myself. Being awarded Junior Sailor of the Quarter and Junior Sailor of the Year would not have happened without them.”
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 serves as the single point of contact in support of installation and operational commanders, providing medical information, support and overall medical cognizance of the active-duty and reserve force.
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.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contributions to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence.
According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and internet access relying on secure undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy leaders emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the country.
As Barron and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy and protecting the American way of life.