MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Shorter, from Findlay, Ohio, was recently selected as the Sailor of the Quarter (SOQ) while serving at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) New England in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Navy’s Sailor of the Quarter program recognizes sailors for outstanding character, dedication and going above and beyond their duties.
Shorter graduated from Findlay High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Findlay.
“My upbringing was defined by a strong community of friends and family who instilled in me the value of continuous self-improvement,” Shorter said. “Being surrounded by individuals who consistently pursue excellence has been a powerful motivator and has profoundly shaped my own professional and personal aspirations.”
Shorter joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Shorter serves as a hospital corpsman.
“My enlistment in the Navy was a strategic decision to build upon my existing medical knowledge and capabilities,” Shorter said. “I aim to leverage the unique opportunities for professional growth and career exploration to secure a fulfilling, long-term role in the medical field.”
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.
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 contribution 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 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.
Shorter serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security, and he has had many opportunities to achieve success during his military service.
“During my deployment to Okinawa with the 3rd Marine Division, I successfully earned my Fleet Marine Force warfare qualification,” Shorter said. “I consider this SOQ selection my proudest accomplishment, as it solidified my role and formally recognized my place alongside the highly proficient Marines of Weapons Company.”
Shorter said the best thing about his job is the dual opportunity.
“The most rewarding aspect of my role is the dual opportunity for continuous professional development and the ability to make a meaningful impact,” Shorter said. “I derive great satisfaction from enhancing patient outcomes while also contributing to the growth and success of the sailors on my team.”
Shorter can take pride in serving America through military service.
"I view my service in the Navy as a total dedication to the defense of our nation,” Shorter said. “The significance of this commitment grows with every individual I have the honor of meeting, as each person embodies the principles and the people I have pledged to safeguard. It is this connection that gives my service its deepest meaning."