Daughter of Bean Station Resident thrives in U.S. Navy

F

LEMOORE, Calif. – Lt. j.g. Alicia Reilly, a daughter of Bean Station resident provides beneficiary care and expeditionary medical readiness while serving with Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore at Naval Health Clinic Lemoore.

Reilly joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Reilly serves as a nurse.

“I joined the Navy because I wanted to explore my options,” said Reilly. “Also my grandfather was a big influence on me. He was the one who piqued my interest in joining the military.”

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Reilly attended Moon Area High School and graduated in 2014.

Skills and values similar to those found in Pittsburgh are important to succeed in the military.

“A lesson I learned in Pittsburgh is that working hard and having a goal to strive towards leads to success,” said Reilly. “It also taught me to be grateful and always do my best to maintain friendships because they can support you along your journey.”

These lessons have helped Reilly 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 more worthy calling.”

As a member of the Navy, Reilly 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.

“From a medical standpoint, we assist our sailors in staying prepared for the fight. National defense encompasses more than just warfighting,” said Reilly. “The Navy operates two primary hospital ships that actively engage in humanitarian missions. These missions enhance our preparedness in the face of man-made crises or natural disasters.”

Reilly has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“Getting the opportunity to teach nursing students in the Philippines as part of Pacific Partnership 2022 on the USNS Mercy is one of my proudest moments,” said Reilly. “Education plays a significant role in my service. Being in a position to effectively teach sailors and witness them pragmatically applying the knowledge is a major reason why I serve.”

As Reilly 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 has been an amazing experience,” said Reilly. “I love that I have been able to help keep our sailors in the fight. Being in the Navy puts me in a position where I get to meet people from all over the world.”

Reilly is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I want to take the time to thank my mom, Eileen, and my dad, Kevine,” added Reilly. “I also want to thank my friends back home. They make me feel like I’m at home even while forward deployed. They even have a cardboard cutout of me for events I can’t attend.”

posteditor
posteditor
Articles: 27509