Jim Gebhart was selected to lead Mercy’s operations in Oklahoma, including its clinics, nine acute care and two rehabilitation hospitals across the Sooner state. Gebhart currently serves as community president of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and will continue in this role.
As community president of operations for Oklahoma, Gebhart will focus on developing and implementing strategies to create the best experience for consumers and patients across the state who seek care at Mercy regardless of where they live.
“We want to focus on all of our Mercy Oklahoma hospitals and clinics working together to make a consistent experience for patients whether they live in Tishomingo, Watonga, Ada, Admore or Oklahoma City,” said Gebhart. “We learned a lot over the last three years working more closely than ever during the pandemic. During that time, we realized there are so many challenges to overcome in health care – and many continue today. It’s better for our patients and our co-workers when we work together as a region to share resources, expertise and innovations.”
A native of Burns Flat, Oklahoma, Gebhart has led Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City since 2009, overseeing the building and expansion of Mercy’s campus off I-35 in Edmond, the Coletta Building in Oklahoma City that houses oncology services and the addition of Mercy’s hospital in south Oklahoma City in 2020. He is currently overseeing the building of the Love Family Women’s Center and leads Mercy’s relationship with Oklahoma Heart Hospital, which provides cardiology services for patients on both Mercy hospital campuses in Oklahoma City.
Gebhart is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a bachelor’s in business administration. He also holds a master’s from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management in health care administration.
For more information about Mercy Oklahoma, visit: https://careers.mercy.net/

Story by Debra McTaggart, Give 5 coordinator

After Phil Hyde, age 77, worked in private practice as a clinical psychologist for 43 years, he retired and was invited to move to Spain to be near his son’s family. “I want to take care of you in your old age,” his son said, “and it would be easier if you were in Spain.” So, Phil went to Spain. In just six weeks he figured out, “This is not for me. I don’t speak Spanish, and I miss my friends in Oklahoma City.” He realized he hadn’t prepared himself for retirement. He wondered what’s next that would give purpose and meaning to his life.
When he received an email announcing the Give 5 program hosted in Oklahoma City by Healthy Living OKC, a wellness center for people 50+ where he’s a member, it seemed perfect for him. “It is so miraculous and so touching to be able to go behind the scenes of nonprofit organizations to see what they do and how I can help. It is a dream come true – a godsend.”
Give 5 is an innovative program that launched this year in Oklahoma City that lets retirees (or near-retirees) see firsthand where the community needs are, and then helps them volunteer there. Give 5 holds classes with about 20 “students” who meet once a week for five weeks at Healthy Living OKC. They get on a bus at each meeting and visit with more than a dozen nonprofits to get a close look at organizations that serve people to “move the needle” in some way related to one of the biggest challenges in Oklahoma and Oklahoma City – mental health. The nonprofits explain their mission and pitch the opportunities they offer volunteers. In other words, Give 5 shows them the “why” and the “how” of volunteering, not just the “what” and “where.”
How Give 5 Gets Retirees to Volunteer
And the students, like Phil, often get hooked. In other cities where the program has been in place, hundreds have gone through the program and graduates end up volunteering 18 hours a month, on average.
Graduating from the program on April 18, Phil plans to volunteer with not just one, but five organizations who need his experience and expertise from all those years in private practice: Big Brothers Big Sisters, which matches volunteer mentors (Bigs) with children (Littles) who need help with self-esteem, decision-making, and other areas of life; Wings Special Needs Community, which works to enhance the lives of adults with developmental disabilities; Positive Tomorrows, a school and social services agency specifically for children and families experiencing homelessness to give kids stability and a quality education while giving their parents the support they need to create a better life; Family Builders, which works to stop the cycle of abuse and family violence by targeting the source of the abuse, the abuser, and providing him or her with tools for building healthy relationships, and TEEM (The Education and Employment Ministry) which is dedicated to breaking cycles of incarceration and poverty through education, personal development, and work readiness training.
Phil says, “I believe there is a place to use my listening and encouraging skills to help other people. For example, as a Big Brother I hope to interact with a young male in a way that I can help prevent him from getting derailed as he continues to grow up.”
Give 5 started in 2017 as the brainchild of Greg Burris, a former city manager of Springfield, Missouri and Cora Scott, director of public information and civic engagement for Springfield. The name Give 5 comes from conversations Burris had with retirees. When he’d asked if they’d like to volunteer, many said, “No,” thinking he wanted them to give 40-hours a week. Burris would respond: “How about five hours a month?” They’d always say: “Yes.”
Now Burris and Scott have expanded the Give 5 model to other communities. In Oklahoma City, Give 5 is hosted by Healthy Living OKC, a wellness center for age 50+ whose mission is to promote the health and wellbeing of adults age 50 and older by providing opportunities for physical activity, social engagement, and lifelong learning.
“We started the program in Oklahoma City in November 2021 by inviting more than 50 nonprofit organizations to an informational meeting,” said Debra McTaggart, the program’s coordinator for Healthy Living OKC, “and then early this year we began recruiting the volunteer participants. Our inaugural class began March 14 and graduation was April 18.”
Give 5’s McTaggart admits she failed at retirement; she retired two years ago and after cleaning out every closet at home—twice, she came into Healthy Living OKC to join and register for some activities like painting that she’d never had time to do in her past work life. A few days later when Healthy Living OKC learned of her professional background, they recruited her for their executive assistant position and then asked her to implement the Give 5 program.
“The program is awesome. I’ve followed the implementation process according to Burris and Scott, and it has worked like a charm. We found that the Give 5 program has been welcomed in Oklahoma City by our participating nonprofits. We recruit the talent for them, and they have a massive need for volunteers,” said McTaggart.
Key to the Give 5 program’s success is the volunteers matching their particular skills with the volunteer needs of nonprofits. Retirees who’ve gone through Give 5 don’t want to simply greet people at an event or send out mailings. They want to harness their experience and abilities for the greater good.
Put somewhat differently, volunteering is like dating — a search for the right match. Give 5 allows both parties to find the right fit.
As a result of learning about nonprofits in OKC during Give 5 program implementation, McTaggart, formerly a training developer and facilitator in her past career, has become a volunteer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) herself. She has been trained to deliver one of NAMI’s many education programs that helps ensure everyone affected by mental illness can build better lives.
3 Reasons Behind Give 5
The Executive Director for the host organization of the Oklahoma City Give 5, Claire Dowers-Nichols provided an explanation for the three social and economic forces behind the need for a program like Give 5:
America’s population is aging, with some 10,000 boomers turning 65 every day. Many of them are skilled and knowledgeable, but clueless about local volunteer opportunities. Nonprofits increasingly need to tap into their talents to accomplish their mission. “We find [older] people aren’t really sure what they could be doing,” Dowers-Nichols says. “Learning about nonprofits and volunteering can help restore that sense of purpose and identity that gives meaning to life.”
Meaningful volunteering keeps retirees connected to the community — critical for staving off the health threats of social isolation and loneliness that so many retired people face. “When you retire, your community involvement frequently decreases. It’s easy to become isolated,” says Dowers-Nichols. “Over the last few years we have learned more about the dangers of social isolation and loneliness among older adults and the benefits of engagement and purpose.”
The Benefits for Local Nonprofits
Getting skilled volunteers also helps the nonprofits expand their efforts. That’s been the experience at TEEM. “The Give 5 program participants have been a huge help to TEEM, and it all started during the program itself,” says Matt Staples, TEEM Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator. “Having the class tour our building and sit down with our participants greatly impacted the people we serve because it showed someone cared about them. Then days later, the graduates that chose TEEM helped us reach our goal of providing over 1,300 cards and cookies to incarcerated women on Mother’s Day. They have served us multiple times, helping organize our clothing closet and much more! We are thankful to the civic matchmaking program that is Give 5 for introducing us to those wonderful volunteers!”
The Next Class
Another class will be conducted this year and four classes are planned for 2024. Class 2 begins for the Give 5 program on September 13. Those wanting to volunteer as well as nonprofits who’d like to participate can apply at: https://healthylivingokc.com/programs/the-give-5-program/ (coming soon www.Give5OKC.com).

Story by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

The free admission Tinker AFB Air Show returns July 1-2, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ highly anticipated aerial exhibition finale each day. The Blue Angels aerobatic flight demonstration team of six fighters will treat spectators to their precision flying skills and professionalism. In the team’s rich history, they have performed for an estimated 500 million spectators, sharing their flyovers and shows worldwide since 1946.
The Blue Angels Navy pilots will feature their famous delta formation as they perform in their single-seat, supersonic F/A-18E Super Hornet fighters.
“We are excited to open our gates to host a safe, family-friendly event with an awesome lineup of aerial performers and interactive ground displays,” said Lt. Col. Kyle Moats, commander of the 72nd Operations Support Squadron. “The Air Show is our way of giving back to our community and saying ‘thank you’ for all the continued support of Tinker Air Force Base and our warfighters.”
The world’s most advanced multi-role stealth fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, will compete with the Blue Angels for the crowds’ attention by flying above Tinker for the first time. A single fighter demonstrating its stealth and next-generation technology built to replace many older and less technologically advanced fighters will perform each day. The supersonic F-35A’s helmet-mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35 pilot needs to complete a mission are displayed on the pilot’s helmet visor.
As Oklahoma’s largest single-site employer, Tinker AFB personnel are part of the enduring 75-year advantage as the world’s most capable and respected air power source. This open house will demonstrate why the last time an American combatant was killed on the ground by an adversary air force was April 15, 1953.
Because admission, parking and shuttles are free, organizers encourage everyone to arrive early. Seniors will want to arrive early enough to park at Building 9001, formerly the old General Motors Plant, off SE 74th Street because those buses drop them off at the gate area requiring the least walking. The event has been popular, and the gates will close when capacity is reached. Gates open at 8 a.m. daily, and aerial demonstrations begin at 11 a.m. All acts are expected to perform each day, but the order of performers may change.
As you approach Tinker Air Force Base from Interstate 40 or I-240, look for signs directing you to the entrance. From I-40 or SE 29th Street, you may enter through the Hruskocy Gate. From Douglas the Lancer Gate. And from the I-240 exit at Air Depot or Douglas, come in on 74th Street to access the old GM plant. The Liberator Gate off Douglas will only be a drop-off point for any LYFT, UBER and other Ride Share vehicles. It is important to note that driving from the west side of the base to the east side will be restricted.
Guests with wheelchairs, strollers or wagons are highly encouraged to enter through the Hruskocy or Lancer Gates to mitigate excessive time spent loading/unloading buses.
Small diaper bags and purses are permitted. Bringing sunscreen, hats, and umbrellas for shade is strongly recommended, as shade availability may be limited. Visitors are also advised to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and strollers, as seating will not be provided. ATMs will be available on-site.
Drivers should have their licenses available for the gate guards as they approach the gates. Park vehicles in designated areas and proceed to the gated entryway or shuttle bus stop. Base security forces will send you in the right direction. All visitors will proceed through a security checkpoint before boarding the shuttle buses or entering the event area.
The show will feature dozens of military and civilian aerial performers and a wide variety of ground display aircraft, such as Tinker’s own E-3 Sentry AWACS, the U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury, and the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The theme for this year’s air show is “STEM Takes Flight,” highlighting science, technology, engineering and mathematics that make human flight possible. STEM City will fill a large hangar so children and adults can witness the “outside-of-the-box” thinking needed to solve the daily problems Tinker’s engineers and mechanics face to deliver air power for America.
Youth can explore various hands-on activities with drone tech, robotics, LEGOs, snap circuits and more for kids ages 5 through high school. The emphasis is on how they can get involved in the field of aerospace, whether in the private or public sector. They will be shown the many jobs available that require a STEM-related education.”
Other educational opportunities include a mobile movie theater showing films about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), who served in World War II.
Visitors can also walk inside an E-3 Sentry AWACS, explore a full-scale E-7 exhibit of the Air Force’s new global defense plane, and get an up-close look at the Blue Angels’ C-130J Super Hercules and other static displays.
Stand-out air acts include a World War II reenactment by Tora, Tora, Tora, including the famous “Wall of Fire,” the USAF Wings of Blue Parachute Team, Jelly Belly Comedy Air Act, Matt Younkin and his Twin Beech aerobatic air act, T-33 demo flight, Tuskegee Airman WWII Red Tail P-51, Adam Baker and his Extra 300 aerobatic air act and more.
Most attractions are free except a VIP area, the Flightline Chalet, and the Kidz Zone. Flightline Chalet VIP tickets are available for $149, offering shade tents, preferential seating, cold beverages, and a boxed lunch. There is also shade seating on the northern end of the flightline starting at $39. Wristbands for the Tinker Air Show’s Kidz Zone cost $20 and are good all day. STEM City is free to attend.
Security measures will be in place, and visitors must pass through a security checkpoint before boarding the shuttle buses or entering the event area. Smoking or vaping is strictly prohibited, and coolers are not allowed. Food concessions will be available for refreshments, with beverages for sale and complimentary water provided, so bring an empty water bottle to fill at the water stations.
As the air show draws closer, Team Tinker continues to add performers, ground displays, and exhibits to enhance the overall experience. Visitors are advised to regularly check the public website https://www.tinkerairshow.org/ and or they may log onto the Tinker Air Force Base’s website: https://www.tinker.af.mil/) and their social media platforms, including Facebook(@TinkerAirForceBase), Twitter(@Team_Tinker), and Instagram (@Tinkerairforcebase), for the most up-to-date information. For those unable to attend in person, the air show will be live-streamed on Tinker’s Facebook page. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, visitors are encouraged to download the air show app AF Connect, which provides important information, including parking and event maps. The official 2023 Tinker Air Show app, ‘AF Connect,’ can be downloaded from popular app stores for free.

Controlling a sometimes-deadly respiratory virus is a step closer to reality following U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first preventive vaccine for older adults, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists say.
The FDA this month approved a vaccine to prevent respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, in people aged 60 and older. The vaccine is made by the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to follow the FDA’s approval, clearing the way for RSV vaccines for older adults to be available in the U.S. this fall. Drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna are also in the late stages of developing RSV vaccines, including one for pregnant women.
“This is a major step, and even more progress against this virus appears to be on the horizon,” said OMRF physician-scientist Hal Scofield, M.D. “RSV annually kills thousands of seniors in the U.S. and has recently played a big part in stressing global health care systems, so this first vaccine approval is welcome news.”
RSV typically produces a cold-like illness, but it can cause lower respiratory infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. At greatest risk of RSV complications are older adults with chronic lung or heart disease, those with weakened immune systems, and young children. Scofield said the virus is “woefully underdiagnosed” in adults.
The CDC estimates that RSV leads to more than 60,000 hospitalizations and over 6,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older annually. According to GSK, in a clinical trial of 25,000 adults, its vaccine was more than 94% effective in preventing severe RSV.
GSK’s shot involves technology dating to the 1980s. Called a recombinant subunit vaccine, it is used in numerous immunizations, including those for hepatitis B and whooping cough.
OMRF scientist Susan Kovats, Ph.D., studies RSV. She is working to understand why the virus impacts children more frequently, with more than 2 million outpatient visits for children under age 5 annually, but generally hits older adults harder. The work is setting the stage for better treatments and will aid in vaccine design.
“There seems to be a correlation between virus load and age,” she said. “The preliminary data in our models of older adults shows that the older you are, the harder it is to eliminate the virus.”
Scofield and Kovats said the approval of the first vaccine for RSV is good news, as long as those eligible take advantage.
“Time will tell how widespread uptake of the vaccine will be,” said Scofield, “But for older adults most at risk of a bad outcome from RSV, I hope that getting vaccinated when it becomes will be an easy decision.”

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Central Oklahoma volunteer Gwen Wallace said her volunteering began in 2008 after watching television and seeing Hurricane Gustav evacuees from Louisiana get off a bus in Oklahoma City where they would live in a Red Cross shelter.
“I had just retired from the school system and had a year of doing nothing,” the Oklahoma City resident explained. “I saw these people getting off the bus with nothing in their hands. My friend and I jumped in with the Red Cross doing volunteer work.”
Once their volunteer work ended with Red Cross, they asked, “What can we do now?”
That started a long relationship with the Mobile Meals program at her church in Spencer, St. Luke’s Baptist, an RSVP partner, as well as with other Mobile Meals programs in the Spencer area.
“This volunteer program helps me deal with serious life disruptions,” Gwen said. “I lost my sister and then eight days later, my granddaughter died suddenly. Being able to help others took that sense of loss and gives me a sense of pride.”
Gwen, who is 78, said that volunteering also gives her physical and emotional health.
“When you don’t move those joints, they start getting rusty,” she said. “I get up, volunteer at least three days a week, help with the prepping, and I really love developing relationships with my clients and other Mobile Meals workers. It gives me a sense of contentment in my life and helps me release the stresses, anxieties, and depressions that sometimes comes with older age.”
Since 1973, RSVP of Central Oklahoma has helped older adults 55+ continue to live with purpose and meaning by connecting them with rewarding community volunteer opportunities. RSVP is a partner of AmeriCorps Seniors and the United Way of Central Oklahoma. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call Laura McRaniels at 405.605.3110 or visit https://rsvpokc.org/. You can also follow RSVP on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/RSVPokc.

By Nick Thomas

No doubt many a teenage lad, and even a few adults, developed a major crush on Barbara Eden during her 5-season run in the 60s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie.” Now 91, fans are delighted to see the actress looking so youthful and healthy.
“I have exercised all my life and now do a mild spin (stationary) bicycle and walking,” Eden said from her home in Los Angeles. “I’ve always been careful about what I eat but I’m not fanatic about it – I’m a carnivore! I try to stay away from sugar, but unfortunately I like it too much.”
As for her skincare, she does adhere to a ritual. “I use sunscreen every day and Estee Lauder line repair that I put underneath the sunscreen and underneath moisturizer before I go to bed.”
But Eden and her husband of over 30 years, Jon Eichholtz, did experience a health scare after contracting COVID.
“We caught it early and Jon was very ill,” she recalled. “Our doctor had us infused with the antibodies right away and luckily I wasn’t sick. We did catch the variant later, but it was just like a cold.”
Growing up in San Francisco, young Barbara dreamt of becoming a singer, spending two years at the local Conservatory of Music and taking singing engagements with bands around the Bay Area. But after moving to LA in the early 1950s, her stunning beauty, charm, and talent inevitably led to Hollywood.
Best known for her role as the magical genie in the popular NBC series, Eden has delighted fans for decades with appearances at TV conventions and Hollywood autograph shows. She continues to travel, speaking to audiences and showing clips of her film and TV career, and taking questions. This year, she’s already visited Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina (see www.barbaraeden.com).
And while some actors who became closely associated with one standout role may distance themselves from that character, Eden never resented her connection to “Jeannie.”
“Why would I want to step away from it?” she asked. “I’m lucky to have very polite fans and have loved meeting them over the years in so many cities.”
Beyond her “Jeannie” role, Eden’s entertainment career has been extensive with over 25 film roles, appearances in numerous TV movies and series, and a vast stage career that includes touring major U.S. cities in the beloved play, “Love Letters,” first performing it with “Jeannie” co-star Larry Hagman.
Hagman dealt with alcohol problems while working on “Jeannie” and could be difficult on the set.
“Larry was his own worst enemy but was always wonderful to me,” she said. “He acted out with the crew and would be difficult with male guest stars came on the show. But we had a good rapport and worked together very well. I toured with him in ‘Love Letters’ and he was just wonderful.”
Eden is also an author, releasing her best-selling autobiography “Jeannie out of the Bottle” in 2012. Two years ago, she also published her first children’s book, “Barbara and the Djinn,” which perhaps not surprisingly features a young girl named Barbara and yes, a genie.
“The little girl magically travels to different places and meets different people learning what is most important in life which is kindness and understanding,” she explained. “I’ve loved to read ever since I was 3 or 4 when my mother and aunt would read to me. I thought how sad that children today just look at their phones and computers, so I wanted to give them a book to hold that can take them on an adventure using their imagination. It’s a great book to give to the grandchildren.”
While she has no plans for more books, Eden may appear on stage again for those still dreaming of seeing “Jeannie” in person.
“I don’t have any dates, but I’d love to do ‘Love Letters’ again,” she says. “It’s gratifying that people still want to see me perform and hear me talk about my career.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See https://www.getnickt.org/.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Xiaoming Zheng, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Navy Office of Community Outreach
Harris attended Moore High School and graduated in 2018.
Harris joined the Navy four years ago.
“I joined the Navy because my dad was in the Air Force and inspired me to join,” said Harris. “I wanted to see the world and travel.”
Today, Harris serves as a construction mechanic with Naval Beach Unit Seven.
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Moore.
“I learned the importance of a strong work ethic and discipline,” said Harris. “Growing up my dad was big on discipline.”
According to Navy officials, Naval Beach Unit Seven empowers forward-deployed U.S. and Allied Forces while providing superior support to military members and their families.
Harris serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”
As a member of the Navy, Harris 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.
“The Navy is important to our national defense because we keep maritime security and freedom of trade,” said Harris.
As Harris 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 means doing something bigger than myself,” said Harris. “I never thought I would go to all these places I have been to so far in my career.”
Harris is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my dad,” added Harris. “I also want to thank my grandfather because he told me all the military skills you can transfer to the civilian world.”

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Hunt attended Moore High School and graduated in 2016.
Hunt joined the Navy four years ago.
“I joined the Navy so I could see the world,” said Hunt.
Today, Hunt serves as an electronics technician aboard USS Chief.
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Oklahoma City.
“I come from a city with a small-town feel, which helped me get a sense of the Navy community,” said Hunt.
USS Chief is an amphibious warship. These types of ships embark, transport and land U.S. Marines for a variety of warfare missions. Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice, according to Navy officials.
As a member of the Navy, Hunt 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.
“The Navy is important to national defense because at the end of the day it’s really the Navy that will prevent our enemies from getting to the United States.,” said Hunt.
Hunt serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”
Hunt and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of being able to have the technical knowledge to solve equipment malfunctions on the ship while underway at sea,” said Hunt.
As Hunt 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 means showing our allies that we’re here for them,” said Hunt. “Recently we went to Okinawa and the people of Okinawa really showed their appreciation.”
Hunt is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my parents,” added Hunt. “They were really supportive of me. Also, my recruiter, Toni Knight, was very helpful in navigating my way and helping me understand the process.”