METC Commandant Participates in Navy Day at Historic Alamo

SAN ANTONIO (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy made its presence known in the Alamo City during a Navy Day celebration April 23.

'Navy Day at the Alamo' was designed to raise awareness of the naval presence in the San Antonio area and celebrate the highly accomplished and dedicated men and women of the Navy at a location hallowed both in Texas and throughout the United States.

It is held as part of the 10-day long "Fiesta", a San Antonio tradition attended by more than 3 million people that celebrates the diverse heritage, culture and spirit that make up the city.

Navy commands and units based on and around the installations of this primarily Air Force and Army city of 1.3 million, were represented during the Navy Day festivities. Events included a mayoral proclamation, swearing-in of future Sailors and re-enlisting current Sailors, and security forces and military working dog demonstrations by instructors and students of the Naval Technical Training Center. Navy medicine displays by corpsmen with the Navy Medicine Training Support Center and a Navy-wrapped Special Warfare Recruiting Trailer staffed by Navy Recruiting District San Antonio recruiters were also on hand.

As the senior Naval Officer in San Antonio, Rear Adm. Bill Roberts, commandant of the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) and deputy chief of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery for education and training, was presented the proclamation from Mayor Pro Temp, Mr. Carlton Soules. Soules read the proclamation and declared it Navy Day in the City of San Antonio.

In his remarks, Roberts pointed out how the Navy impacts national and international communities.

"As a Global Force for Good, America's Navy is here making a difference in Texas communities like San Antonio, throughout the nation, and in support of freedom-loving and freedom-seeking human beings worldwide through, among many other endeavors, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," said Roberts.

"Along with our Coast Guard and Marine Corps partners, we truly are our Nation's "911" service ... at every turn meeting the Chief of Naval Operations' priorities of Warfighting First, Operate Forward, and Be Ready," Roberts added.

Roberts also talked about how the importance the Navy plays in making the waterways safe for international commerce is critical to San Antonio, Texas, and the national economy. "The Navy makes it possible for goods, including Texas' exports, to be delivered overseas. Eleven Texas metropolitan areas, including the Alamo City, export over $1 billion in merchandise annually. Safeguarding our sea lanes also permits our citizens to enjoy imports to improve our quality of life."

Following his remarks, Roberts administered the oath of enlistment to six Sailors stationed at San Antonio area commands during a re-enlistment ceremony held in front of the Alamo.

Also participating in Navy Day was Rear Adm. Anatolio Cruz, Reserve deputy director for maritime operations at U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. Cruz, a native of San Antonio, emphasized the importance of a strong Navy and spoke about how happy he was to be back in his hometown. He then enlisted twenty future Sailors into the Navy.

On any given day, approximately 7,000 Sailors are stationed in San Antonio. Among the Navy commands that call San Antonio home are: Joint Electronic Warfare Center provides Electronic Warfare expertise for operational and exercise support to Joint Commanders and Combatant Commands; Naval Technical Training Center administers technical training to our Naval Security Forces, Military Working Dog and Corrections personnel; Navy Information Operations Command provides information warfare and cryptologic support for naval air, surface, sub-surface, expeditionary, joint, and Department of Defense Forces; Navy Operational Support Center San Antonio delivers operational, training and administrative support to the Navy Reservists who drill in San Antonio; Navy Medicine Information Systems Support Activity leverages integrated medical information technology to provide care to war fighters, veterans, and military families around the world; Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio Navy conducts medical, dental, and directed energy biomedical research to focus on ways to enhance the health, safety, performance, and operational readiness of Navy and Marine Corps personnel;Recruiting District San Antonio that recruits the best and brightest men and women for service in America's Navy; Navy Medicine Training Support Center which is the Navy component command that provides administrative and operational control over Navy staff and students assigned to METC and other medical programs in the San Antonio area; and the Navy Medical Education and Training Command which provides and supports a continuum of medical education, training and qualifications that enable health services and force health protection.

For more news from Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmsc/.