The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) was announced as a 2016 Force Health and Wellness Unit Award winner by Naval Surface Force Commander, June 2.

The award, commonly known as the Green "H," is earned by commands that demonstrate commitment to the health, fitness and mental well-being of their Sailors throughout the year. It also encourages participation in health promotion and operational stress control activities by providing formal recognition to units that excelled in establishing a command conducive to health promotion.

"There were a lot of people involved in the success of receiving this award," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Juan Galarza, Shoup's independent duty corpsman. "It was only accomplished through a collaborative group effort from the command fitness leaders, assistant command fitness leaders, the drug and alcohol representative, Morale Welfare and Recreation, safety officers as well as the food service leading chief petty officer."

The purpose of this unit award is to recognize the Sailors aboard ships who demonstrate their dedication to helping Sailors make constructive changes in their life by conducting activities like cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, smoking cessation classes, fitness training as well as suicide prevention classes.

"It was a great feeling knowing that we will be able to paint the Green "H" on our ship," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Noe Lopez, from Stafford, Texas. "We have worked hard all year and being able to have the Green "H" for deployment makes all the time spent giving classes all the more satisfying."

The ships that receive the Force Health and Wellness Unit Award can paint a Green "H" on the ship's bridge wing. Hash marks are painted below the "H" to indicate sequential awards. Commands awarded the Green "H" five consecutive times are authorized to paint a green star above the Green "H."

"I look forward to stepping up our game during deployment," said Lopez. "So come this time next year, we will be painting a hash mark below our 'H'."

Shoup is currently on an underway period in the 7th fleet area of operations. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security.

For more news about USS Shoup (DDG 86) visit http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg86/Pages/default.aspx

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