Active duty personnel from the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) volunteered aboard the USS Midway Museum Nov. 12, to help keep this piece of naval history ship-shape.

Cmdr. Abigail Marter, a researcher at NHRC, organized the event as an opportunity to give back to the local community while also building camaraderie among NHRC's active duty staff.

"Being in the Navy, we are already volunteers, but getting out in the community allows us to give back in more ways," said Marter. "This was a great opportunity to come together and do something that helps others while also being able to connect with our Navy's history. As researchers, we are finding solutions to modern problems or concerns, but knowing our history can inform what we do today and how we approach things."

The Midway was commissioned in 1942 and served until April 11, 1992, when she was decommissioned, making her the longest serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Even though Midway is now a museum, visitors can glimpse what life aboard ship is like for today's Sailors.

"We are really fortunate in San Diego to have the USS Midway," said Cmdr. Kellie McMullen, a microbiologist with the DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP) that is headquartered at NHRC. "This is a really great way for people to remember their history, and I'm glad we were able to come out as a team and support it. My dad was in the Navy, so I've been on aircraft carriers before. As soon as I walked on, the smell is something I remembered from my childhood."

In terms of the research NHRC conducts, McMullen said that being able to visit the carrier and interact with the environment is important.

"Being on the ship and walking through the spaces just helps you have some perspective on what our operational Navy experiences," said McMullen. "Whether you're doing human factors or warfighter performance research, it really puts things in context. You can see how small and cramped the spaces are and better understand what shipboard life is like."

According to Steve Suslik, the volunteer coordinator for the USS Midway Museum, thousands of people visit the museum every month, so the work that volunteers do to help keep the Midway in top shape is important.

"This is an old ship and there's a lot to do," said Suslik. "The NHRC group is helping us today with a community relations project by cleaning, what we call 'detailing,' along our tour routes."

NHRC staff spent the day dusting, polishing, and detailing spaces in several areas of the ship including the chapel, galley, engine room, and berthing spaces.

As the DoD's premier deployment health research center, NHRC's cutting-edge research and development is used to optimize the operational health and readiness of the nation's armed forces. In proximity to more than 95,000 active duty service members, world-class universities, and industry partners, NHRC sets the standard in joint ventures, innovation, and translational research.

For more news from Naval Health Research Center, visit www.navy.mil/.