Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi was one of 443 Navy and Marine Corps organizations recognized by The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center as recipients of the Navy Surgeon General's Health Promotion and Wellness Award -- the Blue H, May 6.

Capt. Guido F. Valdes, NHCCC commanding officer, praised Dr. Sam Rivera, Wellness Center department head, and his staff at a monthly awards ceremony May 12.

"I am very happy and proud to announce that all our sites earned Gold Star level -- the highest award -- Corpus Christi, Kingsville and Fort Worth," said Valdes. "This is another 'feather in the cap' for the command and proof of the high caliber work done each and every day by you."

The 2015 winners, announced in a GENADMIN from the Navy Surgeon General, include all 12 U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, 51 Navy flying squadrons, 68 surface ships/surface forces units, 77 Navy medical treatment facilities, 11 USMC Semper Fit Centers, 51 Marine Corps commands and 106 Navy Reserve Operational Support Centers.

Record-setting participation occurred across the Department of the Navy for the 9th consecutive year, according to Cmdr. Amy Drayton, NMCPHC director of Population Health.

"The number of organizations that have applied for the Blue H has increased every year since its inception in 2007, and this confirms the value placed on this workplace-level health promotion tool within the Navy and Marine Corps," said Drayton. "The leap from 342 organizations in 2014 to 443 in 2015 is especially encouraging and exciting."

The Blue H, managed by the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, encourages and rewards the promotion primary prevention policies and activities in Department of the Navy and Marine Corps workplaces, communities and medical treatment facilities, which are critical to maintaining a fit and ready force.

Improving healthy lifestyles of Sailors and Marines also enhances individual quality of life and reduces long-term health care costs. Health topics covered by Blue H criteria include alcohol abuse prevention, injury and violence-free living, nutrition, physical activity, psychological health, sexual health, tobacco cessation and weight management.

All Navy and Marine Corps commands are eligible for the Blue H, which is organized into four distinct criteria sets. The Fleet and Marine Corps Command versions of the Blue H recognize excellence in workplace primary prevention policies, activities and outcomes.

The Medical version recognizes excellence in clinical primary prevention, community health promotion and medical staff health in Navy medical organizations.

The Semper Fit version recognizes excellence in community-level primary prevention activities conducted by USMC Semper Fit Centers.

Awards may be earned at three levels: Gold Star, Silver Eagle, and Bronze Anchor. Every organization that applied received at least the Bronze Anchor-level award.

When NMCPHC first launched the program, NHCCC earned a Silver Eagle. Since then under Rivera's leadership, the core facility has enjoyed solid gold.

"This is our 8th consecutive Gold Star award at NHCCC. Our Branch Health Clinics have also attained high recognition," said Rivera. "During the past eight years Kingsville has been recognized with 1 Bronze Anchor, 1 Silver Eagle and 5 Gold Stars; and Fort Worth has been praised for achieving 1 Bronze Anchor, 2 Silver Eagles and 2 Gold Stars."

The Blue H criteria focuses on primary prevention, guiding participants to use the most effective interventions and tools to save time and money, and ensuring everyone is working towards the same goal of health and readiness.

Rivera's key message for maintaining a healthier lifestyle is education and prevention.

"Our success is based on the daily efforts to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors that mitigate the associated complications and risk factor of illnesses and diseases within our military population," said Rivera.

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