With the goal of raising awareness about Navy Medicine's mission, Navy Medicine ambassadors traveled to the "badger state" during Milwaukee Navy Week, July 5-8.

The team of ambassadors from the greater Washington, D.C. area was led by Milwaukee native Force Master Chief Terry J. Prince, director of the Hospital Corps. The ambassadors interacted with local community members to foster ties and share information about the Navy Medicine mission. During the week, they discussed what they do in the Navy and how they ensure the medical readiness of Sailors, Marines and their families. They also shared personal experiences about their careers.

"Throughout this week's outreach events I hope Milwaukee citizens will see the valuable role Navy Medicine has in ensuring operational readiness, leading humanitarian missions, supporting the warfighter and their families, and providing medical care in dangerous and austere conditions," said Prince. "In return I hope my hometown residents will recognize the potential career opportunities that exist for their children to serve in the world's greatest Navy."

While in town Prince and the ambassadors appeared on WTMJ-4's Morning Blend show, discussed good nutrition and physical fitness at several Boys and Girls Clubs, interacted with visitors at Discovery World and Aquarium as well as Milwaukee's Public Museum. They also participated in a Habitat for Humanity project, a park clean-up project, took a tour of the Miller Brewing Company's production facility and wrapped up their visit engaging with Milwaukee Brewer's fans at a baseball game.

"It meant a lot having the Sailors on the show." said Tiffany Ogle, host of Morning Blend. "To be able to have them on the show to talk about Milwaukee Navy Week was exciting; it gave people who watch the show a better understanding of the job they do, and how they are ready to serve and defend our country."

Prince engaged with the community on his own several times for a few events. As an Eagle Scout he had the opportunity visit his first scout troop, Boy Scout Troop 21. Speaking to a packed room of scouts, parents, troop leaders and council members, Prince spoke about how scouting is very similar to the military and how being a scout laid the foundation for his personal and professional success.

"I think it's important to have a former scout such as Master Chief Prince visit and discuss how scouting shaped his career and life," said Wendy Halm, mother of two scouts. "I believe our kids don't really think about how scouting relates to the places they'll go later in life."

Prince also visited the local Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). While there he visited with Navy medical staff and chatted with several recruits shipping out that day for basic training, of which several joined the Navy to serve as corpsmen. He also took time to speak with recruits inside the facility's USO.

According to Tim Flatley, Wisconsin USO director, Prince's visit was an excellent opportunity for the recruits shipping out to engage with somebody of Prince's rank and seniority, as Flatley stated "in a place of refuge."

Prince also visited Milwaukee's Veteran's Administration Medical Center. He was met by Dr. Daniel Zomchek, the medical center's director. Zomchek and Prince discussed veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health issues and toured the center's state-of-the-art spinal cord injury clinic. During his tour Prince met a veteran corpsman and spoke to several patients, and discovered he had several mutual friends with an Army Ranger receiving physical therapy there.

A special note to the week's activities took place before the Brewer's ball game. While on the playing field Prince, flanked by 14 chief petty officers from Wisconsin, presented a framed photo of hall of famer and former U.S. Navy chief petty officer Bob Feller to Craig Counsell -- Milwaukee Brewers manager who accepted on behalf of pitcher Jimmy Nelson, the Brewer's nominee for the Bob Feller: Act of Valor award. Each baseball season every team in Major League Baseball chooses a nominee. Later in the year the award is presented to one Major League Baseball player. The award honors a current major leaguer, a U.S. Navy chief petty officer and a baseball hall of famer who possess the values, integrity and dedication to serving Americans displayed by Feller.

While many may know Bob Feller as one of the greatest pitchers to ever grace the baseball diamond, few remember he also served our country when he made the selfless decision to enlist just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The Bob Feller: Act of Valor Foundation uses Feller's story to educate the youth of today on the lessons of citizenship, service, and sacrifice.

"It's a privilege being a part of Bob Feller's continued legacy; not only (is) he a member of the baseball hall of fame, he was also a veteran and a fellow U.S. Navy chief petty officer," Prince said. "I'm from Milwaukee; I've enjoyed being able to come back, make new friends and let the people of my hometown see for themselves that Navy Medicine is a world-class health care provider, and how a career in the Navy can be an amazing experience."

Although the Navy has a sizable presence in the nearby Chicago area, the people of Milwaukee were grateful to host Sailors from outside of the area because of their diverse backgrounds and experiences, which gave the community a lasting impression of Navy Medicine and its worldwide mission.

"Most people don't know much about Navy Medicine, so this was an excellent opportunity to explain to the people of Milwaukee how Navy Medicine provides world-class care to Sailors, Marines and their families around the world," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Dametreus Mannings, who served as a Navy Medicine ambassador this week.

The Navy Week program is designed to raise awareness about the Navy in areas that traditionally do not have a naval presence and include community relations projects, speaking engagements, and media interviews with flag hosts and area Sailors.

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 personnel that provides health care support to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, their families and veterans, in high operational-tempo environments, at expeditionary medical facilities, medical treatment facilities, hospitals, clinics, hospital ships and research units around the world.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.