Navy Medicine East (NME) hosted a Navy Reserve Centennial celebration aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) March 21. The ceremony highlighted the sacrifices and contributions reservists in the medical field have made to the Navy since the reserve component's establishment March 3, 1915. Rear Adm. Christina Alvarado, deputy commander, NME, touched on the history of the reserve component and the unique skillsets reserve Sailors bring to the Navy medical community. She relayed stories of medics and corpsmen highlighting their bravery in the face of adversity during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. "For NME, this anniversary offers an opportunity for us to look back at our own rich heritage," said Alvarado. "From wartime battlefields and hospital ship operating units to stateside hospitals and humanitarian efforts overseas, the Navy medical reservist has served, sacrificed and established a record of excellence." In keeping with Navy tradition, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jesus Perez and Alvarado, the oldest and youngest Sailor in attendance, cut the cake commemorating the centennial. Perez said the ceremony served as a reminder of why he chose to serve. "Events such as this show the bigger picture of how my rate has impacted war efforts," said Perez. "The ceremony also reflected on how, in the past, reserve and active components have integrated in major conflicts and worked together." For Command Master Chief Ruben Dean, from Operational Health Support Unit Jacksonville, Florida, the ceremony served to increase his pride in being a reservist. "It was a great history review about how we as reservists are always training in the background," said Dean. "The reserve community has a long and proud tradition and will always be ready to answer the call to duty; ready then, ready now, ready always."