Navy Medicine personnel traveled to Fargo to raise awareness about Navy Medicine's mission during Fargo Navy Week July 20-21.

While in Fargo, the personnel - known as Navy Medicine ambassadors - interacted with local community members to foster ties and inform audiences of career opportunities in Navy Medicine.

Navy dentist Capt. Jonathan Haun, Navy physician Lt. Cmdr. Jami Peterson and Chief Hospital Corpsman Brian Belk visited with local Boys and Girls Clubs, attended Fargo Public Library's Navy science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fair, met with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and participated in the city's "Party in the Park" at Rabanus Park.

During each engagement, the trio discussed dental hygiene, basic first aid, good nutrition and exercise habits, as well as personal experiences about their careers in Navy Medicine.

"Most people don't have a lot of information or knowledge about Navy Medicine so this was an important opportunity to demonstrate to the people of Fargo how Navy Medicine provides world-class care to Sailors, Marines and their families around the world," said Belk.

The Navy Medicine ambassadors also utilized medical equipment such as stethoscopes, wound dressings, airway devices and trauma pack to facilitate questions and discussions about their careers.

"Because some of the items were very recognizable, such as the stethoscope and bandages, and some not so easy to identify, the children were engaged, curious and full of detailed questions. The amount of insight and curiosity they displayed was truly amazing," said Peterson.

"It was the interactive nature of these sessions that provided the most value. It created a comfortable environment where the ambassadors were approachable and engaging and the information was enriching for the children. Additionally, our uniforms were an endless source of curiosity and questions for the participants," she said.

Peterson also said she hopes the local citizenry saw the valuable role Navy Medicine has in humanitarian missions, supporting the warfighter and their families, and providing medical care in dangerous and austere conditions. Most importantly, she hopes they recognized the potential career opportunities that exist for their children to serve in the world's largest Navy because they saw someone just like them.

"I'm a small-town girl from a landlocked state representing both the Navy and the people of Fargo. I know the citizens of Fargo and the Fargo area appreciated our presence because we were met with questions, discussion and warm greetings at every turn," Peterson said.

"It was amazing to be in a position to share Navy life with the people of Fargo. When I was growing up in the area, I never thought of the Navy or the opportunities that existed with the Navy because it was not the most visible of the armed forces in the region."

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 healthcare 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 news from Navy Medicine, visit www.navy.mil/.