BREMERTON, Wash. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Gasbarri, a native of Truckee, California, serves the U.S. Navy at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC)/Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB).
Gasbarri joined the Navy 11 years ago. Today, Gasbarri serves as a hospital corpsman at Navy Hospital Bremerton.
“I joined at the height of the Afghanistan conflict,” said Gasbarri. “I knew after 9/11 that I wanted to join the military into the medical field so I could help people, hopefully overseas.”
Gasbarri attended Tahoe Truckee High School and graduated in 2010. Today, Gasbarri uses skills and values similar to those found in Truckee.
“My father was a police officer, so he always tried to instill commitment to make sure you get the job done right,” said Gasbarri.
These lessons have helped Gasbarri while serving at Navy Hospital Bremerton.
NMRTC Bremerton is comprised of military civilians supporting NHB. The command supports Navy and Marine Corps readiness providing medical support and ensuring service members are ready to deploy.
NHB was first established in 1897. It was relocated to the present location in1980, where it has been for the last 40 years. In 2001 a $24 million expansion project on the site was completed adding a family care center wing, pharmacy, medical records, immunization clinic, and health promotion and wellness center.
During the spread of COVID-19 the hospital staff established highly effective, and well-coordinated public health efforts, ensuring a unified response across Navy Region Northwest by establishing a drive-through screening process and triage for all local beneficiaries.
Serving in the Navy means Gasbarri is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is the major hub for all our national interests,” said Gasbarri. “When something happens in a conflict or natural disaster, we always have a ship ready to go.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Gasbarri and other sailors have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m honored to be promoted to my current rank of E-5,” said Gasbarri. “I’m eager to make sure we get the equipment needed to provide the highest level of patient care.”
As Gasbarri and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions to support national defense, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I joined right out of high school and never really saw myself doing anything else,” added Gasbarri. “Doing something that’s bigger than myself is a source of great pride.”