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Warren County native serves as member of U.S. Navy Medicine Force

PORTSMOUTH, VA – Petty Officer 1st Class Amanda Jo Ellis, a native of Phillipsburg helps medical forces meet readiness, training, and operational requirements across a spectrum of military operations while serving with Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL) at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) military treatment facility.

Serving military members and their families since 1830, NMCP is the U. S. Navy’s oldest, continuously operating hospital.

Ellis joined the Navy 11 years ago. Today, Ellis serves as a hospital corpsman.

“I joined the Navy for financial stability, to travel the world and to do something more with my life,” said Ellis.

Ellis attended Phillipsburg High School and graduated in 2007.

Skills and values similar to those found in Phillipsburg are important to succeed in the military.

“Phillipsburg taught me how to handle stressful situations,” said Ellis. “Being in the Navy can be unpredictable and stressful at times, but knowing how to handle those situations is what allows me to excel in my career.”

These lessons have helped Ellis while serving in the Navy.

Navy Medicine — comprised of approximately 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals — provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

“Warfighters are our most important weapon system,” said U.S. Navy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham. “We prepare and sustain that system. When the warfighter is having their worst day, our high-performing people will be at their best.”

As a member of the Navy, Ellis is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy is important to national defense because we have a forward presence around the globe that prevents adversaries from taking actions against us,” said Ellis.

With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless – to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

Ellis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“I am most proud of serving with Marines and being one of the first female senior line corpsman in an infantry battalion,” Ellis said. “Before me, there were not a lot of females in infantry battalions in the Marine Corps, so I am proud of paving the way for other females.”

As Ellis and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy means honor, pride, being a part of a family and making sacrifices for that are all worth it to provide a better life for my son,” Ellis said.

NMFL, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, delivers operationally focused medical expertise and capabilities to meet Fleet, Marine and Joint Force requirements by providing equipment, sustainment and maintenance of medical forces during combat operations and public health crisis. NMFL provides oversight for 21 NMRTCs, logistics, and public health and dental services throughout the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba, Hawaii, Europe, and the Middle East.

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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