On today's blog we commend Petty Officer 2nd Class Teresa Williams, a Health Service Technician (HS) serving on board the Coast Guard Cutter Rush, homeported in Honolulu, and at Integrated Support Command (ISC) in Seattle. Williams was chosen as the ISC Seattle's Enlisted Person of the Year for 2007! Coasties who achieve this high honor are chosen by exemplifying the finest traditions of military customs and courtesy's and the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
While serving aboard the Rush from January to May of 2007, Williams displayed outstanding initiative in improving the medical readiness of the unit. She ensured personnel were scheduled for required physicals, dental exams and immunizations, but also held the members accountable for completing these requirements. Largely due to her efforts, the unit achieved 98% dental, 97% physicals and 100% immunizations compliance percentages. In addition to all of her normal duties aboard the Rush, Williams established an HS mentoring program for potential HS strikers to expose them to cutter sickbay, ISC Honolulu Clinic, and Air Station Barbers Point Clinic. (the striker program is offered as an opportunity for members of the Coast Guard to qualify for advancement without attending an "A" school)
And this was all just on board the cutter!
Soon after her arrival at ISC Seattle in May 2007, Williams volunteered to take over the responsibility of medical boards processing, while also working in the clinic's extremely demanding laboratory. Through her efforts, the clinic became the first in the Pacific Area to beta-test the new HIV testing program. This program made significant changes in the way tests were previously completed and the recommendations she made concerning the program impacted the entire service. Williams voluntarily set up a service wide exam study class for junior health service technicians and displayed passion for sharing her knowledge and mentoring. On numerous occasions she volunteered after hours and weekends to ensure physical exams and labs were current and ready for flow of patients the following week. In October of 2007, Williams advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class after having been a corpsman for only 11 months.
On board the Rush, she was an active member of the Human Relations Council, the Cutter Endurance Board, and the Habitability Committee. In Honolulu, she participated in local beach cleanups, served as a YMCA volunteer and as a Boys and Girls Club "big sister" mentor.
Whew! Williams, did you have time to breathe?
Congratulations on a superb job well done! We look forward to hearing more wonderful accomplishments from you in the future!
Coast Guard Cutter Rush, Honolulu (Official Coast Guard photo)
Integrated Support Command, Seattle (Official Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle)
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