The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) transits San Diego Bay. Boxer is preparing for an upcoming deployment early next year. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Brandenburg (Released)USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boxer's (LHD 4) Medical Department earned the highest rating possible during a Medical Readiness Inspection (MRI) Nov. 1 in preparation for the ship's upcoming deployment.
Boxer's medical staff worked together to ensure their facilities met Naval Surface Forces' readiness standards for deployment and that the equipment and supplies could support all medical needs of the ship's crew.
"MRI is a measurement of the entire medical department by senior enlisted hospital corpsman, doctors and nurses," said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Stephen Richardson.
Sailors were meticulous in their performance of duties because any expired pharmaceutical supplies or incomplete crew member immunizations are automatic inspection failures.
"Our department spent a lot of time and energy cleaning, inventorying supplies, updating records, administering immunizations and testing equipment," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Christopher Keplinger. "All the hard work from our Sailors resulted in us earning C1 status, which is the absolute best you can achieve."
Boxer's Sailors dedicated themselves to ensuring the department reflected their own high level of professionalism and efficiency.
"We had corpsman working late at night and some even came in off of leave to help us leading up to inspection," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Preston Sanders. "Earning the highest rating and recognition assures us we're doing a good job, and I believe it keeps our morale high."
The excellent rating Boxer medical earned continues the ship's history of battle readiness to the fleet. The ship is a consecutive winner of the Navy's "Green H" award for medical preparedness.
"We've always worked to excel and set the standard," Richardson said. Our success was a result of the effort of every corpsman in medical staying late to update personnel records or inventory supplies. Hopefully it's an assurance to the rest of the crew that we can serve their medical needs."
BOXESG is scheduled for more training exercises this fall prior to a deployment scheduled for early next year.
BOXESG is comprised of Amphibious Squadron 5, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USCGC Boutwell (WHEC 719), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, Naval Beach Group 1, Assault Craft Unit 5, Assault Craft Unit 1, Beach Master Unit 1 and Fleet Surgical Team 5.
The 13th MEU is comprised of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), Combat Logistics Battalion 13 and Battalion Landing Team 1/1.