The two came to Okinawa to give junior and senior medical personnel the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns they have within the medical field.

“The primary mission of Navy Medicine is to make sure we can provide care to the war fighters,” said Robinson. “We need to be with the Marine Corps. Navy Medicine doesn’t need to be anywhere else during missions, for anyone else.”

Medical personnel from all the military camps on island came to the presentation.

“When the Surgeon General and myself are in the Pacific we like to stop and say thank you to our senior enlisted leaders for the great job they are doing, in addition to the sailors. These sailors are taking care of the war fighters and of the family members,” said Martinez. “I love coming out and talking with the troops.”

For many of the medical personnel that attended the presentation, it was the first time for them to meet the surgeon general and force master chief. Some felt it was a great opportunity.

“It gives us the sense that they aren’t just barking orders down the chain of command,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Alois Kaltenbach, radiology, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa. “They actually care about what we think and feel. I really think it’s awesome they came to Okinawa.”

“Navy Medicine will be wherever Marines go. If they are there, we will be there,” said Robinson.

The stop on Okinawa was a part of this year’s Pacific tour for the surgeon general and force master chief. From here they continued on to Vietnam and then to Yokosuka.