On orders to the NO1-M Force Medical Operations Department, Naval Support Activity, Naples, Italy, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Esperanza Lint has been living overseas with her active-duty husband for over two years.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect Northern Italy, the Reserve Sailor from Columbia, Maryland found herself at the eye of the storm.
Nevertheless, Lint became an indispensable member of the N01-M Force Medical operations department at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. As the pandemic moved across most of Europe, her primary responsibilities grew to include taking consistent, accurate snapshots of evolving health conditions across the theater in order to provide U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet leadership a real-time total picture of the health of the force.
“I communicate a lot with the medical facilities in the theater,” said Lint. “During the pandemic, I’ve been responsible for collecting all relevant daily data from units, commands and locations throughout the theater and reporting their readiness level.” Command leadership praised Lint, a six-year veteran of the Navy Reserve, for her steadfast professionalism and unwavering attention to the mission.
“Petty Officer Lint provides direct operational support to Fleet Medical, greatly assisting successful execution of our COVID-19 response and other existing and emergent requirements,” said Lt. Cmdr. Shane Modglin, the region's force health protection officer. “Both her subject matter expertise and attention to detail are invaluable to mission accomplishment.”
Despite travel restrictions and telework mandates due to the pandemic, as well as related decreases in office manning, Lint said she has managed to leverage the ‘new normal’ to her advantage.
“The lockdown gave me time to work on a few projects at home as well as complete a few college courses,” she said. “I’m currently five classes away from completing my bachelor’s degree in social science with a minor in women’s studies.”