Raised in Weatherford, Texas, Compton’s early years instilled in him a strong work ethic that he now channels into his service. His Navy journey began when he sought "three hots and a cot," but soon he found himself on deployments worldwide, including Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, and Kodiak Island, Alaska. Supporting Marines as a Green Side Corpsman, Compton says, “Eighteen of my nineteen years in the military, I wore the MARPAT Marine Corps uniform. It was a different experience than most blue-side Navy, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

His 19-year career includes diverse mission support roles, such as serving as an instructor at Field Medical Training Battalion, East, where he shaped corpsmen’s combat medicine skills and introduced them to Marine Corps operations. “We were teaching corpsmen to become green side corpsmen, showing them how to handle trauma in combat,” he reflects. “It was an incredible responsibility, knowing they’d be in the field with Marines.”

Compton’s skills extend beyond his Navy role; as a certified mechanic, he assists Sailors and his community in his spare time, embodying a commitment to service. “Anytime a Sailor has thanked me for helping them out of the goodness of my heart, doing something I know I can do for them,” he shares, considering these moments among his proudest.

HM1 Compton’s contributions highlight the Navy Reserve’s readiness and resilience, and his commitment to service strengthens his command’s ability to mobilize and support the active-duty component when called upon.

The mission of the Navy Reserve is to provide strategic depth and deliver operational capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps team, and Joint forces, in the full range of military operations from peace to war. It provides essential naval warfighting capabilities and expertise, strategically aligned with mission requirements — valued for warfighting readiness, innovation and agility.