Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD  –   The Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy, Rear Adm. Darin K. Via, recently recognized Walter Reed and Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Bethesda as a 2024 Navy Surgeon General’s (SG) Blue H Gold Star Award Winner for Health Promotion and Wellness, earning the Blue H flag and ribbon.

“This award recognizes excellence in workplace health promotion policies, activities, challenges, and outcomes,” Via stated in a release to the force last month. “Health topics covered included responsible drinking, healthy eating, active living, psychological health, sexual health, tobacco-free living, and weight management,” he added.

Awards are earned at the Gold Star, Silver Eagle, and Bronze Anchor levels. All organizations that submitted a qualifying nomination received the Bronze Anchor. Commands that completed 60 cumulative days of health behavior challenges and earned at least 31 points, non-medical commands that achieved 31 points, and medical commands that achieved 35 points, earned the Silver Eagle. The highest level, the Gold Star, is reserved for commands that completed 90 cumulative days of health behavior challenges and non-medical commands earning and medical commands earning 56 points.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tya Rowe, the Walter Reed/NMRTC Bethesda Health Promotion and Wellness Committees, submitted the nomination. She said the command and Walter Reed “excel in promoting health and wellness by implementing community outreach through various activities targeting prevention, readiness, and improved health behaviors.

“NMRTC Bethesda and Walter Reed’s Health Promotion and Wellness Committees teamed to execute key topics to help foster a healthy culture for the service members, staff, and beneficiaries. We were awarded the Gold Star with the help of our team members from throughout the organizations, including the hospital staff in areas such as Behavioral Health, Respiratory, Medical Readiness, Cardiology, Nutrition, Safety, Women’s Clinic, and the Blood Bank, just to name a few.”

Rowe also listed a number of activities, challenges, and social media topics that the NMRTC Bethesda/Walter Reed Health and Wellness Promotion Committee planned and implemented for their communities in 2024 and continuing into this year. This includes the New Year’s Resolution Campaign, Random Acts of Kindness Challenge, National Blood Donor Month, Heart Health Month, National Nutrition Month, Patient Safety Week, Mental Health Awareness, Staff Resiliency Week, Happiness Challenge, SAPR Awareness, ShipShape, Falls Prevention Fair, Women’s Health/ Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Diabetes Month, Gratitude Challenge, Great American Smokeout, Annual Summer Safety Day and Impaired Driving Campaign. She added many of these activities are planned for next year as well.

“Primary prevention policies and activities in Navy and Marine Corps workplaces, communities, and medical treatment facilities are critical to maintaining a fit and ready force,” Via stated in his message. “Reducing behavioral risk also enhances individual quality of life and reduces long-term health care costs,” he added.

The “Blue H Award” is managed by the Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command (NMCFHPC). Rowe explained that as the flagship of military health care, Walter Reed leads the way in excellence in health promotion and sets the example in providing programs for the well-being of its staff and beneficiaries to enhance readiness for a more resilient force.