Best of both worlds.

Whether it’s reading a thought-provoking book or working out daily at the gym, Mark believes in continual self-improvement and advancement. Needless to say, he brings the same attitude with him to work as well. In civilian life, Mark works as a paramedic for a major metropolitan fire department. In the military, Mark serves as a Hospital Corpsman (HM) in the Navy Reserve.

“As a paramedic, most every day I try to learn something new,” Mark says. “And, in a way, every day as a paramedic is also like added training for my job as a Corpsman.” When Mark graduated from EMT school to become a paramedic, he says he wanted to integrate both his civilian and military careers. “The Navy Reserve made it very easy for me to do this,” Mark explains. At the time, he served in the National Guard as an infantryman. “Due to my civilian education and occupation, I was able to cross-train and immediately enter the Navy Reserve as a Corpsman. What’s more, I was assigned to an infantry unit, which was my old job in the Army National Guard — so it was a very comfortable transition.”

As Mark tells it, there are many similarities between his job as a paramedic and his job as a Corpsman. This is why he was able to seamlessly cross-train into the Navy Reserve. Mark does, however, also notice some distinct differences. “As a paramedic, I’m one of a team, mainly responding to a series of independent emergencies,” he says. “In the Navy Reserve, I do that too, but I’m also the main person responsible for the wellness of the entire unit. I’m the one who responds when they say, ‘Hey doc, I have a headache.’ I’m the one making sure they stay hydrated and are taking care of their feet. And, if they ever get seriously wounded, I’m the one they’re counting on.”

Just as Mark tells how his job as a paramedic makes him a better Corpsman, he also explains how his military experience greatly benefits him in the civilian world as well. “The military prepares you in every way,” he says. “It teaches you how to prioritize, how to be organized, and how to handle yourself in stressful situations. So, when you get into the civilian world, competing with people who aren’t used to that kind of environment and who haven’t gained that knowledge and confidence, it’s that much easier to stand out.”

Mark’s own life recently echoed these sentiments. Due to his considerable knowledge, his proficiency at his job and his military background, he was singled out by the upper ranks of his fire department to participate in a high-priority initiative. His department is in the process of evaluating, readjusting and rewriting its mass casualty procedures, and they asked Mark to play a key role in the process.

Mark lives with his wife Angela in the Central United States, where he also attends college.