Health and Home

Local Navy Vet poses for a good cause

LOCK HAVEN -- Jennifer Nicholson was one of 13 female Veterans chosen from a nationwide search to be featured in a 20th annual, 1940s style calendar distributed by Pin-Ups For Vets, a nonprofit organization which raises money to give back to the Veteran community.

Each year, they create a calendar featuring female Veterans from across the Country. The calendar fundraises for everything they do for the Veteran community, from donating rehab equipment to Veterans Hospitals, to shipping care packages to troops, to their 50-state Veterans Hospital Tour, where they have visited with 20,000 Vets in all 50 states to deliver gifts of appreciation.

The female Vets who volunteer with us on Veterans Hospital visits across the Country, claim that this has given them purpose again after leaving the military -- "service after service." They have also said that doing this helps them to embrace their femininity after being in a male-dominated military.

Jennifer offered the following introduction:

"My name is Jennifer Nicholson, I joined the US Navy in January 2004 and served on active duty until August 2014. I was an ABF, short for Aviation Boatswain Mate-Fuels and Firefighter/EMT. My first enlistment was on-board the USS George Washington CVN-73, where I assisted in re-fueling many different types of aircraft such as the F-18 fighter jet, EA-6B Prowler, E-2 Hawkeye, SH-60 Seahawk, and C-2 Greyhound. We also did on-loading and off-loading of jet fuel to other ships while underway. During my time onboard, we completed the Partnerships of the Americas down in the Caribbean, assisting with drug trafficking. We also made history by completing a homeport change and becoming the first nuclear-powered ship to be stationed in Japan. I spent a year in Yokosuka, before returning state side to extend my sea duty time."

"As I returned to the states, I was stationed on the USS George H. W. Bush., for 2 years. I became a flight deck supervisor, which included overseeing safe and proper flight deck re-fueling operations during flight operations. After being promoted to E-5, I became the Quality Assurance Fuel Lab nights supervisor my last year onboard. Testing the fuel for safe keeping and transferring to the aircraft was important to ensure that the pilots were getting clean and safe fuel," she continued.

"After 6 years of sea duty, I was the first ever ABF to be selected to attend the Department of Defense Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base. After rigorous training and graduation from the Fire Academy, I was also the first ABF selected for shore duty at Camp David Presidential Retreat in Thurmont, MD. I overlooked all care, testing and safe handling of the Presidential Fuels, and was part of the fire department on base. My job was to keep the base safe and ready to serve the President of the United States at any time, whether a retreat or emergency," Jennifer said.

She continued, "I became a Maryland EMT while stationed there as well, running mutual aid with local counties around the base. I also became a Command Fitness Leader and the first female to receive the Iron Man award for the top PRT score. I received 3 Good Conduct medals, 2 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Presidential Service Badge, a coin from the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and various other awards during my time in the service."

"I currently reside in Pennsylvania with my family. I have 2 young daughters, a husband, who also is a Navy veteran and 4 dogs. After serving just shy of 10 years and being Honorably Discharged, I moved to Pennsylvania and attended college. I received my associate degree in Radiography and my bachelor's degree in Applied Health Sciences at Pennsylvania College of Technology. After 5 years of working in a healthcare setting as an X-ray Technologist, I longed for more involvement and education in the world of Radiology. I am currently employed with the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection as a Radiation Health Physicist," Jennifer said.

"In this position I get to combine my skills and experience from the military and college to provide radiological safety and emergency response to the Commonwealth of PA. I give my time not only to Veterans, but to anyone that may need that extra push or listening ear. I volunteer at trail runs, as a group fitness HIIT coach and in my local Little League district. I have coached Little League softball for 5 years, and recently accepted the position of Vice President of Softball. My goal is to build strong, young woman and to be a great role model. They love stories about my time in the service, about a woman in uniform! I have been teaching group fitness HIIT classes for 2 years and love pushing members outside of their comfort zones and to believe in themselves," she said.

"I loved my time in the military, but after I was discharged, I longed for ways to still serve my country and take care of Veterans. While in college, I worked in the Penn College Veteran's office as a Veteran Assistant for 3 years, ran the Veterans Club on campus, joined Team RWB and another local veteran's group, VETS+. All these duties and groups offered me a way to give back to veterans, such as guidance in college enrollment for young veterans or students still serving. I have also planned and hosted events to build camaraderie amongst veteran students, participated in many fundraising events, worked with Military Share to provide food for veteran families once a month, volunteering for local events at the VFW, delivering Christmas gifts and baked goods to the veterans in nursing homes," she said.

Jennifer spoke about her favorite event to date, when she met a WW2 veteran through her college clinical rotation.

"He was 92 years old. His son really wanted him to have the chance to visit his ship, the USS Intrepid, one last time. So, I organized a trip to New York with a few other veteran leaders in the community and we spent the day at the museum. It was one of the best days of my life, a man who struggled with early stages of Dementia lit up with pride and remembered everything from the kamikaze attacks on the USS Intrepid that WW2 brought. He told us about all the weapons and detailed war time events that took place on his ship. It was simply amazing," she said.

"I love this opportunity that Founder, Gina Elise has created with Pin-Up for Vets. It's a unique opportunity to give back in a new way. I love what has been done for so many military members over the last 20 years, especially the ones that may feel forgotten. I also love the opportunity to represent all women veterans, proving we are strong and the backbone of America too!" She said.

She concluded, "I have been rewarded with a lot of "firsts" in my life due to determination, strong will and patriotism. I want to continue to show my daughters and all young women these qualities, but also to love and honor their country and the ones that have gone before us. It has been an honor to be chosen for the 20th Anniversary calendar and to add another first to my life story, for my country and future generations. I am truly proud to be a part of such a great organization and for another chance to serve my country."