‘It’s an honor to serve my country’

Lt. Cmdr. Khalifah Glover is #StillServing by caring for COVID-19 patients and training others to provide medical assistance. She joined the U.S. Navy Reserves in 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014-2015 as a critical care combat nurse working at a NATO hospital. She believes it prepared her to fight the virus.

“When the pandemic hit New York City, within 24 hours of receiving the call of duty, I volunteered for the NYC Navy Medicine Support Team as a critical care nurse,” Glover stated.

“I assumed the role of Intensive Care Unit Team Leader for the day shift at Bellevue Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center. This role required collaboration with and mentorship of six nurses.”

From April 6 through June 1 of 2020, Glover provided 264 hours of direct patient care and oversaw more than 1,500 patient care hours that involved aspects of nursing care and interventions provided to 15 patients each day. She is now Assistant Officer in Charge of Operation Commanding Force 2021.

“Operation Commanding Force is a Navy Reserve-led exercise with Army and Coast Guard participation,” said Glover.

“The primary focus of this joint exercise is medical emergency care training to include casualty treatment and movement from point of injury through the entire continuum of care…Participation in this medical exercise will provide necessary training to ensure readiness for mobilization.”

Glover is a Life member of VFW Post 416 in Williamsville, New York. She feels the VFW has strengthened her desire to live a life of service and is grateful for the chance to help others as a member.

“The VFW is an organization for war veterans who have served and continue to serve our country. This is why I’m proud to say ‘I am the VFW,’” Glover said.

“I am the VFW because it allows me to give back to the community, and the VFW affords so many opportunities and ways in which this can be done.”

Glover knows not everyone would respond to the pandemic or other emergencies by volunteering to serve on the front lines, but she says she can’t help but do so.

“I take pride in directly contributing to the success of the mission,” stated Glover.

“I do it because it’s my calling and duty. It’s an honor to serve my country.”

To find out more about the VFW’s #StillServing campaign or to share your story, visit vfw.org/StillServing.