11/13/2025
Hospital Corpsman Brings Fleet Experience and Instructional Skills to Recruiting
HOUSTON, Texas — A native of Amarillo, Texas, Hospital Corpsman Second Class (HM2) Kayla Pahl has brought more than ten years of Navy experience to her current role in recruiting, where she provides prospective Sailors with firsthand insight into the Hospital Corpsman rating.
HM2 describes herself as outgoing and easy to be around, and she enjoys spending time outdoors with her children, especially on nature walks where they look for unique rocks. Her path to Navy service began at home. Her mother served in the Navy, and observing her commitment and passion for the job motivated HM2 to enlist. She selected the Hospital Corpsman rating to help others and to learn more about the medical field.
Throughout her career, HM2 has served at multiple commands that shaped her development as a Corpsman and as a leader. Her first duty station in Charleston, South Carolina, provided the foundation for her early medical training. A later assignment aboard USS Truxtun (DDG 103) presented significant challenges that strengthened her resilience. While assigned to NMRTC Portsmouth, she served as a Leading Petty Officer, where the guidance of strong leadership helped shape her approach to leading Sailors. At NMTSC San Antonio, she contributed to developing and mentoring future Corpsmen, a role she found especially rewarding due to the positive impact it had on new Sailors entering the medical field.
During her time as an instructor, HM2 developed strong public-speaking skills, a competency she believes directly supported her selection for recruiting duty. Her earliest exposure to recruiting came in 2015, when her mother was assigned to a recruiting command, and she accompanied her when she would go Personally Developed Contacts (PDC), a proactive recruiting method where recruiters personally seek out and connect with potential recruits.
Since reporting to her current command, HM2 has observed that many applicants’ express interest in becoming Hospital Corpsmen. She draws on her fleet and shore experience to explain the wide variety of responsibilities within the rating, noting that Corpsmen serve in roles ranging from sick call and medical procedures to administrative duties and career development support. She believes that being able to share this broad career perspective benefits individuals considering Navy service.
As a Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, HM2 provides Sailors with instruction in essential life-saving skills. She values the opportunity to offer knowledge that could enable others to save a life and sees it as a meaningful contribution to fleet readiness.
HM2 said she enjoys the positive work environment at her command and appreciates that hard work is recognized. Although still learning the nuances of the recruiting mission, she values the teamwork and cohesion she has experienced since arriving.
She advises those considering the Hospital Corpsman rating to be prepared for challenges but emphasizes the resilience of the Corpsman community. She encourages prospective Sailors to learn as much as possible, remain open to new information, and take advantage of the many qualifications available throughout their Navy careers.
In addition to her role as a talent scout recruiter, HM2 hopes to continue making an impact by providing support in BLS instruction for her fellow recruiters and by sharing the knowledge she gained from working with Career Counselor teams at previous commands. She believes that even small efforts can create meaningful change and contribute to the success of future Sailors.
