#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Missina Schallus

On World Cancer Day, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Missina Schallus, who served as yeoman chief petty officer and survived three cancer bouts.

Missina Schallus began her training at boot camp in January 1998 at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. She then attended ‘A’ School at Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi. She received her first duty assignment at the Bureau of Naval Personnel as an assistant writer and then went on to become the flag writer. In 2002, she continued her training as a flag writer at ‘C’ School but then deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on USS Theodore Roosevelt. She earned her Enlisted Surface Warfare and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist pins.

Schallus returned to the U.S. in June 2004. At the Pentagon, she was flag writer to the deputy chief of naval operations. From 2009 to 2010, Schallus served as a flag writer to the assistant chief of naval operation at the Next Generation Enterprise Network. She later served as the flag writer at Naval Sea Systems Command, surviving the Washington Navy Yard Shooting in 2013. Unfortunately, 12 of her close co-workers were killed. In 2014, she was the flag writer to James F. Caldwell Jr. at the Office of Naval Inspector General. As his flag writer, Schallus followed Caldwell through each assignment as he transferred to the Pentagon, then to the Office of Naval Reactors as the director, Navy Staff, and director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

Schallus continues her passion to serve the VA and to advocate for women Veterans as communications manager at the Center for Women Veterans. She is a three-time cancer survivor, and her favorite role is being the mother of her three children.

Schallus received the Pentagon Blue Jacket of the Year in 2005, five Navy Commendation Medals, a Navy Achievement Medals and multiple Good Conduct Medals.

Thank you for your service!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Contributors

Writer: Hannah Nelson

Editor: Rachel Falconer

Fact checker: Kinsley Ballas

Graphic artist: Michelle Zischke