Commissioner Ben West was sworn in with the United States Navy Reserve

In May, #ClackCo Commissioner Ben West was sworn in with the United States Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Jr. Grade. After several more weeks of initial training and initiation, he will be eligible to achieve the rank of Lieutenant. #ClackCo Public Affairs caught up with the commissioner to ask him about this new public service commitment.

Question: Why did you decide to enlist in the Navy Reserve?

Commissioner West: I chose military service because I wanted to continue to find ways to engage in public service. I asked myself: “How can I be more effective and more useful to my community as a whole?” This new role fits, because it conforms with my continued nursing career. I am always looking for opportunities to serve within nursing and use a nursing lens to inform my public service.

Being on the Board of County Commissioners is a fulltime job, but I’ve still continued to work part time in the Portland metropolitan area as a cardiology nurse — about three shifts a month. Nursing will be my focus in the Navy Reserve.

Question: How much regular time is this commitment, and how long will it last?

Commissioner West: I’ll be serving for one weekend a month, plus two-to-three weeks of fulltime work every year. The commitment runs for 8 years. After my first term of service I will re-evaluate whether or not taking an additional commission is the best fit for me and my family. I suspect it will be. 

Question: What kind of medical areas or patients will you focus on?

Commissioner West: Well, the Navy Reserve is present around the globe, so it’s wherever they need me. There’s lots of possibilities — they could need medical support for trainings like war games, or work on a hospital or a ship, or supporting response to real catastrophes and natural disasters such as tsunamis or earthquakes.

That’s part of what interests me about this role: It’s a generalist position, sort of a jack-of-all-trades or however they need me. That’s exciting to me — the diversity of the role and the opportunity for growth within the medical field.

I love being a nurse, it dovetails nicely with being a commissioner in terms of public service. I like to think my work focuses on caring for people — both from the dais, and at the bedside. I believe that I am called to care, and that every person has intrinsic value, worth and dignity. Because of this universal truth every person is worthy of healing and compassion — this is why I am a nurse. 

Question: For the most part, outside of a resignation or something similar, there isn’t a mechanism per state law to replace your commissioner position should you be deployed for an extended amount of time. Is that a possibility?

Commissioner West: It’s my understanding, for at least the first three-to-four years, that there’s really no chance of an extended deployment happening. So at least for my first term, which runs through 2026, I will not be deployed into full active duty. I don’t anticipate a conflict.

Question: What was your swearing-in process like?

Commissioner West: I requested to be sworn in within Clackamas County, so it happened at Camp Withycombe. When I was there, I learned that my grandfather was deployed out of that division – he served three tours during World War 2 in Indonesia.

I didn't realize his connection and that history, so that was really special. He was in the Army Medical Corps as well, so I’m sort of carrying on a family tradition — even though I am a Navy man now.