Balancing Mission, Mentorship and Education at Public Health Command Europe

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Balancing Mission, Mentorship and Education at Public Health Command Europe

LANDSTUHL, GERMANY

08.25.2026

Story by Michelle Thum 

Public Health Command Europe

Balancing Mission, Mentorship and Education at Public Health Command Europe

LANDSTUHL, Germany— Staff Sgt. Manely Pierre Asencio, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Environmental Health Sciences at Public Health Command Europe, balances a wide range of operations while also completing a college degree in a different time zone

Arriving in Germany just two months ago, Asencio is still in the “walking” phase of her new assignment, but her impact is already being felt. She originally joined the Army to find financial stability and educational opportunities. Today, she is just two classes away from completing her bachelor’s degree in public health – a fitting field for her military occupational specialty

An Environmental Health Sciences NCOIC plays a critical role in force health protection and preventive medicine. They are responsible for anticipating, identifying and evaluating health hazards to keep service members safe and mission ready

Asencio describes the EHS mission as a broad umbrella of safety that goes far beyond standard medical care. Her team’s footprint is massive, covering military personnel stationed throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East

“It goes into safety, bugs, ticks, water and then we have those that deal with pests and radiology,” Asencio explained. “Having that large footprint to manage and have Soldiers take care of all of it is most intriguing for me.”

Managing a wide-reaching European mission while attending a university based in Arizona is no easy feat. Navigating the extreme time zone difference requires strict discipline and a clear set of daily priorities

“It’s a lot of time management. It’s making sure you’re putting in the priorities, your missions into a timeline of the day,” Asencio said. “Usually, I will come in, work, support my Soldiers, see if they have any needs and after I leave work, I become a college student.”

To get through the tough days, Asencio relies on physical fitness, utilizing her lunch breaks to hit the gym, listen to loud music and reset her mind for the afternoon’s tasks

Despite her workload and academic commitments, Asencio’s true passion lies in leading and mentoring the junior enlisted personnel under her charge. She takes her duties as an NCOIC incredibly serious, viewing her leadership role not just as a job, but as an opportunity to shape the future of the Army

She finds immense satisfaction in receiving new Soldiers fresh out of Advanced Individual Training – often away from home for the first time – and guiding them into capable, confident adults and professionals

“You will meet them, they will come out of AIT and you’re basically seeing them become an adult in their own means,” Asencio shared. “Seeing them grow is the best highlight of being an NCOIC.”

With her bachelor’s degree nearly complete, Asencio is already looking toward her next objectives. She aims to become a Registered Environmental Health Officer to solidify her professional proficiency in both the military and civilian sectors and eventually pursue a master’s degree. Long-term, she is considering transitioning to the Warrant Officer corps to become a specialized technical expert in her field

When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Asencio highlighted the importance of taking initiative rather than letting life dictate her path

“Just make your decisions, own your decisions, and keep them,” Asencio said. “Take pride in the decisions that you made.”

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