200224-N-DA693-1037 SAN DIEGO (Feb. 24, 2020) Hospital Corpsmen Cristian Santiago, left, and Kevin Zheng, right, assigned to the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) microbiology laboratory, perform a Gram stain on a specimen, Feb. 24, 2020. Gram staining is a method of identifying species of bacteria by using specific stains to look at bacterial properties under microscope and see how they form. NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality health care services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg/Released)