NC of the Year

Hey there Shipmates,

Wanted to tell you of a great opportunity I recently had to recognize one of our great Sailors. On Friday, 26 June, I found myself onboard USS NITZE with none other than NC1 Verner, the ships Senior Sailor of the Year. You may remember NC1, she was also one of the finalists for the USFF Sea Sailor of the Year competition as she was the SURFLANT Sea SOY.

NC1 Verner was recognized by the Navy Counselor Association at their recent symposium as the Navy Counselor of the Year to go along with her many achievements.

When I met with her this day, I was accompanied by some very big fans of NC1’s. My staff CMC, CMDCM Andre Green, my Administrative Assistant, YN2 Michelle Flood, the Fleet Counselor for USFF, NCCM Kevin Sullivan and the SUFLANT Force Navy Counselor. While meeting with NC1, I asked her why she thought she has been so successful and her reply was;
"For me, being successful within my career has come with a lot of hard work and dedication. In fact, it has meant a lot of hard work and dedication from many others as well. My faith has been paramount; and the commitment from my shipmates, family, and friends has come second to none. Personally, I am driven. Professionally, I am focused. Spiritually, I am grounded. Socially, still a work in progress, although I do believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I've always been driven and have tried to do everything within the best of my ability. Realizing that time passes by quickly, what else do we have to show about who we are than the contributions we make today. To me, life should be filled with purpose. Why do anything if not the intent to be committed and do it well? I am not satisfied with being mediocre at anything. Someone said it best, "You either meet my standard, or exceed my standard!" I choose to do both!

Obviously, being successful isn't an easy task. Assuming numerous collateral duties in addition to my job as Independent Command Career Counselor has been very challenging to say the least. However, I do believe the approach we take toward helping accomplish the mission and reaching our goals is what makes it all so rewarding. My mindset is this: Mind over matter; Obstacle – Resolution; Challenge – Overcome; Pessimist – Realist; Critical – Ignore; Constructive – Listen; Tired - Pray for strength; Laziness - Not an option…

At the end of the day, I know that I have given my all. Hopefully my efforts will have helped a shipmate reach a new height within their career, within their life, and or to find their purpose."

Shipmate, we’re all proud of you and look forward to hearing more about your interactions with Sailors! Bravo Zulu – Fleet sends.

Aloha Pacific and hello Atlantic!

Aloha Shipmates,

I wanted to take a moment and wish all our Sailors in the Pacific Theatre, a place my family and I have called home for the last 7 1/2 years, a fond farewell. We’ve taken our last tour and moved to U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia and set up a home in the local Hampton Roads area.

Our time in theatre was one of the most memorable times in our 27 year career. To have spent time in Sasebo and Yokosuka Japan, traveled throughout Asia and then a 23 month tour in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the home of U.S. Pacific Fleet, was in a word, “incredible.” The Sailors, Marines, Navy civilians and family members are among the elite of the U.S. Navy and set the tone for the rest of our service. Those operating in the FDNF (Forward Deployed Naval Forces of the Western Pacific) exercise leadership 24/7 every day of the year, and I can’t thank them enough for their daily sacrifices.

As we begin our last tour I’d like to put on the record a few things. As I told the Sailors (Second Chance Sailors on CARL VINSON) the other day when one of them asked me who I worked for, “I work for you. I was hired by Admiral Greenert to report to him and his staff the challenges our Sailors face, the state of the force he commands, and to state the expectations of Sailors to Sailors for the U.S. Navy to remain the very best Navy the world has ever had, but I work for you, the Sailor to hear your concerns and issues and at the end of the day, make life a little better than we found it.” The life of our Sailors in many ways is much better today than it was 20 years ago, but some of the demands we have on our Sailors are the hardest they’ve been in many years. I am committed to identifying areas we need to address and fixing them. The team of Master Chiefs throughout the USFF domain are an incredibly talented and experienced group of professionals and working with them in support of the MCPON, there’s nothing we can’t get done.

So secure for sea Shipmates, we’ve taken in all lines and the course we’ve plotted will take us through Sea State 9. -Fleet sends

Pacific Fleet Sailor Of the Year

Aloha Shipmates,

We recently finished our PACFLT Sailor Of the Year (SOY) competition and just like previous years, this years 8 finalists were great examples of “Deck-Plate Leadership.”

Our candidates go through a rigorous selection process having to go through competition from the Department level, to the Command level, to the ISIC level and then the TYCOM level. Our eight finalists consisted of four that would compete for the Sea Duty selection and four who would compete for the Shore Duty selection. The SOY chosen for Sea duty is eligible to be meritoriously promoted to Chief Petty Officer during the CNO program in July and the Shore SOY chosen will compete at one more level, that being the VCNO Sailor of the Year competition later in May, held in Washington, D.C.

Our Sea SOY’s and the reporting command they represented:
Representing Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific, Shipmate - Air Traffic Controller First Class Alea Creighton;
Representing Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific, Shipmate - Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class Christopher Green.
Representing Commander, Marine Forces Pacific, Shipmate - Religious Programs Specialist First Class Patrick McCormick.
Representing Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, Shipmate - Special Warfare Operator First Class Marcos Ybarra.

Our Shore SOY’s:
Representing Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Shipmate - Operations Specialist First Class Terrish Bilbrey.
Representing Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific, Shipmate - Aviation Electronics Technician First Class Ethan Clark.
Representing Commander, Marine Forces Pacific, Shipmate - Religious Program Specialist First Class Patricia Hernandez.
And representing Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific, Shipmate – Hospital Corpsman First Class James Nicholson.

Trying to select just one from each stellar group was much like trying to select which Sailor looks the best from a group consisting of members from the U.S. Navy’s Ceremonial Guard!

In the end the board (consisting of the Force Master Chiefs from AIRPAC, SURFPAC, SUBPAC, and CMC’s from 3rd Fleet and MARFORPAC selected Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class Christopher Green as the Sea SOY and Hospital Corpsman First Class James Nicholson as the Shore SOY.

These eight candidates are the representatives of 100,000 E6 and below Sailors throughout the Pacific Fleet and the way they carried and handled themselves were as true professional Sailors. Congratulations to all our Sailors who wear the uniform in this all-volunteer Navy! I couldn’t be prouder of each of you. –Fleet sends.