Navy Training Commander Recognizes Top Sailors, Instructors

Photo By Carla McCarthy | 171214-N-PU674-309 PENSACOLA, Fla. (Dec. 14, 2017) Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, commander of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), top center, and NETC Force Master Chief Karim Cole, bottom left, pose with the NETC 2017 Sailor and Instructors of the Year and finalists for both categories, following a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum. (U.S. Navy photo by Carla M. McCarthy/Released)  

PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES

12.14.2017

Courtesy Story

Naval Education and Training Command

By Ensign Caroline E. Ready, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced the training domain's 2017 Sailor of the Year (SOY) and Military Instructors of the Year (IOY) Dec. 14 at a ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.

The 2017 NETC SOY is Electrician's Mate 1st Class Avanese Taylor from Surface Warfare Officers School Engineering Learning Site, Norfolk.

The 2017 NETC IOY's are:

*Junior - Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Nijah Lee, Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach, Virginia

*Midgrade - Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Francisco Peavy, Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida

*Senior - Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate Aaron Sly, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois

*Officer - Lt. Christopher DeMatteo, Submarine Learning Facility, Norfolk

Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, NETC commander, congratulated all the finalists in each category for their roles in shaping the Navy's future force and for their contributions to the training and education mission.

"You represent the best of the very best throughout the domain," said Cozad. "Each one of you here today has a common theme: a hard work ethic, a drive to be a better leader, and teamwork. Each and every one of you is a competitor, and that competitive edge is the thing that makes our Navy better than the other navies today."

Taylor has been in the Navy for 11 years and is a department leading petty officer, leading 25 instructors in the enforcement of training standards for over 1,200 students annually and for the training, implementation, and instruction delivery of five courses.

Taylor stressed the importance of inspiring Sailors through leading by example and providing them with the knowledge they need to succeed.

"I take professional pride in my work and every class that I instruct," said Taylor. "I believe there is more to instructing than just providing classroom knowledge. I provide my students with information not only to help them in class, but also in their careers."

Taylor will go forward to compete as NETC's representative in the Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E) domain's Sailor of the Year competition.

The 2016 NETC SOY finalists include:

*Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Ashlee Havens from Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida

*Aviation Boatswain's Mate Equipment 1st Class Lehi Juarezmedina from Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, Florida

*Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Michael Love from Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit, Great Lakes, Illinois

*Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Analia Ovalle from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois

*Master-at-Arms 1st Class Ashlee South from Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, Charleston, South Carolina

The 2017 NETC IOY finalists include:

*Lt. Shannon Vestal from Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach, Virginia

*Chief Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Bryan Shoberg from Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida

*Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Jared Whitefield from Center for Security Forces Det. North Island, San Diego

*Electronics Technician 2nd Class Demi Muha from Center for Security Forces Det. North Island, San Diego

"Seeing professionalism and dedication of all these outstanding Sailor of the Year and Instructor of the Year finalists only validates 'Fleet Readiness Starts Here,'" said NETC Force Master Chief Petty Officer Karim Cole during the ceremony. "I am confident that we have the right people in place to train, guide and get our Sailors ready to man the fleet."

The SOY/IOY recognition ceremony completed a week of activities in Pensacola honoring the nominated candidates.

The NETC SOY and IOY programs recognize Sailors throughout the NETC domain who exhibit attributes, such as sustained superior performance, leadership, mentorship, knowledge and teaching of military history and heritage, self-improvement, command and community involvement, and exemplary military bearing.

The SOY's are selected from amongst over 5,000 enlisted staff throughout the domain. The IOY's are part of the team of nearly 8,000 instructors composed of military, civilian and contractor personnel.

NETC is the largest shore command in the Navy and is comprised of more than 12,000 military and staff personnel at more than 230 subordinate activities and detachments in the United States and at remote sites overseas. NETC provides training and education to more than 31,000 students on any given day.

For additional information on the Naval Education and Training Command, visit the NETC website: https://www.netc.navy.mil or http://www.navy.mil/local/cnet/. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/netcpao and Twitter @netcpao.

• Date Taken: 12.14.2017
• Date Posted: 12.14.2017 16:13
• Story ID: 258962
• Location: PENSACOLA, FL, US