Submarine Force Atlantic Announces Mincey and Ross as 2017 Sailor of the Year Awardees

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

02.15.2018

Story by Chief Petty Officer Darryl Wood 

Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic

The 2017 Submarine Force Atlantic Sailors of the Year (SOY) for sea and shore command were announced February 9.
The winners were recognized by Force Master Chief John Perryman during a ceremony held at the historic Pennsylvania House on Naval Station Norfolk.
"I have the pleasure to recognize today these fine petty officers, who represent the best of our Navy,” said Perryman. “Their professionalism and dedication is equally apparent in the performance of their duties and their commitment to their community. These Sailors lead the way among their peers and decisively contribute to the Navy's continued success, I congratulate each of you.”
The Sailors that competed for SUBLANT Sea SOY were, Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) 1st Class Robin Anderson, a native of Centennial, Colo., assigned to USS North Dakota (SSN 784), Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) 1st Class Brandyn Harper, assigned to USS Maryland (SSBN 738) (Gold), and Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class Marshall Ross, a native of Ada, Okla., assigned to USS La Jolla (SSN 701).
Competing for SUBLANT Shore SOY were, Logistics Specialist 1st Class Samantha Mincey, a native of Los Angeles, Calf., assigned to Trident Refit Facility Kings Bay, Legalman 1st Class Sherry Hoffman, a native of Biloxi, Miss., assigned to Submarine Squadron Six, and Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) 1st Class Anthony Phillips, a native of Queens, NY., assigned to Regional Support Group Groton.
All candidates participated in a series of comradery activities leading up to the ceremony, including a welcome reception, an area-command SOY luncheon, a physical training competition, leadership mentoring, a interview, a community relations event, and historical lectures designed to educate, mentor, test and assess each SOY candidate.
The first planned event was a physical training competition with other area command’s SOY candidates, which concluded with the presentation of the first-ever SOY PT trophy. Even though the SUBLANT candidates did not capture the trophy, they did gain a measurable advantage for the follow-on SOY events, realizing their strength was relying on each other.
“I enjoyed the PT competition,” said Mincey. “Honestly it was hard. I never saw myself being physically capable of carrying someone before. For one of the events, I and another candidate had to run carrying a Sailor around a cone and back, and I think that set the tone for the week. After that PT session, we came together as a group, things we were nervous or unsure about we confided in each other. The mutual struggle definitely helped us bond.”
The SOY candidates also conducted heritage tours onboard Naval Station Norfolk, now celebrating 100 years since being established, and at the Nauticus Naval Museum which offers tours of USS Wisconsin (BB 64).
“There is so much we lose to history, because we can get so focused on the future, “said Mass Communication Specialist Chief Darryl Wood, a SUBLANT SOY mentor. “ I was in awe as I toured USS Wisconsin; there is nothing in the fleet that compares. To crawl into the forward 16” gun turret and to see my name scrawled on one of the gun access doors, I was stunned.”
The Chief’s Mess provided mentors to the SOY candidates throughout the week’s events, allowing the new generation of Sailors an informal turnover of knowledge through the experience of previous generations of Navy leaders.
“I joined the Navy out of a sense of duty, to serve my country, and to further my education,” said Marshall. “I’ve always loved working with my hands and being given the responsibility to operate and maintaining the systems onboard a submarine, to safeguard our way of life is rewarding. Having come from a family of military service, both of my grandfathers served, two uncles, an aunt, and my brother, I feel a personal responsibility to pass on the military values instilled in me growing up, to teach and mentor the Sailors around me.”
The Sailors also took time to speak to students at Granby High School’s Naval Junior Officer Recruit Training Corps (NJROTC) located in Norfolk, Va. as part of a community relations event.
“I truly enjoyed the interaction with the NJROTC students,” said Hoffman. “I never knew how in-depth the NJROTC program really was and how much it teaches students about our naval traditions and service. I appreciated the questions the students asked about life onboard a submarine, such as what foods do we eat, how do we get our air and if we see sunlight, even the more thought provoking questions like how does our pay system work, how do we plan to have children, and how do we fit our family into our military life. The students had a breadth of questions and a genuine desire to know. I left feeling there was more I could share with the community and these students, outside of just my job in the Navy.”
To be selected, SUBLANT SOY candidates completed a formal interview sat by five Master Chiefs, who have been qualified as Chief of the Boat or as Command Master Chief, and a retired Navy Captain. The purpose of the board was to assess the Sailors military bearing and knowledge of current events, history, and Navy regulations.
Outside the doors of the board room, Mincey paced awaiting her time to enter. Electronic Technician Chief Vance Braziel, SUBLANT SOY program coordinator, motioned for her to stand in front of the doors and went over entering procedures. She took a paused breath and mouthed a silent phrase, “Sashay you stay”.
“One of the Naval Air Force Atlantic SOY candidates told me that,” said Mincey. “Sashay you stay, as a mental preparation before entering. She was nervous before her board and a Chief approached her and asked how she was doing, when the Sailor mentioned her nerves were getting the best of her, the Chief commented, have you seen RuPaul's Drag Race? When you walk in the tell yourself you are there to stay, go in there like you own it, “Sashay you stay”, and I was like, I’m going to keep that. For me it was about overcoming a fear of the unknown and being confident in who I am.”
Each of these candidates, all whom have been selected as a Command Sailor of the Year, represents the best of the Submarine Force through their dedication to the mission, their profession, and their fellow Sailors.
As the Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year representing SUBLANT, the next round of competition will see Ross and Mincey competing in the Atlantic Fleet Sailor of the Year competition hosted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. The winner of the Atlantic Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year will be meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer.

• Date Taken: 02.15.2018
• Date Posted: 02.15.2018 17:39
• Story ID: 266235
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US
• Hometown: ADA, OK, US
• Hometown: BILOXI, MS, US
• Hometown: CENTENNIAL, CO, US
• Hometown: LOS ANGELES, CA, US
• Hometown: QUEENS, NY, US