Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Michelle Fink | 200514-N-IU965-1010 BREMERTON, Wash. (May 14, 2020) Electrician's Mate 3rd Class...... read more read more
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BREMERTON, Wash. – There comes a time in every person’s life when they must decide between doing what is right and what is convenient or easy. For Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Alexis Randle, stationed aboard Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), that moment came on what she thought would be an ordinary day at work.
A native of Markham, Illinois, the Navy was not initially a part of Randle’s plan. Prior to enlisting, Randle’s life followed a common trajectory: after graduating high school in 2011, she attended Southern Illinois University, where she majored in psychology. After she earned her degree, however, Randle said she felt the urge to find a job that was outside the norm.
“I was really looking for something different that I could make a career,” said Randle.
Eventually, her search led her to a Navy recruiter’s office, and she enlisted in May 2018. Upon graduating recruit training and her job-specific “A” school, she reported to Vinson, which is currently undergoing maintenance pierside in Bremerton, Washington.
While standing duty on the ship in March 2020, Randle was asked to assist with checking a cable in her work space. She initially did what was asked, but when an additional request required her to go into a panel and operate a circuit breaker, she halted the work.
Randle, who was relatively new to her job and had never done anything like this before, felt in her gut that something was off.
“I didn’t know what he was talking about,” said Randle. “It sounded weird to me, so I asked my supervisor.”
As it turned out, Randle’s instincts were correct. After speaking with the contractor, Randle’s supervisor told her that what she had been asked to do went against the Navy’s safety protocols.
Lt. j.g. Brandon Cremer, Vinson’s electrical officer, said that since the panel was energized and Randle was not wearing the proper protective equipment, she could have been seriously injured or worse.
“On the highest end of the scale, the consequence could have been death,” said Cremer. “Electricity is invisible, so if you’re not experienced, you’re not going to know anything is wrong until it happens.”
After the incident, Randle’s life returned to normal. It wasn’t until weeks later that one of her coworkers told her that she was being recommended to receive a challenge coin from Vinson’s commanding officer, Capt. Matthew Paradise, during an awards ceremony the next day. At first, Randle said she was incredulous.
“When they told me I was getting a coin, my first reaction was, ‘for what?’” said Randle. “All I did was ask a question!”
However, when she heard Paradise share the details of what happened that day and praise her in front of an audience of her peers and mentors, Randle said the gravity of her actions began to sink in. Quickly, this was followed by a sense of accomplishment.
“He knew exactly what I did,” said Randle. “It was really cool.”
Cremer said that, in a shipboard environment, having a questioning attitude like Randle’s is critical in order to remain safe.
“What [Randle] did is the best thing that anyone can do,” said Cremer. “She noticed that this wasn’t the normal standard, that this is not how the Navy does business, and she stopped where she was and did not proceed. I am really proud that she made the right call.”
Randle’s family is proud of her, too. After she shared with her mother and sister that she was going to receive a coin, Randle said that they posted about her on social media.
“Of course, my family is always happy for me no matter what the accomplishment,” said Randle. “But it was nice to see that I am making them proud.”
Moving forward, as Randle continues to serve in the Navy and becomes a mentor to junior Sailors, she said that she intends to pass on the lessons that she has learned from this experience.
“My advice will always be to trust yourself and ask questions,” said Randle.
In the end, Randle’s story can be a lesson not only to Sailors, but to anybody who is put in a situation which makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. By trusting her instincts over the urge to do what was easy, she did what was right and might even have saved her own life.
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2020 17:38 |
| Story ID: | 374487 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WA, US |
| Hometown: | MARKHAM, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Asking the Right Questions, by PO1 Matthew Fink, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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