Photo By Chief Petty Officer Stephane Belcher | 221130-N-PG340-1002 GREAT LAKES, Illinois (Nov. 30, 2022) Aviation Structural Mechanic...... read more read more
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Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class AshleyLaura Johnson, from Honolulu, is a recruit division commander (RDC) and the Senior Sailor of the Year (SSOY) at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy’s only boot camp.
Johnson works in fleet quality assurance (FQA) as an inspector. She is the fleet quality assurance leading petty officer and USS Enterprise recruit barracks resident advisor.
RTC’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Kertrek Brooks named Johnson as the SSOY. She competed against five other nominees.
Since she reported to RTC, she has also led three divisions comprised of 264 recruits. Johnson credits her success to her mentors and spoke about her chief, Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Luis Carrillo and how he helped her grow as a Sailor and a leader.
“I know that when I went over the [Sailor of the Quarter] nomination sheet, I thought I was something,” Johnson said. “Then I went over it with Chief Carrillo and then I basically found out I wasn’t doing anything.”
She started focusing on developing herself with education and volunteering at an animal shelter and other local community events. Not only did she step up her volunteer work and classes, but she also picked up several command collateral duties, such the command resiliency team, a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response victim advocate, and the assistant secretary in the Petty Officer Association.
She became a training team member in advanced warrior toughness and the master training specialist team.
“I know that it broadened my horizons of what I thought being a good Sailor would be,” said Johnson. “It’s kind of like if you’re just good at your job, you’ll make it places. But exceeding outside of that is what really helps you not only be recognized but learn more about programs in itself. So, when you have to help somebody else, either get to where you're at or if they need help at all, you have that knowledge to do so.”
Johnson was on leave the day the Sailors of the Year announcement was made. She found out she was selected through a text she received from another Sailor who was nominated.
“I was really excited, surprised,” she said. “I called everybody. I called my previous mentors. I called on my “C” school instructor. When he was here, he helped me be an RDC.
“I called Chief Carrillo. I was like ‘Oh my god! We did it!’ It was awesome. I’m still stunned.”
Johnson joined the U.S. Navy in August 2012. She’s served at Task Force (CTF) 67, Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 Atsugi, Japan; and the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) before checking into RTC in September 2020.
She’s a qualified aviation warfare specialist and enlisted surface warfare specialist. She received three Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medals, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and several other unit and service awards.
Johnson accredited her previous leaders, chiefs, and coworkers at fleet quality assurance (FQA) for her success. She also talked about helping others Sailors and guiding them in the right direction.
“For everyone that’s guided me to where I am, I’m so grateful,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without the people around me. Literally, half of my package was what the petty officers in FQA have been able to do. I’ll be forever grateful, and I will pay it forward.”
Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.
| Date Taken: | 02.14.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 02.14.2023 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 438469 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 456 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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