Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class James Hong | U.S. Navy Steelworker 1st Class Cayla George, from Jasper, Ala., assigned to Naval Air...... read more read more
NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (Nov. 22, 2023) – A Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Public Works Department (PWD) Sailor recently received Seabee Heritage Command’s 2023 Everyday Hero Award, for her life-saving actions.
Steelworker 1st Class Cayla George, from Jasper, Alabama, was awarded for the notable actions she took to prevent a fellow Sailor from attempting suicide.
“In a way, it’s strange to be getting this award. I believe any decent person would have done the same thing if they had found themselves in a similar situation,” said George. “In the Navy, we should all be talking more about mental and emotion health, resiliency and suicide. When we do, we are able to work together as a team and make a difference.
George has been assigned to NAS Sigonella PWD since 2022 and began serving in the Requirements Branch as a Facilities Management Specialist; responsible for 81 facilities and 22 tenant commands on board NAS Sigonella. She is also production branch leading petty officer in the Steel Shop.
Following her life-saving actions, she coordinated efforts to support all PWD Sailors to ensure they had the resources available and necessary to cope with the traumatic event, and conducted resiliency training to assist anyone else who may have experienced suicidal ideations.
The Everyday Hero Award was created to recognize Sailors in the Seabee community for heroic actions. The award is presented by the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association, a volunteer organization that grants needs-based scholarships to children of Seabees, and the Seabee Historical Foundation, an organization created to tell the Seabee story.
According to the award announcement, her unrelenting perseverance and steadfast devotion to duty reflected great credit on her and contributed significantly to perpetuating the Seabee legacy.
“Cayla’s dedication and commitment to others embodies the Seabee "CAN DO" spirit and represents the foundation of what it truly means to be a Seabee,” said Capt. Rafael Miranda, commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe Africa Central. “She embodies the courage the Navy looks for in our fighting force and I am incredibly proud of her actions. NAVFAC EURAFCENT, the Navy and the Sigonella community is very fortunate to have her serving alongside us.”
More recently, George volunteered with the First Class Petty Officers Association on a project creating crosses to memorialize service members who have passed away in traffic accidents near NAS Sigonella. She also helped establish the NAS Sigonella local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous, to assist service members or civilians who may be struggling with alcohol or substance abuse issues.
“I am a Sailor who just recently celebrated nine years of sobriety,” said George. “I have been sober for my entire Navy career, and I want to be a small part of bringing the right resources to the right Sailors at the right time. I believe the more resources we have at our disposal, the stronger our Navy becomes.”
When asked what advice she would give Seabees so they might be recognized as an ‘Everyday Hero,’ George said Theodore Roosevelt’s guidance has always steered her in the right direction – “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
NAS Sigonella’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command.
For more news and information from NAS Sigonella, visit https://cnreurafcent.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Sigonella/ or https://www.facebook.com/nassigonella/.
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2023 03:42 |
| Story ID: | 458172 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Hometown: | JASPER, AL, US |
| Web Views: | 1,673 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NAS Sigonella Seabee receives 2023 Everyday Hero Award, by PO2 Kelsey Culbertson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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