by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Public Affairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2006 Fort Lee High School
graduate and Fort Lee, New Jersey, native was announced as a 2017 Sailor of the
Year (SOY) finalist for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) in
Pensacola at a ceremony onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola at the National
Naval Aviation Museum Dec. 14.
Aviation Electronics Technician Petty Officer 1st
Class Analia Ovalle is a recruit division commander (RDC) at Recruit Training
Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Illinois. Asa
an RDC, she transforms civilians into Sailors through discipline, physical
fitness training and naval orientation.
Ovalle’s efforts resulted in the graduation of 400 new Sailors, and as a leading petty officer, she supported 14 other RDCs as they prepared over 2,000 Sailors for success.
Ovalle’s efforts resulted in the graduation of 400 new Sailors, and as a leading petty officer, she supported 14 other RDCs as they prepared over 2,000 Sailors for success.
NETC Commander Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad congratulated
the six finalists 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."
Ovalle is in her second year training recruits at
RTC and is qualified as a Master Training Specialist, which is a designation
for demonstrating highly effective teaching skills and a comprehensive
understanding of schoolhouse management, as well as for taking a leadership
role in mentoring, instructing and evaluating instructors and curriculum.
“I’ve
become a more patient person during the process of transforming civilians into Sailors,”
said Ovalle. “Besides the time
management skills that come naturally with being an RDC, I’ve learned more
methods of providing motivation to my Sailors and peers because of my
experience here.”
Out
of approximately 5,600 enlisted staff within NETC, Ovalle was one of six
Sailors who competed for the title of NETC SOY. She received a Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal for her achievements.
Ovalle
said she leads by example and gets her inspiration from the people in her life
who demonstrate character and integrity.
“You
can learn something from everyone, no matter what the age group of the
audience,” said Ovalle. “Sometimes you learn something about yourself in the
process of training as well, and if you build upon that knowledge, you can use
it in your journey to become the best version of yourself.”
The
SOY recognition ceremony completed a week of activities in Pensacola honoring
the nominated candidates.
“Seeing
the professionalism and dedication of all these outstanding Sailor of the Year
finalists only validates the phrase ‘Fleet Readiness Starts Here,’” said NETC
Force Master Chief 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.”
Ovalle, who has earned an
associate degree and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, plans to
continue serving in the Navy.
“I’d
like to become a chief so I can lead from the front,” said Ovalle. “I love
challenging Sailors to push their limits and watching them crush their goals
they previously didn’t think they were able to meet. Eventually I’d like to
become an officer or go the chief warrant officer route.”
The NETC SOY program
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.
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.
- - Naval Education and Training Command Public
Affairs
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.