Savannah Native is Navy Training’s 2017 Sailor of the Year Finalist

 by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2006 Savannah Arts Academy graduate and Savannah, Georgia, native was selected 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.  
      

Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class Ashlee Caroline South is a security watch commander at Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Charleston, South Carolina. She is responsible for an 18-person watch team that protects the unit’s military and civilian personnel and strategic assets vital to national security.

As a military training coordinator, she also plans, tracks, develops, and executes all required training for 59 military personnel.  She implemented a field training officer program and streamlined the personnel qualification standards associated with it to remove outdated job qualification requirements and increase qualifications by 94 percent for the department.

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."

South’s favorite part of being in the Navy is being able to meet diverse groups of individuals and learn from each other. She stressed the importance of mentorship in the development of a Sailor.

“I feel the best way to inspire Sailors, and others, is to challenge them,” said South.  
“Encourage them to accomplish their professional and personal goals, share in their sacrifice, and offer opportunities to excel. Listen to them and be prepared to provide guidance in all aspects.”

After three years at NPTU Charleston, South said she realizes it is important to always try to boost morale of not only your department but your entire command.

“If you put forth a strong effort you will receive overwhelming benefits,” said South. “Being able to share in the experience of watching others excel is the highlight of my day.”

Out of approximately 5,600 enlisted staff within NETC, South 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.

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.”

South plans to continue serving in the Navy.

“The Navy is an easy career decision for me,” said South. “I love going to work, and my goal is to continue advancing to a level so that I can positively reach more and more Sailors. I aspire to become a chief petty officer and potentially one day a security officer.”

South has earned an associate degree from Central Texas College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology.

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.