Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Virginia Beach Native Selected as Navy Training’s 2017 Instructor of the Year Finalist

by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2004 Tallwood High School graduate and Virginia Beach, Virginia, native was selected as a 2017 senior enlisted Military Instructor of the Year (IOY) finalist for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) at a ceremony onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola at the National Naval Aviation Museum Dec. 14.       

Chief Petty Officer Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Bryan Shoberg is an “A” school instructor and course supervisor at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station, Pensacola. Shoberg trains Sailors on the use and maintenance of cryptologic systems aboard ships.  He serves as the leading chief petty officer and supervises four military instructors and seven civilian instructors training more than120 Sailors every year. 

Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, NETC commander, congratulated all the finalists in each category 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."

Shoberg 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. 

“Lead by example,” said Shoberg.  “While teaching “A” school, I am the first military person new Sailors see outside of boot camp, so it is very important to set the right standard before sending future CTMs to the fleet.”

Shoberg said he is enjoying his tour at a training command.

“Since being onboard Corry Station, I have been able to brush up on skills and knowledge that may have diminished over the years, and I plan to bring that knowledge back out to the fleet,” said Shoberg. “My technical expertise has definitely grown teaching at both “A” and “C” schools.  The leadership gained while working at a training command has helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

Out of approximately 8,000 instructors within NETC, Shoberg was one of two finalists who competed for the NETC senior enlisted IOY.  He received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his achievements.

The IOY recognition ceremony concluded a week of activities in Pensacola honoring the nominated candidates.

“Seeing the professionalism and dedication of all these outstanding Instructor 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.”

Shoberg is pursuing a Bachelor of Science from American Military University.

“I’ll continue to lead and set the example so junior Sailors can one day take my spot, both here and at future commands,” said Shoberg.  “The Navy is so diverse, and I have met the best people since joining, many of whom have become like family.”

The NETC IOY program recognize Sailors throughout the NETC domain who exhibit sustained superior performance, leadership, mentorship, knowledge and teaching of military history and heritage, self-improvement, command and community involvement and exemplary military bearing among other attributes.

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.