by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public
Affairs
(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) - A 2008 South Kitsap High School graduate and Longview, Washington, native currently enrolled at Washington State University, receives the Blue Jacket of the Year Award serving aboard USS George Washington.
U.S. Navy Airman Matthew B. Hornung, currently serving one
year, received the award for his exemplary work
ethic, military bearing, knowledge and leadership at his command.
"First and foremost, I am humbled to be
the one person chosen for this award out of the hundreds of E-3s and below that
are part of ships company," said Hornung. "I believe it speaks
volumes to my chain of command. They have been grooming me since the day I
checked in. Blue Jacket of the Year comes with responsibility. People are going
to know your name and watch your every move. It's my job to continue improving
on my career and show that there is still room for growth.”
"I refuse to become stagnant. With this
award comes a platform that can be used to reach my fellow junior sailors. They
need to know that success is possible for ANYONE who's willing to make a way,
not an excuse. A good friend of mine once told me, 'excuses only satisfy the
people who make them,' he added.
Hornung is an airman responsible for repairing,
maintaining and stowing aircraft and associated equipment in preparation for
flight operation. He also performs ground and deck duties involved
in the take-off and landing of aircraft.
"I believe each sailor makes a difference
within the command," said Chief Petty Officer Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Shawn Davis, V1 division flight deck chief petty officer. "Sometimes enlisted accomplishment sometimes are taken for
granted, discouraging junior sailors from performing at their very best.
Being recognized for individual accomplishments can be a valuable tool to
motivate sailors and encourage sailors to perform above and beyond what is
expected of them."
"For a sailor to be recognized with the
honor of Sailor of the Year they need to be trend setters. By being the Sailor of the Year, the command is acknowledging that you
have set a very high standard for other sailors to emulate. You have to
perform your duties in exemplary manner, you have to be fully qualified for
your paygrade including warfare devices, and in addition you need to impact the
command by performing collateral duties, volunteering and representing the
parent command while becoming a true ambassador of the Navy,” added Davis.
George Washington is a nuclear powered aircraft carrier home
ported in Norfolk, Virginia. It is one of only 10 currently operational
aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy and the fourth Navy vessel named after
the first president of the United States.