PENSACOLA, Fla. - A 2005 graduate of Bear Creek High School in Stockton, California and Compton, California native was announced as a 2018 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. 5.
Navy Counselor 1st Class Candilyn P. Elam is a division leading petty officer, Navy Recruiting District Houston, Texas, where she holds a position normally held by a seasoned chief petty officer. With one of the largest divisions in the command, she catapulted her division to attain numerous command and personal accomplishments, such as winner for Division of the Year and a number of her Sailors advancing to the next paygrade, qualifying for higher levels of responsibility, and earning junior Sailor of the quarter. She implemented a rigorous personnel qualification system training program that led her division to attain 100 percent first time qualification rate in advance recruiter and leading petty officer.
Elam was one of seven Sailors who competed for the title of NETC SOY, representing the top achievers from a pool of more than 8,000 military members. She received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for her achievements.
"I am the first face of the Navy that helps start the transition from civilian to Sailor," said Elam. "I am honored to have this position because it means a lot to me to help create Sailors and man the fleet. I change lives every day, and nothing is more rewarding."
Elam is part of the team that takes Sailors from "street to fleet" by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters, as well as providing the tools and opportunities for continuous learning and development.
NETC Commander Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad congratulated the finalists for their roles in developing the Navy's future force and for their contributions to the training and education mission.
"Each of you here today represent the best of the very best in our Navy, making the force development mission a success," said Cozad. "We serve in a great Navy - and that greatness is centered on the initiative, leadership and competitive nature of our people. These Sailors and officers illustrate everything that is right about our Navy and continue to represent our greatest advantage over any competitor and our most important means to achieving our desired ends. Everything that each of you does on a daily basis sets the highest bar when it comes to building a talented fleet for the Navy the nation needs, and it manifests through your recruiting and training accomplishments."
Elam has a bachelor's degree and is currently taking Master of Business Administration courses.
"I am so impressed by the caliber of all of our finalists," said NETC Force Master Chief Karim Cole. "We brought them together at NETC to recognize their tremendous talent and to show them how much we appreciate what they do to train, guide and get our Sailors ready to man the fleet. They all represent a great deal of hard work and sweat that goes into creating a combat credible and lethal Navy and Marine Corps Team."
Elam is the daughter of Makeva Benjamin of Stockton, California.
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.
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.
Elam was one of seven Sailors who competed for the title of NETC SOY, representing the top achievers from a pool of more than 8,000 military members. She received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for her achievements.
"I am the first face of the Navy that helps start the transition from civilian to Sailor," said Elam. "I am honored to have this position because it means a lot to me to help create Sailors and man the fleet. I change lives every day, and nothing is more rewarding."
Elam is part of the team that takes Sailors from "street to fleet" by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters, as well as providing the tools and opportunities for continuous learning and development.
NETC Commander Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad congratulated the finalists for their roles in developing the Navy's future force and for their contributions to the training and education mission.
"Each of you here today represent the best of the very best in our Navy, making the force development mission a success," said Cozad. "We serve in a great Navy - and that greatness is centered on the initiative, leadership and competitive nature of our people. These Sailors and officers illustrate everything that is right about our Navy and continue to represent our greatest advantage over any competitor and our most important means to achieving our desired ends. Everything that each of you does on a daily basis sets the highest bar when it comes to building a talented fleet for the Navy the nation needs, and it manifests through your recruiting and training accomplishments."
Elam has a bachelor's degree and is currently taking Master of Business Administration courses.
"I am so impressed by the caliber of all of our finalists," said NETC Force Master Chief Karim Cole. "We brought them together at NETC to recognize their tremendous talent and to show them how much we appreciate what they do to train, guide and get our Sailors ready to man the fleet. They all represent a great deal of hard work and sweat that goes into creating a combat credible and lethal Navy and Marine Corps Team."
Elam is the daughter of Makeva Benjamin of Stockton, California.
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.
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.