Sailors that show outstanding initiative and commitment to the Navy’s mission and teamwork are selected as Sailor of the Year after standing before a board of senior Sailors. Adolf is known for his superior maintenance of the submarine’s operational schedule, centering on the adherence of the Navy’s procedures and policies, while also leading a watch team in the operation of the nuclear propulsion plant and conducting shipboard damage control. “Being on submarines, we all have multiple jobs at the same time,” Adolf said. “In conjunction with my main job, I am the lead of the nuclear machinist’s mates which operate and perform maintenance on all nuclear and support equipment.”
Adolf joined the Navy to serve his country and expand his skills. When he graduated from Sierra High School, he knew he wanted to put his math and science knowledge to the test and considered the Navy’s nuclear program to be the perfect fit.
He is proud of his continued service and proud to know he has greatly assisted USS Indiana by creating a damage control drill program to train new submariners.
“When I arrived to the USS Indiana, the ship just began construction,” Adolf said. “I worked to develop the drills that will train not only the nuclear personnel on safe operation of the power plant, but the whole ship on combating complex casualties such as fires and flooding on submarines.”
USS Indiana recently completed its first Operational Reactor Safeguards Exam and Adolf was quite pleased when they received an above average grade.
Adolf plans to continue to serve in the submarine force with his shipmates who are even closer than some families.
“I feel the submarine force is a tight knit community filled with pride and camaraderie,” he said. “We live in small spaces and get to know all of the crew from the commanding officer down to the newly reported seaman.”
As with all families, Adolf hopes to grow as a teacher and leader to help those around him achieve their potential.
USS Indiana is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operation forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare, It’s 377 feet long and 34 feet wide and weighs nearly 7,800 tons, powered by a nuclear reactor to push the boat through the water at speeds of more than 25 knots while submerged.
As the most modern and sophisticated attack submarine in the world, the submarine can operate in both littoral and deep ocean environments and presents combatant commanders with a broad and unique range of operational capabilities.