EAST CHINA SEA - A Selma, Alabama, native and 2018 Ellwood Christian Academy graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Dewey (DDG 105).
Seaman Recruit Christopher Davis currently serves as a yeoman.
Yeomen provide administrative support to the crew and command leadership to include handling correspondence, directives, awards, evaluations, mail and legal proceedings.
“Yeoman are extremely valuable to the Navy,” said Davis. “The work we do is important. We make sure all sailors are taken care of and we ensure personnel records, pay entitlements and award recognitions are accurate. We work behind the scenes and almost all paperwork goes through us, the yeoman.”
Davis was recently selected as Dewey’s Sailor of the Week, despite recently arriving at the command in August 2021. Davis received recognition for performance and quality of work in the administration department.
“I’ve learned a lot so far,” said Davis. “I try to be the best at any job I do, whether it’s performing maintenance or processing correspondence. Attention to detail is important, every small detail has to be correct. Character is also extremely important because my job is customer service, I work with people all day.”
Destroyer platforms are billeted for three yeoman positions and are responsible for customer service to over 300 sailors.
“Being a yeoman on a DDG is challenging,” said Davis. “The amount of work that is expected is a lot compared to other platforms, such as carriers. But, I love my job. I like helping people and the amount of responsibility that is expected from a junior sailor. So far my experience has helped me grow and become a more disciplined person.”
As a seaman recruit, Davis is taking on senior responsibility by qualifying to become a repair parts petty officer, qualified advanced damage controlman and deck log recorder.
Dewey is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.