MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — January 28, 2016 — Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) recognized the top Navy recruiters of 2015 during the Recruiters of the Year (ROY) ceremony held at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Jan. 27.
Attendees of the event included Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Bill Moran, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command Rear Adm. Jeffrey Hughes, and the award recipients.
“The recruiting market is the toughest it’s ever been,” Moran said. “Eighty-six percent of the force comes from military bloodlines, and the veteran population today is half the size it was in the 1990s. Your charge is to keep your foot on the gas and bring in the highest quality people you can into the Navy. Keep delivering for us.”
Hughes also took time to describe the caliber of person it takes to recruit the best people for the Navy.
“I can tell you that not many people outside of Navy Recruiting truly understand what Navy Recruiting is all about,” said Hughes. “Very few people have the level of responsibility and accountability that recruiters have. You are the face of the Navy across the nation and around the globe.”
The ceremony was just one event during a weeklong occasion held in the nation’s capital city. The 13 awardees and their guests had the opportunity to visit the White House and meet with senior Navy leadership including Howard and Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education.
“It is an indescribable feeling to be chosen as the National Enlisted Recruiter of the Year,” said Hull Technician 1st Class Jarrett Zubiate, assigned to Navy Recruiting District Los Angeles. “Recruiting has been the most challenging but also the most rewarding assignment I have had to date.”
Other 2015 winners include: Navy Counselor 1st Class Ying Holiday, Enlisted Recruiter of the Year, Reserve; Lt. Cmdr. Nguyen Pham, Officer Recruiter of the Year, Active; Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Naughton, Officer Recruiter of the Year, Reserve; Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Bryan Esarey, Nuclear Field Coordinator of the Year; Navy Counselor 1st Class Selina Redmond, Station Leading Petty Officer of the Year; Personnel Specialist 1st Class Sheila Rivera, Classifier of the Year; Chief Navy Counselor Rodne Joseph, Division Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Year; Aviation Boatswain’s Mate-Fuels 1st Class Joseph Hodge, Diversity Enlisted Recruiter of the Year; Chief Operations Specialist Jessica Carter, Diversity Officer Recruiter of the Year; Lt. Sasha Smith, Medical Officer Recruiter of the Year; Lt. Christopher Drost, Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Recruiter of the Year; Navy Counselor 1st Class Edward Ramos, Navy Special Warfare/Navy Special Operations Recruiter of the Year; Chief Yeoman Michael Murray II, Support Person of the Year.