Surface Combat Systems Training Command names Junior Sailor of the Year

ByKimberlyLansdale

Surface Combat Systems Training Command

DAHLGREN Va Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) recentlyannouncedtheir2022JuniorSailor oftheYear(JSOY)

SCSTC selected Information Systems

Technician 2nd Class Stephanie Hunter, a NorthPlainfield,N.J.native,whoisassigned to SCSTC Detachment Middle Pacific (MIDPAC)locatedonboardJointBasePearl Harbor-Hickam.

“I’m the type of person that always questions if I am doing enough, so it feels good to know I’m doing some things right and that others see and appreciate the work I put in,” said Hunter “Everything I do is to support mycommand anditsmission andI feel proud to know that I am executing my dutieswell.”

Since August 2021, after serving aboard theNimitz-classaircraftcarrierUSSGeorge H.W. Bush (CVN 77) for five years, Hunter has been teaching Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) and providing IT support at SCSTCDetMIDPAC

“IT2Hunterisashiningexampleofwhat we need from Sailors in preparing the fleet tofightandwinduringthisstrategiccompetition,” said Capt. George A. Kessler Jr commodore, SCSTC “Her level of techni- cal and tactical expertise and professionalismmakesheraninvaluableassettoSCSTC andthefleet.”

Hunter enlisted in the Navy in February 2017toopendoorsforherselfandherfamily

“I know if I had remained where I was, opportunitiesthatIhavehadwouldnothave occurred,”shesaid

Lt Cmdr BeuxWedderburn,SCSTCDet MIDPAC’s officer in charge, says Hunter’s willingnesstogoaboveandbeyondhaspositivelyimpactedhisteam

“I am not surprised by IT2 Hunter’s recognition, he said. “Dedicated to the Navymissionandhershipmates,shealways strives to provide the absolute best support totheSCSTCOhana.”

SCSTC’s Command Master Chief Steven Cosgrove says Hunter is a role model for juniorSailorsthroughouttheNavy

“This award recognizes junior Sailors whostandoutabovetherest,”hesaid.“IT2 Hunterwasselectedforhersteadfast,superiorperformanceanddedicationtotheNavy core values of honor, courage and commitment.”

Atthistime,Hunterdoesnotknowwhere her next tour of duty will be but she knows wherever she is, she will be a part of somethingbiggerthanherself

“BeingaSailormeansservingmycountry and being a part of something bigger than myself,” she explained. “Knowing you’re

Norfolk Naval Station galley holds Black History Month pageant presentation

ByBoatswainMate3rdClass

JessicaNunes

Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs

NORFOLK Va NavalStationNorfolk’s Diversity Committee held a Black History Month pageant presentation in remembranceofseveralfamousAfricanAmericans throughouthistory,Feb.15

Black History Month is celebrated in February because the second week of the monthcoincideswiththebirthdaysofboth U.S.PresidentAbrahamLincolnwhoissued the Emancipation Proclamation, and African-American abolitionist, author and oratorFrederickDouglass

“Normally we read off a pamphlet or a slide show about the person, but for this event I wanted the Sailors to have pride in researching people that they would want to emulate,” said Culinary Specialist First

Class Phillip Harrison, NAVSTA Norfolk’s diversitycommitteechairman.“Youshould expectthat the Sailors are veryknowledgeable on who they are talking about and just theoverallawarenessonAfrican-American history.”

After the introduction, a poem, titled “I KnowWhytheCageBirdSings writtenby Mya Angelou was read by Larisse Francois This was followed by the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” referred to as the “Black NationalAnthem,”sungbyCulinarySpecialistSecondClassStachelSmith.

After the song, Sailors dressed up and presentedshortbiographiesoffamousAfrican-Americans Thosehighlightedincluded; American blues musician and songwriter, Robert Leroy Johnson, associate justice of the supreme court of the United States, Ketanji Brown Jackson, American mathematician, Katherine Johnson and Ameri- supportingthefleetfromwhereveryouare, no matter how miniscule your day-to-day may feel. It means being a good person in and out of uniform. Because while we are Sailors24/7,wearemuchmorethanjustour navalcareers.

Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) falls under the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). As the owner of the Force Development pillar within MyNavy HR, NETC recruits, trains and delivers those who serve our nation taking them from “street to fleet” by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat ready warfighters SCSTC is a training organization of over 6,500 staff and students across 12 global locations and implements culture of excellence and warrior toughness by building a Surface Warrior mindset to complement the technical and tactical skillsets of buildingthekillchainandclosingthefirecontrol loop. SCSTC delivers system and platform specific combat systems training to a growingsurfaceNavy SCSTCdeliverstrainingto over 35,000 U.S. Navy Sailors as well as 700 internationalSailorsfrom22partnernations annually. Our overall mission is to train the fleetsothatourNavycanfightandwin!

ForinformationabouttheSurfaceCombat Systems Training Command, visit https:// www.netc.navy.mil/SCSTC can politician, publisher, businessman, and maritime pilot, Robert Smalls The event concludedwithclosingremarksbyHarrison

“Black History means recognition to me as an African-American,” said Harrison “It’s a chance for those of us that are Afri- can-Americantoreallythankthosethathave comebeforeusfortheirstrengthandperseverance,”saidHarrison

Following the presentation, the galley provided a special meal to commemorate themonth.