Sailor in the Spotlight

By MC2 Joshua Coté, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Personnel Support Detachment is an ever-busy command here on base. They deal with all incoming and outgoing Sailors, including pay and allowances, reenlistments, and travel itineraries when it comes time to transfer. Even with the amount of work happening at PSD, one Sailor stands out to his leadership: Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Paul Hunter from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hunter currently serves as the receipts supervisor and has increased Sigonella’s incoming personnel process efficiency to 100%. Already, he has supervised the processing of more than 130 gains and 57 reenlistments.

“PS2 Hunter is extremely motivated and determined to succeed at his job,” said Senior Chief Personnel Specialist Rafael Diaz, senior enlisted supervisor. “He completes tasks on the first try and provides an overall value to the detachment. His reliability and efficient performance has directly impacted receipts and reenlistment section, resulting in PSD Sigonella being ranked number 1 in the Navy Pay and Personnel Support Center Metrics.”

Hunter does not only handle all of the Sailors attached to NAS Sigonella, but also all of the Navy tenant commands, excluding only the flight squadron. Without the PS, rate, life could be a lot more difficult for many Sailors throughout the fleet.

“As a PS, we process most of the Sailors’ pay and entitlements,” said Hunter. “When it comes to entitlements, we have to process housing allowances, BAH, OHA, COLA and a lot more. We also have to deal with money deductions in case anyone is accidentally overpaid, and we also have to process transfers and separations.”

On top of his normal work, Hunter is responsible for the PSD’s government vehicle, serves as the collateral duty public affairs officer, and is in charge of the ID station.

Sigonella is Hunter’s second duty station. Before serving here, he was attached to the USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) out of San Diego. He has spent a total of seven years in the Navy and plans to continue his career.

In his time off, Hunter has taken full advantage of being in Europe.

“So far I have traveled to Rome, Berlin, Romania, Malta, France, Madrid, Barcelona and Amsterdam,” said Hunter. “My favorite place I have been is between Berlin and Madrid. In Berlin it was amazing to see something that was part of German history like the Berlin Wall, and in Madrid it was just cool to see everything from bull fighting to the different street performances.”

Hunter also likes taking road trips, which has been a little difficult as of late. He has explored much of the island already and hopes to be able to visit “Monument for A Dead Poet” and more before his time in Sicily comes to an end.