DVIDS – News – Navy Medicine Announces 2022 Sailor of the Year

Travis Hunter, a hospital officer first class at the Rota Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command in Spain, was announced on May 18, 2023 as Naval Medical’s 2022 Seaman of the Year (SOY).

Mr. Hunter was honored at a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Naval Medical and Surgery (BUMED) Command at the National Guard Headquarters.

Rear Adm. Darling K. Veer, Acting Navy Surgeon General, and Commander of the Navy Medical Command and Hospital Command Commander Michael J. Roberts kicked off the ceremony as candidates awaited the announcement of this year’s nominees.

“Success is not measured solely by individual achievements, but by what we do to nurture and enhance the talent of the people you lead,” said Roberts. “You teach us how to build a team that is committed to accomplishing our mission.”

Mr. Roberts asked each seafarer to return to their command and see how they could improve their medical readiness, prepare their personnel and increase their readiness.

“You are the brightest of the 1,700 sailors who could stand here today,” Veer said. The Admiral then addressed the commanders in the audience and said: “They wouldn’t be standing here without you.”

Hunter, from Amityville, New York, looked humbled when the announcement was made.

“It’s an unreal feeling. First and foremost, if God and my strong leadership hadn’t trusted me and depended on me, I wouldn’t be here,” Hunter said. He went on to thank his colleagues and his junior sailors. Overall, he said, “I’m very happy to have a strong support system in the Navy and to have his wife who is my backbone, ultimate supporter and cheerleader.” Told.

As part of the SOY program, Hunter will be promoted to Chief Petty Officer later this year for meritorious service.

The remaining active candidate was Aisha Thomas, a first-class hospital officer assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School of Dentistry in Bethesda, Maryland. Justin Enriquez, a first-class hospital officer assigned to the Sasebo Naval Readiness Training Unit, Japan, and Semo Ayres, a first-class hospital officer assigned to the Department of Medicine and Surgery in Falls Church, Virginia. Each candidate received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal signed by Rear Admiral Veer.

“Sailor of the Year” is a time-honored tradition introduced in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt and Chief Petty Officer John Whittt. This annual competition is held to recognize the outstanding performance of individual seafarers. , excels in embodying the ideals of the Naval Core Values.

The Naval Hospital Corps consists of more than 27,000 active and reserve Navy personnel. Hospital personnel are deployed around the world with fellow sailors and Marines in both wartime and peacetime. This rating is the Navy’s largest and most professionally diverse and highly decorated enlisted corps.

Represented by more than 44,000 highly trained military and civilian medical professionals, the Naval Medical Branch provides permanent expeditionary medical support to combatants on, under, above and on land. .