U.S. Fleet Forces Command announces nominees for 2021 Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year

U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) released the list of nominees for the fiscal year 2021 Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year (SOY), May 9, 2022. 

A Sailor from each category will be announced by Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, USFFC, at a ceremony in Norfolk, Va., on May 13, 2022. 

“The U.S. Fleet Forces Sailor of the Year week is designed to be both personally and professionally rewarding for the SOY candidates,” said USFFC Fleet Master Chief John J. Perryman. “These are the top performing Sailors across every command within the U.S. Fleet Forces chain of command and two of them will be meritoriously promoted to chief petty officer; it’s the most significant award and honor we can bestow on a Sailor.” 
 
Perryman added that because of the prominence around the SOY award, USFFC treats the SOY candidates with the level of respect they deserve and have earned through their above-and-beyond dedication, technical ability, and leadership.  
 
“Our staff works hard to put together events for them that are memorable and add value to their visit—it’s our way of showing our appreciation for their tremendous effort and investing in Sailors who will soon be leading our Navy from the senior enlisted ranks,” said Perryman.    
  
The nominees and their guests will be treated to tours of the Naval Museum Annex on Naval Station Norfolk, the Nauticus in downtown Norfolk and the USS Wisconsin (BB 64).   

SOY guests have the opportunity to meet with the spouses of USFFC’s top leadership and attend a symposium held by local support organizations like Fleet and Family Support and the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society. 
  
Sailor of the Year is a time-honored tradition introduced in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet. This annual competition is held to recognize superior performance of individual Sailors, who best exemplify the ideals of professional Sailors throughout the fleet. This annual competition is the perfect way to acknowledge Sailors’ superior performance, exceptional leadership skills and dedication to the Navy mission while exemplifying the ideals of the Navy Core Values.  

Finalists for Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year: 
Legalman 1st Class Phillip Farris, Carrier Strike Group Twelve 
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Matthew Malone, Marine Aircraft Group 26 
Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Cherrelle Hendricks, Navy Munitions Command Atlantic Detachment Bahrain 
Fire Controlman 1st Class Katherine Swol, U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime Component Commander, Tomahawk Land Attack Missile Detachment 

Finalists for Fleet Shore Sailor of the Year: 
Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Kendra Hall, Navy Munitions Command Atlantic Detachment Oceana 
Yeoman 1st Class Kirk Lewis, Commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic  
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rashad McKenzie, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic  
Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Daneil Grace, Fighter Attack Squadron 106 “The Gladiators”  

USFFC is responsible for manning, training, equipping and employing more than 125 ships, 1,000 aircraft, and 103,000 active duty service members and government employees, and providing combat-ready forces forward to numbered fleets and combatant commanders around the globe in support of U.S. national interests. USFFC also serves as the Navy’s Service Component Commander to both U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Strategic Command, and providing naval forces in support of joint missions as Commander, Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH) and Commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT).  USFFC is the Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC STRAT), and executes Task Force Atlantic in coordination with U.S. Naval Forces Europe.