Profiles in Professionalism: Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Aisha Beaty

When Logistics Specialist 2^nd Class Aisha Beaty first joined the Navy, she was a rated operations specialist aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The darkness of the ship’s combat direction center was her norm. She spent much of her workday monitoring a console under blue light, ensuring there were no threats to the ship and its Sailors.
 
Beaty liked her job as an operations specialist and had experience at multiple different watch stations, so when she was force converted due to overmanning, she was obviously upset. Her feelings about her new job quickly improved when she found out that by becoming a logistics specialist, she also became a Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) Sailor.
 
Although she wasn’t familiar with the TAR mission at the time, she soon learned that it would give her the ability to do what she values most; spend time with her daughter.
 
“One thing I’ve learned during my time in the Navy is sacrifice,” said Beaty. “In the past, one thing I’ve sacrificed is time with my daughter. Since transitioning to TAR, I‘ve had a lot more time with her.”
 
Even though she’s had to manage a component and rating change, Beaty quickly learned the ropes of her new job.
 
When she arrived at Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command (CNRFC), she worked in the readiness department and managed the force-wide air card program. Not long after, she found herself exclusively in charge of the air card program. According to Beaty, it is atypical for a second-class petty officer to manage such a large program. providing type commander-level support and managing 80 agency program coordinators (APC) and 150 card accounts. 

“Managing this program is a lot of responsibility, but I felt ready for it,” said Beaty. “The air card program is how the entire Reserve force purchases fuel for the aircraft,” said Beaty. “My job is to monitor the credit cards the squadrons use to purchase fuel, and make sure everything is paid on time. If there’s an outstanding payment, I work with the squadron’s agency program coordinator to make sure they pay the bill for it.”
 
Since her conversion to logistics specialist, Beaty has grown to love the rating, but unfortunately, she won’t be able to continue her career in the way she had hoped. Beaty found out in June that she was going to be medically retired.
 
“Being medically retired isn’t the way I wanted my Navy career to end, but hopefully this won’t be the end of my time working with the Navy,” said Beaty. “When I get out of the Navy, I hope to be able to find a job on the civilian side of the Navy, working in logistics.”
 
Looking back on her time as a TAR Sailor, Beaty was grateful for the opportunities she was given.
 
“It allowed me to spend more time with my daughter and watch her grow up, and it gave me the opportunity to better myself through a college education,” said Beaty. “I wouldn’t change anything.”