Yorktown Sailors Earn Spots on All-Navy Women's Basketball Team

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Weapons Station (WPNSTA) Yorktown announced May 15, that two of its Security department members earned spots on the All-Navy Women's Basketball team.

Master-at-Arms Seaman Kenyatta K. Gatlin and Master-at-Arms Seaman Chalecia N. Miles were both selected to the team. Gatlin was also selected to represent the Navy on the U.S. Armed Forces Women's Basketball team.

"Nowhere during my lifetime would I have ever thought that I would be playing basketball for the military, and to have this opportunity to say that I have been a part of it is amazing," Gatlin said. "To have this opportunity to do something that I love, travel and meet new people is priceless, and that is my dream. This is something that will stay with me throughout my life."

The All-Navy Women's Basketball team finished the season, 5-2, and won the Gold Medal at the Armed Forces Championship, March 24-April 1, at Tyndall Air Force Base. The U.S. Armed Forces Women's Basketball Team competed in the 31st National Women's Pro Am Championship, April 12-15, in Las Vegas, Nev., finishing fourth in the competition.

Gatlin, 25, a native of Griffin, Ga., played basketball at Brewton-Parker College from 2005-2009, and then joined the Navy in 2010. WPNSTA Yorktown is her first command. Her goal is to qualify for Officer Candidate School (OCS).

"Basketball has influenced my life by teaching me teamwork, leadership, motivation, and many other skills," Gatlin said. "I want to make myself a major asset within this military life, because it will not only help me within my Navy career, but also as a person. The accomplishments and blessings that I will receive throughout the Navy will allow me to be a blessing to someone else."

For Miles, 28, a native of Naples, Fla., being selected for the All-Navy team is just the first step toward her goal of OCS. She played college basketball at the University of South Carolina and said that experience helped in her selection for the team.

"Being selected for the All-Navy Basketball team was a great feeling," Miles said. "Just the fact that I was one of 12 women to be selected is indescribable. I wanted to experience another side of the Navy and bring the Gold Medal back home."

Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Thomas Mello, WPNSTA Yorktown Security Department leading chief petty officer, said the department went out of its way to ensure their shipmates could participate in the basketball tournaments.

"With manning the way it is, we knew it would be tough but what better way to award two Sailors for their hard work," said Mello. "Changes to the watch were made and other Sailors covered their shifts so they could represent Yorktown."

For both women, basketball has been a part of their everyday lives since childhood - they can't remember a time when they didn't play, bringing out that competitive edge, both on and off the court.

"I am a very aggressive and competitive person who loves to win," Gatlin said. "I love to watch people play basketball because I see a group of people working hard to accomplish a goal. No matter how the game goes and the calls go, they are working hard to get what they came for, which is to win.

"And that is how life is. You go through so much in life and challenges are thrown at you. You may get knocked down sometimes, but you can't stop there. It is mandatory that you follow suite, and go after what you want in life," Gatlin said.

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For more news from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, visit www.navy.mil/local/nwsyorktown/.