In an organization as large as the U.S. Navy, good leadership is crucial to proper operation and mission readiness. In a command, everyone from the commanding officer to the most junior Sailor should strive to be a leader who seeks an optimal work environment that ensures mission success.

There are many traits senior leaders look for in their junior Sailors in leadership positions.

"They need to have a strong sense of character, an ability to adapt and overcome and a willingness to learn," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Salvador Murillo, assigned to the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS George Washington's (CVN 73) personnel department. "You want someone that's able to take constructive criticism, but is also not afraid to provide feedback, whether it be positive or negative, in a way that is constructive."

A junior Sailor should never let their paygrade get in the way of their leadership potential.

"I look for someone who is mature in nature," said Master Chief Personnel Specialist Mark Young, executive department leading chief petty officer onboard George Washington. "Someone who is eager to take on the role of leadership who displays integrity, drive and dedication to get a job done before being asked to perform the task. Sailors that strive to better themselves and those around them really stand out from the crowd, and their peers tend to flock to them for advice and look to them as role models."

Those that aspire for more responsibility, can use their peer connections to motivate others.

"Junior Sailors are able to affect their peers in a way that the senior enlisted in their department can't," said Murillo. "They can affect their peers on a personal level because they're doing the same kind of things."
They can also become mentors who have a genuine interest in the well-being of those they lead.

"Everyday I ask people questions like 'How are you doing?' and 'How's your family?' Just simple stuff to let people know they've got someone to talk to," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Robinson, assigned to the George Washington.

As leaders, they should also encourage their teammates to pursue primary and secondary warfare devices, achieve additional shipboard qualifications in damage control, watch standing and 3M, and take on additional responsibilities.

"There's no specific roles," said Murillo. "Anything that they can do that would have a positive influence on their peers, they should do it."

Whether they have their sights on making first class, chief or officer, junior leaders should take advantage of opportunities to lead, guide and mentor those around them, and impact the command in a positive way.

For further guidance on how to be an effective leader, Sailors can read the Navy Leader Development Framework provided by navy.mil at www.navy.mil/cno/docs/NLDF_Final.pdf.

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For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/.