"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them," said His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

Just like the Dalai Lama, Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class La'keisha Moye, combat systems departmental leading petty officer aboard aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), takes those words to heart as a deckplate leader.

Moye provides support for her junior Sailors and helps them prepare for success by allotting time for them to study for advancement during working hours. She realizes the success of those she helps is also a triumph for her.

"I always take care of my Sailors because that is my main goal," said Moye. "If they advance, I advance. If they look good, I look great."

Moye considers herself to have always been a supportive person. In fact, providing support for her friend is what led her to join the Navy 19 years ago.

"I went with a friend while I was in college," said Moye. "She said to me, 'Come on Keisha, let's go see what the Navy has to offer.' I went to support her, and the next thing you know, I'm in the Navy. Nineteen years later, she still hasn't joined the Navy."

Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Elena Carmona, a Sailor assigned to combat systems department's interior communication division (CS-8) aboard George Washington, can attest to Moye's professional-level help and the maternal role she often plays.

"IC1 Moye has been there for me since I checked in," said Carmona. "She was my sponsor when I arrived, [and] she made the check-in process so easy. Anything I needed, I knew I could ask her. Whenever we had spot checks, she made sure we had everything we needed. She's just like a mom to me in so many ways."

"She's protective and treats all of her Sailors like family, all while ensuring we follow the rules," she continued. "If there is a personal issue that myself or anyone else has, we can go to her and talk about it. Although she isn't my LPO (leading petty officer) anymore, I can still call on her whenever I need. When I do see her I call her 'mom.'"

Moye is able to build relationships with her Sailors because she works side-by-side with them.

"As a first class petty officer, junior Sailors look to you as a leader for answers," said Moye. "It's inspiring for me because my Sailors come to me for Navy and personal issues, and I give them the tools to be successful through it all."

Leadership can be hard, but if done correctly, Sailors tend to work hard for their leaders simply because of the professional camaraderie established.

"You don't realize you're leading until you look up, and you realize you have a lot of followers," said Moye. "They like to look up to you. Every time you talk, everyone tunes in; and if it's something you want to do, everyone sways your way because they trust that you're going to make the right decision."

While Moye leads her Sailors, it is through teamwork both Moye and her Sailors are successful. They work together as mentor and mentees towards common goals.

"I see positive things happening with my junior Sailors on a daily basis," said Moye. "A lot of them have gotten meritoriously advanced. Some of my mentees throughout the department have also been selected as the command's Sailor of the Quarter."

Moye was also chosen as the command's Senior Sailor of the Year for 2016.

"It's important that you listen to your Sailors and help them in any way possible," she said. "Looking out for my Sailors is one of the things that helped me become Sailor of the Year."

Moye looks out for her Sailors much in the same manner her first divisional officer (DIVO) looked out for her. Putting junior Sailors first was instilled in her since the beginning of her naval career.

"My DIVO told me, 'Take your Sailors under your wing,'" said Moye. "If you take care of them, everything else will fall into place."

Moye is akin to an old adage, "Put good in, get good out."

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