Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced the training domain's 2016 Sailor of the Year (SOY) and Instructors of the Year (IOY) Dec 15. at a ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum on board Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Rear Adm. Mike White, NETC commander, praised the SOY, four IOYs and the finalists in each category for their roles in shaping the Navy's future force and for their contributions to the training and education mission.

"It has been a pleasure meeting you over the past few days" said White. "You have stood out amongst your peers and been selected as top military instructors in the Navy. You are leaders not only in our domain but throughout the Navy."

The 2016 NETC Sailor of the Year is Petty Officer 1st Class (SW/EXW) Amber L. Wilson, from Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois. She has been in the Navy for 10 years and is a recruit division commander (RDC) and fleet quality assurance (QA) leading petty officer. She is responsible for leading 12 petty officers in the daily evaluation, inspection, and enforcement of standards in training for 37,000 recruits annually.

Wilson stressed the importance of being positive and approachable as a leader.

"I inspire my students and others by being interested in the topics and the job that I do," said Wilson.
"I have learned that not everyone learns the same and you have to take the time to train each person properly," said Wilson. "Everyone brings something different to the field and you can learn from everyone."

Wilson will go forward to compete as NETC's representative in the Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPTE) domain's top Sailor competition.

The 2016 NETC SOY finalists include: Petty Officer 1st Class Jimmy Ballard from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Unit (CNATTU) Jacksonville, Florida; Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Foster from Submarine Learning Center (SLC), Groton, Connecticut; Petty Officer 1st Class Kayshonda London from Center for Information and Warfare Training (CIWT) Detachment Fort Gordon, Georgia; Petty Officer 1st Class Keely Siebenthal from Center for Security Forces (CSF) Detachment Kittery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Petty Officer 1st Class Juan Vargas Jr. from Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes.

The 2016 NETC Instructors of the Year are:

Junior - Petty Officer 2nd Class (NAC/AW) Thomas G. Fortney, Center for Security Forces Detachment North Island, San Diego.

Midgrade - Petty Officer 1st Class (IW/SW) Scott G. Searcy, Information Warfare Training Command, Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida.

Senior - Senior Chief Petty Officer (DSW/EXW/FMF/SW/PJ) Jason R. Duty, Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving, Panama City, Florida.

Officer - Lt. Christine M. Deuro, Center for Surface Combat Systems Detachment East, Norfolk, Virginia.

The 2016 NETC IOY finalists include: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dane A. Beichter from Information Warfare Training Command, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Chief Petty Officer (SW/AW) Lalia M. Canlas from NETC N7 Learning Site, San Diego; Petty Officer 1st Class (SW) James A. Battaglia from RTC, Great Lakes, Illinois; and Petty Officer 2nd Class (AW/SW) Angela M. Derks from CNATTU North Island, California.

"The competition was very challenging and it was difficult to select one stand-alone finalist," said Master Chief Petty Officer Karim Cole, NETC force master chief. "Each and every one of these Sailors standing in front of you is a winner. They are outstanding examples of the best and brightest and each offer a level of talent that represents the Navy to the fullest."

The SOY/IOY recognition ceremony completed a week of activities in Pensacola honoring the nominated candidates. Master Chief Petty Officer Jake Brady led the group in daily physical training sessions and escorted the group on tours of local training commands.

Highlights of the week included visits to the Pensacola Lighthouse, National Naval Aviation Museum IMAX theater, National Flight Academy, Fort Barrancas National Park, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park and a dinner at historic Quarters "A" onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.

The NETC SOY and IOY programs recognize Sailors throughout the NETC domain who exhibit sustained superior performance, leadership, mentorship, knowledge and teaching of military history and heritage, self-improvement, command and community involvement and exemplary military bearing among other attributes.

To learn more about the Naval Education and Training Command, visit the NETC website: https://www.netc.navy.mil or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NavalEducationAndTrainingCommand/?fref=ts .

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