Good Sailors, just like good ideas do not go unnoticed for long! That was the case after three Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi (NHCCC) individuals found their photos on Facebook April 30, 2015 after being declared Sailors of the Quarter (SOQ), 2nd Quarter FY15.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (Fleet Marine Force) Jesus Natiola, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Kara Merkwan and Hospitalman Bjarne Dyrdal topped out a field of 20 others representing the command.

At its core facility in Corpus Christi, two branch health clinics located in Kingsville and Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a detachment in San Antonio that provides primary care services to Navy students at the Medical Education and Training Command at Fort Sam Houston, and case management services and medical board management to Navy and Marine Corps Wounded, Ill and Injured Warriors at San Antonio Military Medical Center, there are 271 Sailors assigned to NHCCC.

The three frontrunners this quarter serve at the core facility, Senior Sailor Natiola in Dental, Junior Sailor Merkwan in the Command Suite, and Blue Jacket Sailor Dyrdal in Medical Records.

"This is my favorite part of my job!" said Command Master Chief (SW/FMF) Rikki L. Brown in an email note to the commanding officer. "I get to tell you how great our Sailors are and what a hard time the board had picking the best. It is obvious that the competition was tough. We have the best Sailors the Navy has to offer!"

The senior winner manages dental enlisted as their leading petty officer. He hails from Olongapo City, Republic of the Philippines but is now a Texas resident.

"I was so surprised and so happy, it's been a long time since my last SOQ and SOY board because in my last command due to our isolated UIC, we were not able to participate in this program," said Natiola, a 17-year Navy veteran referring to his previous assignment with the Marines in Iwakuni, Japan.

Natiola indicated that the toughest challenge he faced during the board process was reciting the Sailor's Creed.

"It's not that I don't know it but that's going to be my first impression from the board," he said, "because no matter how you prepare for it, it's really nerve racking."

Natiola, who joined the NHCCC team in July 2014, advises Sailors preparing for SOQ boards to study, be themselves and relax.

Although a relative new-comer to the Navy, the junior Sailor hails from Chicopee, Massachusetts where she enlisted in January 2011.

Merkwan currently serves as the assistant command career counselor, a job that she is thoroughly passionate about because she gets to help other Sailors. Her mantra is work hard and take care of your shipmates and the rest will fall into place.

No doubt, the support she provides the crew as well as her documented organizational skills made success at the SOQ board more probable.

"I was surprised when I found out I had won," she said. "I knew I was up against some of the hardest working Sailors. I prepared for the board by working hard, paying attention to current events, and knowing my command and its policies. The toughest challenge I faced was the anxiety of having to wait my turn before I was able to begin."

Merkwan reported to NHCCC in December 2013.

Becoming SOQ is an honorable recognition, awarded to the 'best of the best' as selected among all the Sailors in the Command. The SOQ is recognized for their superior performance, for the outstanding achievements, exemplary personal conduct and military bearing and demonstrated initiative in performance.

The most noted performer among fellow Bluejackets hails from Miami, Florida. He enlisted in the Navy in February 2013 and reported for duty at NHCCC in August of that year.

Dyrdal says he was relieved when he learned of the news because, "It has been something I have been trying to do for a while now."

He added that he prepared for the board and the questions they asked by staying on top of current events.

"Although there is no guarantee on what the questions will be," Dyrdal said, "there's a strong chance for a current event question. It's just the anticipation afterwards waiting to hear the results. It's still great to be nominated but of course everyone wants to win and its very competitive."

Dyrdal advises his Shipmates wanting to become SOQ not to get discouraged and keep on trying.

For more news from Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, visit www.navy.mil/.