Seaman Recruit Elizabeth Knapek, Division 092, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on January 25.

Knapek, from Austin, Texas, said she joined the Navy to cultivate her leadership skills and utilize her background in a meaningful way.

“I aspire to become a commissioned officer one day, a position that I believe can combine these two attributes into a career,” Knapek said. “I am calm in stressful situations, can think quickly when problems arise, am a lifelong learner, and I always put others’ safety above my own — traits that can mold me into a strong leader one day with the Navy’s guidance.”

Knapek, 31, is a 2006 graduate of Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Texas. She continued her education at the University of Texas-Austin, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and physics. Knapek was employed as research scientist, studying high-energy density science at the University of Texas-Austin and in Munich, Germany. She also served as a chemistry, physics, and mathematics tutor for eight years.

Knapek is assigned the rate of Aviation Electronics Technician.

The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award is the top award presented to the No. 1 recruit of their graduating training group. The MEA is awarded to the recruit that best exemplifies the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork. The award placed her at the pinnacle of today’s newest Sailors. Knapek is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

“I have grown immensely in my physical abilities, my mental toughness, and my confidence,” Knapek said. “The MEA award will forever stand as a symbol that I can grow past any ideas that I may have had about who I am and become someone beyond what I imagine.” 

Knapek credited her Recruit Division Commanders, Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Jarrett Holcomb, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 1st Class Nicole Banks, and Naval Aircrewman (Operator) 1st Class Jordan Rich for their leadership and guidance.

Knapek said she is inspired by physicist Richard Feynman.

“At age 30, he was a leading scientist in his field, but he continued to make positive changes in his life, to take more classes in unique directions, and to push himself in new ways,” she said. “He went on to win the Nobel Prize later in his life, and even then, never used this as an excuse to stop growing as a person in his mind and spirit. He inspired me to look past the academic scientist/tutor that I had become, and to find what else I could pull deep from within myself so that ultimately I can contribute more to the world around me.”

Knapek said being a leader was her biggest challenge at boot camp.

“I enjoy solitary time to reflect and think and I enjoy structure,” she said. “This meant the hardest part of boot camp was being surrounded by so many people all the time with conflicting goals and degrees of discipline. I grew from this by constantly reminding myself that I want to contribute to the world by helping lead big groups just like this. I took time each day trying to be as grateful as I could for the lessons of how to manage the constant crowd of people.”

 After graduation, Knapek will attend her “A” School in Pensacola, Florida. Aviation Electronics Technicians work with some of the most advanced electronics equipment in the world and repair a wide range of aircraft electrical and electronic systems.

Boot camp is approximately eight weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. More than 30,0000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.

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For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.