Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) announced Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Elisabeth Oakes, a native of Belgrade, Montana, as Senior Sailor of the Year for 2016 and was nominated to compete in Commander, Submarine Force Pacific Fleet's Sailor of the Year program, Jan. 27.

The Navy's Sailor of the Year program started in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet.

The purpose of the program is to recognize individual Sailors and their accomplishments at their commands and the Navy.

The process of going up for Sailor of the Year is no easy feat.

"From the moment my chief [petty officer] told me to get my package together, to my uniform preparations and to studying the latest NAVADMINs, it was always on my mind," said Oakes. "I remember standing outside the boards very nervous, hoping I would remember everything I read and make the people who helped get me to this point proud."

Her achievements were noticed throughout Guam, not only by her peers, but also by her leadership.

"It's always great to see Sailors get recognized," said Chief Hospital Corpsman Ronnie Magbitang, Frank Cable's health services leading chief petty officer. "She is a true example of hard work and dedication to the Navy, USS Frank Cable, and her shipmates. Of course it feels great that she is one of my Sailors, but this is a total reflection on all my Sailors hard work. To be nominated at the TYCOM [type command] level is a huge achievement; I couldn't be more proud than I am today."

Being selected as Sailor of the Year was a humbling experience for Oakes, who expressed her gratitude.

"I would like to thank all my junior Sailors; I would not be anywhere close to where I am today if it wasn't for them," said Oakes. "They are the heart, backbone, and the reason the ship runs so smoothly. I am extremely grateful to represent them. I would also like to thank the chain of command; it really did take a village to get everything together. It was an incredible experience that no words can describe."

Frank Cable is forward deployed to the island of Guam and conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels in the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.

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