Navy Medicine's medical education, training and logistics headquarters based at Joint Base San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston (JBSA-FSH), Texas, announced Nov. 2 its selection for Senior and Junior Sailors of the Year (SOY).

Navy Medicine Education and Training Command (NMETC) selected Petty Officer 1st Class Jacquelyn D. Childs, the NMETC deputy public affairs officer, as the NMETC Senior SOY; and Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephanie Montenegro, NMETC's administration leading petty officer, as the Junior SOY.

"It was pretty surreal," Childs said, describing the moment she learned of her selection. "I've been through the boarding process a couple times before but never got selected, so I didn't know exactly what to expect. I was so happy, though, knowing that they recognized all the work I've been doing this year."

Montenegro said, "At first I couldn't believe it. I felt a sense of joy and pride in myself, and a sense of gratitude for all those who helped along the way."

Montenegro said her key to success has been command involvement and "Sailorization."

"There are many things that can help a command, no matter how established it is," Montenegro said in reference to NMETC's establishment as a command in 2012. "If you see something or someone needs help, be the one who steps up for the challenge. This allows you to stand out amongst your peers."

Montenegro's approach to "Sailorization" includes an ongoing effort to keep current on Navy news and information, but she said it did help to "brush up" on the Basic Military Requirements (BMR).

"The rest comes from within -- how you present yourself and your 'Sailorization,'" Montenegro said.

For Childs, a Sailor involved in mass communication, it was about being well-rounded.

"I don't really do anything I do for recognition," she said. "I've tried to make myself the most well-rounded Sailor I can be. Between going to school, the volunteer work, and all the collateral duties on top of my everyday job, I've really pushed myself in every aspect. If you compete with yourself instead of those around you, you're guaranteed to continue growing. Be respectful, dependable, and motivated every day, and people will notice."

NMETC's Command Master Chief, Master Chief Petty Officer Mitchell Sepulveda, said Montenegro, Childs, and all NMETC Sailors who competed were indeed noticed.

"I am very proud of both these Sailors," Sepulveda said. "They are both very well rounded, ready for the next level of leadership, and stand as a testament that working hard does not go unrecognized. Petty Officer Childs and Petty Officer Montenegro competed with Sailors who were also of equitable caliber. Albeit only one from each category is ultimately selected, all Sailors who participated are exactly what we are looking for as our future reliefs."

The next step is SOY for the NMETC area of responsibility. While there is no JSOY for the AOR, Childs will compete with Sailors from NMETC's subordinate Echelon IV commands -- Naval Medical Logistics Command at Fort Detrick, Maryland; Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) at Pensacola, Florida; Navy Medicine Professional Development Center at Bethesda, Maryland; and Navy Medicine Training Support Center (NMTSC) at JBSA-FSH.

"I'm so nervous," Childs said about the next step. "I was already competing with such outstanding Sailors for this command, so I am a little anxious to see what the competition will be like for the region. But, I know the board selected me to go on for a reason, and it helps to know they believe in me and are supporting me as I move on."

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