The Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR) recently named Petty Officer 1st Class Keely Siebenthal as its 2016 selection for Sailor of the Year.

"Petty Officer Siebenthal is always leading by example, and is a superb mentor and example to all instructors," said CENSECFOR Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Erb. "I believe she truly motivates her team to operate at their highest level and focus on the mission and the Sailors."

Siebenthal serves as an instructor at the U.S. Navy's Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School in Kittery, Maine. The school is a 12-day Code of Conduct course designed to teach students the skills needed to survive and evade capture in hostile territory, resist exploitation and escape if captured, and to return home with honor.

"Being selected for Sailor of the Year is humbling, and I am very thankful for everyone who mentored me along the way," said Siebenthal. "I am also thankful for the experience that I can now pass down to future generations."

Siebenthal has a Bachelor of Health Science from Trident University International, an Associate in Applied Science from Carteret Community College, and she is a qualified U.S. Navy master training specialist.

"I hope that my Navy career will continue to surprise and excite me, no matter what path I forge," said Siebenthal when asked what she views as her next career milestone. "I hope to be selected for chief petty officer, which will enable me to mentor others and affect change on a greater level."

During her off-duty time, Siebenthal serves as a member of the Maine Search and Rescue team. She assisted eighth-grade students with an underwater robotics Seaperch event held at the University of New Hampshire. She has raised money for disabled veterans and for multiple sclerosis research, and she volunteers time for the holiday food drive by assembling food baskets to support the local community.

Since no Sailor achieves success on his or her own, Siebenthal was asked whom she would like to thank personally for contributing to her success.

"I thank my first leading petty officer who took me under her wing within my first 72-hours after reporting to the command, and continued to guide me for the next three years," she said. "I truly believe I have been successful in my Navy career because of her. Since then, I have had many other mentors -- Chief Haug, Gunny (Gunnery Sgt.) Futrell, Master Chief Fletcher, Senior Chief Ford, and every Sailor I have worked with who have taught me something."

When asked what advice she would have for those Sailors who are working to achieve SOY at their command, Siebenthal answered, "Just keep doing what you do every day; there is no secret formula! I do not expect perfection, just a perfect effort."

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 23,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more information about the Center for Security Forces, visit us at http://www.navy.mil/local/csf/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/csf/, or http://www.twitter.com/censecfor/.