Navy Medicine East (NME) held its annual regional Senior Sailor or the Year (SSOY), Junior Sailor of the Year (JSOY), and Bluejacket of the Year (BJOY) ceremony at the Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel Dec. 1.

Twenty commands across NME's eastern hemisphere -- from Italy and Cuba to Texas and Key West, Florida -- and its headquarters participated in the annual competition.

"I want to congratulate our Sailors of the Year and all of the nominees," said Master Chief Petty Officer Christopher Hill, NME's command master chief. "They represent Navy Medicine East's finest Sailors. Their passion and dedication exemplify what's needed to ensure Navy Medicine East continues to provide the best care our nation can offer to Sailors, Marines, and their families to keep them healthy, ready, and on the job."

Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Richeal, from Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, was selected by a panel of senior leaders as Navy Medicine East's 2016 SSOY.

"There's a great group of first classes (petty officers) that represented their commands very well," said Richeal, a native of Indianapolis. "I'm very humbled and honored to be selected as Navy Medicine East's Sailor of the Year."

Petty Officer 2nd Class Russell Rogers, from U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, was selected as NME's 2016 JSOY and Seaman Brett Adkins, from Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, was selected as NME's 2016 BJOY.

Hill led the regional command master chiefs in the selection process for the regional SOYs. The selections were based on a thorough review of each Sailor's performance, professional achievements, community involvement, and educational accomplishments; and for the senior Sailors, they were all interviewed in person as the final part of the competition.

NME's SSOY will continue to the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's Sailor of the Year competition in January.

Rogers, Adkins, and all SSOY nominees will receive Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for their outstanding contributions to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps family stays ready, healthy, and on the job.

NME is one of two regional commands which manage Navy Medicine's global health care network. It oversees the effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of medical, dental, and other health care services to approximately 1 million patients across almost 100 facilities -- including the Tidewater Enhanced Multi-Service Market which brings together U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley and McDonald Army Hospitals. Also, its public health extends globally.

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