Naval Station Norfolk (NAVSTA) advanced nine deserving Sailors through the Meritorious Advancement Program, July 5.

The MAP program recently opened up to shore commands in October 2015 and accepted submissions from July to August 2016. The only requirement to participate in the program is the Sailor must be eligible for the next paygrade; however, the program is very competitive. Sailors are evaluated based on the packages submitted, which include community involvement, advanced education, collateral duties and command involvement. Only nine of 1,093 NAVSTA Sailors were selected this year.

"Shore duty Sailors deserve the opportunity to shine as well as sea duty Sailors," said Chief Operations Specialist Grace Gaston, assistant to NAVSTA's command master chief. "This program gives them incentive and builds morale."

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class Latoya Grandison, a native of Andalusia, Alabama, said she is extremely proud of her achievement and was surprised and excited when she got the call from NAVSTA Commanding Officer Capt. Doug Beaver with the news she was advanced to the rank of E-6.

"I hope to use this rank to mentor other Sailors and show them the opportunities the Navy has available for them," said Grandison. "When I took this billet I had a plan -- I would start college [and] take over as the assistant command fitness leader and department career counselor. Taking on extra responsibility and doing more than what was expected of me has led me to where I am today."

MAP was put in place to empower command triads to advance their top-performing Sailors. The program is about giving greater authority to commands to better shape their workforce and the Navy by developing and rewarding their best talent.

The nine NAVSTA Sailors advanced with the MAP program are Grandison, Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Jason Bradley, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Marquavais Curney, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 2nd Class Yasmon Hanks, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Kara King, Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Norman Campbell, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Felicien Kiemde, Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Jacquise Parker, and Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Alexander Smith.

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