Navy Medicine Education and Training Command (NMETC) announced the selection of the region's top chief petty officer (CPO), July 13.

Chief Hospital Corpsman Jill Bankus from the Navy Expeditionary Medical Training Institute (NEMTI) at Camp Pendleton, California, won the NMETC's first Fouled Anchor Senior Enlisted Leadership Award.

"This recognition certainly speaks volumes about Chief Bankus as a leader, role model and Sailor," said Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-Boyle, NMETC commander. "To Chief Bankus and also to all those finalists nominated by their command... what an awesome accomplishment. Bravo Zulu!"

Bankus was selected from among more than 20 NMETC commands, detachments and units located across the U.S. NMETC, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston (JBSA-FSH), and is one of three Navy Medicine Echelon 3 regional headquarters commands.

The award was created this year and is scheduled to annually recognize exceptional performance and contributions of the CPOs assigned to NMETC commands. Senior and master chief petty officers are not considered for selection.

According to NMETC Command Master Chief Christopher Angstead, who helped create NMETC's Fouled Anchor Award program, the Sailor of the Year program recognizes outstanding E-1 through E-6 Sailors, but he wanted to have something in place to distinguish the hard working deck-plate leaders.

"I am very humbled about receiving this award," said Bankus. "With or without recognition I will continue to lead Sailors to success."

NEMTI provides expeditionary medical training in an operational environment to active and reserve Navy members to include medical, Seabees and other support personnel. As the NEMTI administration department head and leading chief petty officer, Bankus works closely with the NEMTI detachment triad and student leadership in daily administrative operations and mission readiness.

She believes leadership is about promoting a positive atmosphere and setting a good example.

"Working at a training command is not an easy shore duty," Bankus said. "As leaders we must always promote a positive work environment to meet the mission. We have to stay motivated and rub that motivation off on those who surround us and those we lead."

NMETC manages Navy Medicine's formal education and training programs. NMETC is part of the Navy Medicine team, a global health care network of Navy medical professionals around the world who provide high-quality health care to eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ships, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.


For more news from Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.