Whiting Field Names Sailors of the Quarter
Naval Air Station Whiting Field recently announced its Sailors of the Quarter for the second quarter for fiscal year 2013. The program is designed to recognize the top performing Sailors from various levels of enlisted service. The Sailor of the Quarter is the top first class petty officer. The Junior Sailor of the Quarter is the best performing second class petty officer while the Bluejacket of the Quarter is the most impressive up-and-coming Sailor from the junior ranks.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Carlos Peralta, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Matthew Ashurst, and Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Keesha Page were respectively named the Sailor, Junior Sailor and Blue Jacket of the Quarter. All three Sailors were recognized for their outstanding performance while on duty and within the community.
Peralta is the Fire and Emergency Service Division’s aircraft rescue fire fighting chief. According to his Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate John Coger, Peralta’s leading chief petty officer, his duties include: NOLF Harold senior site petty officer, command petty officer indoctrination coordinator, NOLF Harold’s career counselor and safety petty officer and command duty officer. These efforts have helped to ensure the safety of the Navy’s busiest Training Air Station.
“Petty Officer Peralta is an exceptional deck plate leader, dedicated mentor and technical expert of aircraft firefighting” Coger stated. “His rigorous training methods and devotion to duty were key in the selection of OLF Harold Field receiving the Navy Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) of the Quarter nomination for the first quarter of 2013.”
Ashurst is the site petty officer for OLF Choctaw, hazmat, safety petty officer and T-1500 trainer as well as NOLF Harold’s aircraft rescue fire fighter (ARFF) chief and training petty officer. He is directly responsible for the training and safety of nine aircraft fire fighters.
Coger emphasized that Ashurst is often sought out by others for his technical expertise. His leadership and professional influence is evident by the fact that 90 percent of his team are qualified ARFF Chief.
“ABH2 Ashurst promotes teamwork and is instrumental to the cohesiveness of the Crash Division Training throughout Outlying Fields” he added.
His training is not limited to work, however, as Ashurst also successfully completed 12 college credit hours this quarter, while pursuing a degree in fire science.
“Ashurst is proven as a top quality leader, worker and Sailor.” Lt. Kenyatto Mayes, Crash and Fire and Emergency Services division officer, said. “His crash crew provided fire and rescue support at NOLF Harold in support of 300,000 TRAWING FIVE and SIX flight operations.”
Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class, Keesha Page serves as a Choctaw facillity watch supervisor, local controller, flight planning supervisor and radar final controller. Her flawless military bearing is on ready display through her role on the NASWF color guard team. She has honored and shown final respects for five fallen shipmates as well as exemplified pride in military service at several military related community events.
“She exudes the spark of leadership, creative ability, and self-confidence to excel at any task given,” said her division leading chief petty officer, Senior Chief Air Traffic Controller Johnny Hill.
Page has successfully completed over 2,000 mishap-free flight operations helping to produce more than 50 new fleet aviators.
Each of these Sailors received a formal Letter of Commendation in their service records and are in the running for the annual Sailor of the Year awards.
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