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2019 RESERVE SAILOR OF THE YEAR

Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year

Announced Through Livestream

Ceremony

By MC2 Nancy diBenedetto Commander, Navy Reserve Force Public A airs May 7, 2020
Washington

e 2019 Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year was announced As the ceremony streamed live across Reserve social
by Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. Luke McCollum media platforms, McCollum and Reserve Force Master
through a livestream broadcast of the ceremony event Chief Chris Kotz joined the nalists virtually in a dis-
from the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., May 2. tinctly di erent venue from previous RSOY ceremonies.
Finalists and their families previously have traveled to
Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) 1st Class Washington for a week of selection board processes, cer-
Amanda Alcantar, assigned to Fleet Logistics emony events, tours and senior leadership mentorship
Support Squadron Five Eight (VR-58), Naval Air Station opportunities.
Jacksonville, Fla., was selected from ve nalists as the s-
cal year 2019’s top Reserve enlisted Sailor. is year's virtual platform provided unique challenges
to properly interview each nalist. “Given the constraints
Alcantar, a Salinas, and the emerging technol-
Calif. native, was nomi- ogy that has been provided
nated alongside Hospital to us by DoD, I am satis-
Corpsman 1st Class Bradley ed that we did the best
A. Corr II, assigned to that we could given the
Surgical Company Bravo; limiting factors of the envi-
Naval Aircrewman (Tactical ronment,” Kotz said. “In
Helicopter) 1st Class the past, it was awesome
Calder L. Epes, assigned to see the nalists make
to Helicopter Maritime eye contact with the board
Strike Squadron 41 (HSM members as they answered
41); Culinary Specialist through the questions.
1st Class Mark A. Gular, However, that personal
assigned to Coastal Riverine As shown through a screen capture of a Facebook Live broadcast, touch cannot be replaced.”
Squadron One (CRS 1); Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. Luke McCollum and Reserve
Force Master Chief Chris Kotz, top left, conduct the 2019 Reserve
and Electrician’s Mate 1st Sailor of the Year (RSOY) announcement ceremony using the e job of selecting the
Class Christian Martinez, Department of Defense Commercial Virtual Remote (CVR) for winner from the ve can-
assigned to Assault Craft Teleworking program. Hosted from the Navy Yard in Washington, didates fell to a board of
McCollum and Kotz were joined virtually by the five RSOY finalists
Unit 1 (ACU 1). and family members. The CVR platform provided a unique master chiefs chaired by
opportunity to accomplish the RSOY two-day selection board Kotz. e overarching goal
McCollum commended process and ceremony during the COVID-19 national emergency. of the process Kotz said is
each of the nalists for MCC Stephen Hickok to provide to McCollum
their outstanding e orts on a thorough brie ng on all
behalf of the Reserve force and assured them that every of the candidates with a focus on transparency. He said
Sailor who makes it to this level is already a winner. the board’s methodology and recommendations for the

20 The Mariner • 2020 SUMMER Edition • Volume 63 • Issue 2