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nal selection is provided to give McCollum con dence McCollum closed with a challenge for each of the nal-
that due diligence was completed in determining the nal ists to continue to excel in their own readiness as well
nomination. as in supporting their own unit readiness. “You all have
demonstrated your readiness through the tools the Navy
e selection however was no easy task. “ e margin has given you.” he said. “I would just ask that you con-
between these nalists was extremely thin,” Kotz said tinue to commit to that readiness challenge, so we can
during the event before handing the presentation over to deliver to our nation whenever and wherever our Navy
McCollum for his remarks. asks our Navy Reserve ghting force warriors to go.”

“We didn’t have a nal four this year in basketball, but Each nalist will be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps
we had a nal ve in the Navy Reserve,” McCollum said Commendation Medal by their respective commands
also acknowledging the di cult task of selecting just once they return to their units. Alcantar will be formally
one nalist. You’re all winners today,” said McCollum advanced to chief petty o cer during the Chief of Naval
adding that the nalists were a representation of the Operations Sailor of the Year ceremony at a date to be
entire Navy Reserve team. “It’s a mosaic,” he said. “It’s announced later.
a mosaic of your employers, of your neighbors, of your
families, of your careers and of your sacri ce. And that’s Late Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt
what gives me signi cant excitement to know that the and Master Chief Petty O cer of the Navy Jack Whittet
future of the Navy Reserve is in your hands and in what initiated the Sailor of the Year program in 1972 to rec-
you represent. ognize outstanding Atlantic and Paci c Fleet Sailors. e
program was later expanded to honor the top Shore and
After virtually accepting the award, Alcantar remarked, Reserve Force Sailors of the Year.
“ e competition on this board was incredible and I am
truly humbled to have been selected as this year’s Navy For 105 years, the Navy Reserve has been a ready, agile
Reserve Sailor of the Year. ank you to the Reserve force providing valuable, vital support to the Navy and
Sailor of the Year team for making this board possible the Nation. e Ready Reserve Force consists of approxi-
despite the e ects of COVID-19. I hope I get the privi- mately 49,550 Selected Reserve (SELRES) Sailors, 10,163
lege to one day shake your hands in person. To my fellow Full Time Support (FTS) members, 48,815 Individual
candidates, it has been a true pleasure getting to know Ready Reserve (IRR) members and over 422 civilians.
you. I wish there was a way to promote all ve of us, is force of over 100,000 delivers strategic depth and
because all of you are the epitome of a Navy chief and unique capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps team,
Navy leadership.” and the Joint Force in times of peace and war.

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The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association 21