What does it mean to be Sailor of the Year Pacific Theatre in the US Navy?

Well, the Pacific theater would be the military surveillance or action area in Asia and presumably Sailor of the Year is some kind of award for the sailor considered the best that year. Was this awarded recently or during WW2?

A few years ago to my nephew.

Sounds like a huge honor if he was the only one for the whole theater.

@Zaku – I haven’t heard of it before and his mother just mentioned it in passing.
I just wondered if anyone knew specifics.

Googling “Sailor of the Year Pacific Theatre in the US Navy” turned up this article

There are more than one but it still looks like a huge honor.

Looks like if you added your nephew’s name to those Google terms, you might find an article about him getting the award.

Zaku – I saw that article but wanted to know a bit more. My husband found the article on our nephew a few years ago, but now I can’t and i do not know why.!#$

According to the Navy They are evaluated on job performance, contributions to command climate, peer group involvement, educational accomplishments, physical fitness standards and participation in community service activities. It sounds to me like it’s the cream of the crop!!!

The link is discussing the Sailor of the Year for 2019 but it should be the same honor!!!

It’s like being in basic ARMY training and being named “Outstanding Platoon Trainee.”

@kritiper -So it is a training award?

In the case I mentioned, yes. For the one you mentioned, no. Yours is for being the most outstanding (best) sailor for the year in the Pacific Ocean Fleet.

@lucillelucillelucille

What’s his rate? E.g., is he a machinist’s mate, gunner’s mate, fire control technician, swabee, squid, deck ape, plank polisher, bilge rat, etc? ;-p

Has he ever fired a phalanx anti-aircraft weapon?

@kritiper – I suppose I should ask him or his mom for more details.
I just wondered what the criteria is.
@Brian1946 -I just tried to call his mother as i am not sure. Is every level of sailor awarded something like that or do they just achieve a higher rank?

@lucillelucillelucille

This implies that one man and one woman each from Cinclant, and from Cincpac, win the award. I.e., there are no separate awards for best 3rd class petty officer, 2nd class petty officer, etc.

It seems that a lot of the other contestants would get promotions.

@Brian1946-Do you know who chooses or decides this?

Probably some group of lifers.

@Brian1946- Were you in the service?

Affirmative, Matey! US Navy on the Harry Yarnell (DLG17), from 7/1/68 to 6/19/72.

Admiral Elmo “Fudd” Zumwalt implemented the award program in 1973. Damn him! I’m sure you can tell from my ‘tude that I would have been a shoe-in to win it, if it was available during my gloriass 4 year career. ;-D

Well now! That is interesting!
Thank you for your service and I do mean that from the bottom of my heart.:)
My nephew has been out a few years now and is working and going to school.
I still have one niece in the Air Force,