Husband, Wife, Both Sailors of the Year

[darrels joy]

Husband, Wife, Both Sailors of the Year

From Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Hospital Corpsman (HM) 1st Class Bartholomew Rodriquez was named Senior Sailor of the Year for Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity (NOSTRA), and his wife, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Monique Rodriquez, was selected as Naval Hospital Jacksonville?s Junior Sailor of the Year for 2004, in January.

Bartholomew, a native of Smithfield, Va., currently serves as director of NOSTRA?s optical detachment services. NOSTRA is based in Yorktown, Va., with five detachments and one mobile unit located at strategic points throughout the Eastern United States to better serve the armed forces. Bartholomew works out of the Naval Station (NS) Mayport Detachment. As director, Bartholomew manages the daily mission and operations of fabricated prescription eyewear for detachments and the mobile unit within the eastern region.

?HM1 Rodriquez is that one individual in an organization whom superiors routinely rely on to solve difficult problems and demanding situations,? said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (SS) Horace Avila, NOSTRA command master chief. ?HM1 Rodriquez epitomizes the words ?Professional, Devoted and Dedicated Sailor? who sets the example and puts others first.?

Under his leadership, the detachment?s staff functioned at peak performance, producing 123,201 pairs of eyewear in 2004, an increase of 20 percent over 2003. Bartholomew was responsible for numerous initiatives that enabled the detachment to better serve the fleet. For instance, he developed a procedure that enabled medical departments aboard Mayport-homeported ships to call in, fax or deliver prescription orders. He also trained personnel on the ordering process, which expedited orders and allowed ships to maintain readiness for deployment.

Monique, Naval Hospital Jacksonville?s claimancy-wide Junior Sailor of the year, represents all seven of the hospital?s Branch Medical Clinics and the core hospital facility itself. She currently serves as Naval Hospital Jacksonville's assistant command fitness leader and LPO (leading petty officer) for the fitness enhancement program.

Chief Hospital Corpsman Kevin J. Smith, Naval Hospital Jacksonville's Command Fitness Program leading chief petty officer, said Monique's "motivation and enthusiasm are contagious." He explained, "She has an infectious positive attitude, making her a treasured asset to the department, as well as the command."

Monique has been cited for her "flawless planning and execution" of a successful fitness enhancement program. Her leadership and initiation of such programs as monthy 5k run events and a command exercise room, led to a decrease in the number of participants by 65 percent, as they became able to meet and exceed physical readiness test requirements.

Heavily involved in the command's mentoring programs, Monique said that she feels the key to her success has been "concern for the junior Sailors and staying active in the command."

[Robert Ryan]

Congrats to them both