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BREMERTON, Wash. – While the majority of those who serve aboard
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) do so as
a junior Sailor, as a member of the chief's mess or as a
commissioned officer, very few have the opportunity to experience
all three.
In his six years aboard Stennis, Lt. j.g. Jarrod
Hamby, from Jonesboro, Ark., has worn the hat of a leading petty
officer (LPO), leading chief petty officer (LCPO), department
leading chief petty officer divisional officer (DIVO) and when
necessary head of department. He has served under four commanding
officers (CO), five executive officers (XO) and four command master
chiefs. He began his time here wearing crows, but rose to anchors
and finally bars. Hamby is a Sailor who has lived all sides of
Stennis.
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Lt.j.g. Jarrod Hamby works at his desk aboard Nimitz-class
aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is completing
a Docking Planned Incremental Availability maintenance period at
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
(U.S. Navy Photo by MCS3C Patrick
Enright)
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Hamby decided to join the military as a junior in high
school. Though he first set his sights on the Army, a Navy
recruiter talked him into becoming a Sailor.
“I
wanted to travel,” said Hamby. “I wanted to see the world
outside of Arkansas.”
Hamby raised his right hand on August 28, 2000, to begin his
career as a Yeoman Recruit.
His first duty station
was aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson
(CVN 70). He frequently found himself butting heads with his
LPO. Part of his motivation to advance during this time was
to prove to his LPO that he was capable of succeeding.
“Early on, I was dead set on getting out of the Navy
after my first tour, but over time I really started liking
my job,” said Hamby. “I was good at it too, which made me
like it even more.”
In September 2004, when it was
time once again to choose orders, Hamby found himself in
Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
His early aspirations to
become an officer began during this time when his
administrative officer, Lieutenant Thomas Miller, educated
him on the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) program. Though he was
not eligible at the time, having only served four years,
Hamby had his sights set on the goal of becoming a
commissioned officer.
Hamby reported to the Stennis
Oct. 2, 2007, as a yeoman 1st class.
During this time
he served as the LPO and later LCPO of the CO/XO
administration division.
“I loved training all of the
junior yeomen on the ship,” said Hamby. “That tour taught me
a lot about leadership and developing young Sailors.”
As a first class, Hamby submitted an LDO package, but
was not accepted. Shortly after, in September 2009, he
became a chief petty officer.
“I made chief in nine
years, and I had to consider how high I wanted to go in the
Navy,” said Hamby. “I wanted to get some experience as a
chief before putting in a new package, so I made up my mind
that I was going to apply the next year.”
Just before
the end of his first tour on Stennis in 2010, Hamby applied
for the LDO program once again. This time around, he was
selected as the number-one overall candidate.
After a
brief induction in Newport, Rhode Island, Hamby received his
commissioning Nov. 1, 2011. He returned to Stennis on New
Year's Day 2012, this time as an administrative officer.
“Coming back was very surreal to me,” said Hamby. “It
felt as if I had never left this place. There were plenty of
familiar faces, especially in the chief's mess.”
Today, Hamby works as the ship's secretary and the DIVO for
CO/XO administration division.
“I am doing the job
that my DIVO had when I first arrived to this command,” said
Hamby. “I have the opportunity to repeat the successes I saw
back then and improve areas I knew I could do better.”
Hamby credits his success to hard work, enjoying the job
he did each day and learning lessons from his mentors.
“I have had many mentors,” said Hamby. “I credit them
for a lot of the success that I have had. I believe you can
learn something from everyone.”
Hamby's advice to
junior Sailors looking to follow a similar path is to study
hard for advancement exams, tackle the tough jobs that
nobody else is willing to do and take advantage of the
tuition assistance program. He says that anyone thinking of
applying for an officer program should explore all of the
options available to them thoroughly.
Few Sailors
have had an experience aboard Stennis quite like Hamby's. In
May of 2015, his time will once again draw to an end, and he
will transfer to Navy Region Hawaii. His varied career
aboard Stennis serves as an example for junior Sailors
hoping to maximize their Navy experience.
By U.S. Navy MCS3C Patrick Enright
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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