WASHINGTON - Vice Adm. John B. Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, announced Yeoman 1st Class Jasmyn L. Phinizy of Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command Jacksonville as the 2021 Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year (RSOY), May 20, 2022.
Phinizy, from Jacksonville, Fl., was selected from five finalists as the fiscal year 2021's top Reserve enlisted Sailor during a ceremony at the Navy Museum's Cold War Gallery on the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard, which was also livestreamed.
As a result of her selection, Phinizy will be recommended to the Chief of Naval Personnel for meritorious advancement to the rank of chief petty officer per OPNAVINST 1700.10P, Navy Sailor of the Year Program.
The announcement was the culmination of the 2021 RSOY week in Washington, D.C., from May 16 to 20, 2022, held in-person for the first time in two years.
The additional 2021 Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year finalists were:
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class William J. Eisenhart, Navy Reserve Expeditionary Exploitation Unit (EXU) One, from Alexandria, Va.;
Master-at-Arms 1st Class Nicholette A. Parrish, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) SEAL Team Eighteen, from Virginia Beach, Va;
Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class Jessica M. Placek, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 56, from Suffolk, Va, and;
Utilitiesman 1st Class Kyle W. Werner, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) Two Two, from Conroe, Tx.
Ceremony hosts Rear Adm. John A. Schommer, Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command and Deputy Commander, Navy Reserve Force, and Navy Reserve Force Master Chief Tracy L. Hunt (SW/EXW/AW) were joined by master of ceremony and 2021 RSOY Chief Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) Kody Sims, and 2019 Reserve Sailor of the Year, now Senior Chief Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) Amanda Rodgers. During his remarks, Schommer recognized Sims and Rodgers by asking the audience to formally applaud them in-person since both of their ceremonies were held virtually.
Leading up to the ceremony, a team of senior enlisted leaders chaired by Hunt conducted a rigorous selection process and ultimately made the recommendation for the finalist to Mustin.
According to Hunt, the selection was no easy task.
"Each of the candidates was the absolute top of their commands, equal in so many respects, and the epitome of warfighting-ready Sailors…ready on Day One," Hunt said. "I'm so proud of their professionalism, mission-focus, dedication to training and service to our country. The entire board is better for having spent the last week with each of these superior Sailors."
Following his remarks, Hunt introduced Schommer, who re-emphasized the excellence of the finalists.
"We have over 12,000 First Class Petty Officers in the Reserve force. A very rigorous process narrowed that field down to five, and today, to just one," Schommer said. "Although there will be only one selection this morning, all of you have distinguished yourselves from thousands of other Reserve Sailors doing great work…in every theater around the globe...24/7…365 days a year. You exemplify the best our Reserve force has to offer…and exactly what our fleet commanders demand: talented, capable, dedicated, warfighting-ready Sailors with a clear-eyed resolve to compete, deter, and win today. I take comfort in knowing these impressive Sailors will be a part of the leadership of the Navy reserve in the critical years ahead…and will drive the generational transformation of our force."
After the announcement, Phinizy presented her own remarks.
"It is humbling and an honor to be chosen as Reserve Sailor of the Year. The reason is that you want to show your junior Sailors that no matter what adversity they come from, or what platform they serve on, or what rate they serve in, all things are possible. I can be an example to my Sailors and a guide for them to take the torch and teach other Sailors in their career path.
"Find someone who you can trust, someone who will give you honest feedback and can assist you in getting through a difficult time, and someone who cares. Leadership starts with you. If you do the right thing, regardless of the recognition, your Sailors will follow."
Late Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Jack Whittet initiated the Sailor of the Year program in 1972 to recognize outstanding Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors. The program was later expanded to honor the top Shore and Reserve Force Sailors of the Year.
