Hue City Sailor Pens Thoughts On Diversity

Winners were Seaman Holte, Gunner's Mate 1st Class Distler, and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Bizzozzaro as third, second and first place winners respectively.

The first place winners essay is as follows:

"For such a young nation, the United States of America has been challenged on thousands of issues. These issues have ranged from racial segregation, the right for all Americans to vote and the ongoing fight for openly homosexuals to serve in the military. Even though I've only mentioned three issues, this country has come to over achieve these challenges thus creating the world's most diverse nation.

A prime example of diverse composition is the United States Navy. Since 1775, the Navy has come a very long way to accepting every kind of human being, comprising of many different sizes, sex and race. But how could something so diverse have such an impact on the Navy as a whole? When you think about it, it's quite simple.

The Navy is comprised of over 300,000 Sailors. Each person has a different background resulting from a different upbringing. A good example is a young Sailor from South Carolina. Growing up he was taught to always respect his elders and superiors and never to disobey an order, including never talking back. Being in the Navy now, those same rules apply. You will always have superiors. So with falling inline with the Navy standards, which includes following orders and being respectful, it ensures a positive environment and complete tactical readiness. Of course, all Sailors didn't have the same upbringing. There are Sailors who think they can have what they want and run their own show. These Sailors are what causes a negative impact and will take away from that positive environment and tactical readiness.

Education also plays a huge role in Diversity. For example, a Sailor who attends a four-year college verses a Sailor who comes into the service straight out of high school will bring a higher capacity of experience and leadership to the field. Many who follow that direction make up the 'management' side of the Navy, or, as you will, the Commissioned side. Those straight from high school have just the same opportunity of receiving higher learning but instead, they go on to bring more proficiency to the Navy. Regardless of the education level, each new Sailor brings something new, which in return, can provide a learning experience for other Sailors that will better themselves and the Navy.

Finally, Diversity comes from experience. No matter what rate you fall under, everyone will have different experience from another Sailor. Each ship has her own of handling situations. For example an Aircraft Carrier will operate much differently than a Cruiser because of crew size and equipment capabilities. So what someone might have learned on an Aircraft Carrier, a Sailor on a Cruiser might have missed out on and vise versa. That being said, when Sailors meet and hold different career experiences, it provides another learning environment to better themselves and the needs of the Navy.

So when it comes down to it, everyone plays a different and vital role. Each person brings a different value, trait and change which will continue to have a very high impact on this nation's Navy."