Cover Photo: Sailors, assigned to air department, participate in a mass casualty drill on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 21, 2025. George Washington is the U.S. Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Geoffrey L. Ottinger)
A Message From the Admiral
Recruiting Nation,
As we move into September—the final month of the fiscal year—I’m reflecting on what we’ve accomplished and am fired up for the year ahead.
And what an accomplishment you have achieved! We are on track to send more future Sailors to the Fleet than at any point since the early 2000s—with 1,500 fewer recruiters. That is nothing short of remarkable.
This speaks volumes about your professionalism, efficiency, and relentless drive. From the line recruiters—my number one priority—to leaders across NTAGs, RTAGs, Regions, and HQ, this team is performing at a world-class level. Many of you have achieved “green across the board” during our monthly bell check, a visible sign of your hard work producing historic results.
At the same time, we are aligning with broader Navy personnel initiatives that will make us even stronger. We’re shifting Career Recruiting Force assignments into the Navy’s “MyNavyAssignment” marketplace—bringing greater fairness, transparency, and Sailor choice to career progression. This is a major step forward in how we manage talent, and it puts our recruiting enterprise directly in step with the Fleet we serve.
We’re also delivering improvements that matter on the deckplate. Faster Wi-Fi in recruiting stations. Nautilus devices that eliminate the slow VPN bottleneck. Multi-screen add-ons for your laptops that allow you to work faster and aid in recruiter–applicant conversations with the ability to flip a screen around 180 degrees. These upgrades are not just conveniences—they are force multipliers designed to clear obstacles and let you do what you do best: connect with America’s best and brightest.
But at the heart of it all is you. You are the Navy’s first impression to the American public. Your ability to inspire trust, guide applicants, and prepare them for the challenges ahead transforms potential into Sailors. Each contract and each shipment to boot camp represents a future Sailor who will soon stand the watch—on ships, submarines, squadrons, cyber teams, and across the Fleet. They are the future of our Navy, and you are the ones making it happen.
Looking back on this year, I could not be more proud. You’ve proven that Navy Recruiting Command is operating at an unprecedented level—and winning. Let’s celebrate that success but also carry this momentum forward into the new fiscal year.
Winners win…and no one wins like Navy Recruiters.
Rear Adm. Jim Waters
A Message From the CMC
Recruiting Nation,
The Recruiting Team is absolutely crushing it! NSO is now over 100% and we are above glideslope as a nation in ALNAV, AC, RC, NSO, NF, NNS, and shipping. Navy leadership here at NRC and beyond couldn’t be prouder of your accomplishments and phenomenal results. Maintain the push and strong momentum. I know we will continue to maintain while closing the gaps on some of our undermanned rates and designators.
We are steadily improving manning in the NC-CRF rating with our monthly CRF conversion boards. We are working closely with PERS and will push for rating releases for those Sailors desiring conversion to CRF. We moved CRF INDOC course from NORU in Pensacola to Millington; this will allow newly selected CRF to observe and interact at the enterprise level and gain an understanding of processes and resources available firsthand.
Congratulations to all our newly selected Master Chiefs and Senior Chiefs. We concluded the last slating panel and notified all screened for E9 CRF of their next assignment. Those screened for E8 will enter Senior Enlisted Marketplace (SEM) to compete for a billet at the new paygrade. Our special allocation of Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) quotas was approved and season one has been executed. Congratulations to our 30 newly promoted First Class Petty Officers. Season 2 MAP is approaching and is not rate limited; DMAP ratings are authorized to be advanced. Additionally, Recruiter of the Quarter (ROQ) MAP is available and is also not rating limited. We will conduct the ROQ board in the next week or two and announce results. We will continue to advocate and push these advancement incentives for Navy Recruiting.
Thank you for the dedication and commitment you have to recruiting, the Navy, and our Nation. You are changing lives and making history!
Keep charging!
Very Respectfully,
CMDCM Konopka
A Message From the NCR
Recruiting Nation,
I could not be prouder of what our Navy Recruiting Enterprise has accomplished as we move through FY25. Together, we have placed over 44,000 future Sailors on the non-prior service enlisted side, and we have filled the officer recruiting pipeline to meet all year's metrics. On the reserve side, the prior service team is within striking distance of both their enlisted and officer goals. Tremendous work—on all fronts.
That said, we must remain vigilant. For the non-prior service enlisted mission, the 44,000 we've placed must ship. With only a small buffer of about 270, those assigned to training lines must go, because as time tightens, there will be less opportunity to replace the shipping seat. On the officer mission side, yes—we have filled the funnel, but we still have work to do to ensure these individuals are commissioned and placed into their respective programs before the end of the fiscal year. Great job so far, but we have a little more to do to finish strong.
Looking ahead, as you pursue next year's annual goals, remember not to limit yourself when it comes to overproduction. Overages are powerful because we succeed as a unified team—from recruiter to station, station to division, division to NTAG, NTAG to region, and region to nation. Our ultimate customer is the Fleet, and we must keep the Fleet strong so it can defend the country and our way of life. Next year's demand signal is significant, but I am confident in what we can achieve together.
I also want to highlight the importance of the Navy ROTC mission. This is a tremendous program that not only creates opportunities for young men and women to serve while paying for college, but also opens doors for you, our recruiters, to build lasting relationships with schools, educators, and community influencers. Your role in this mission is invaluable. Leverage this program to gain access and to tell the Navy's story of opportunity.
In addition, keep sight of the specialty officer missions—particularly the hard-to-fill areas like the Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Medical Service Corps and Nurse Corps. These communities require us to build relationships early and cultivate trust in our local networks. Let's get ahead now, rather than struggling at the last minute.
In closing, I want to thank every recruiter and every support member for your hard work and commitment. We are doing something historic, and it is a direct reflection of your dedication. You are the backbone of our success. I look forward to finishing this year strong, and even more so to exceeding these achievements in the years ahead. Momentum is on our side—let's keep it rolling, because once lost, momentum is hard to regain.
I don't believe we've reached our ceiling yet, and I'm excited to see just how far this force can take us. We have the potential to exceed our current achievements. Remember—every career starts with a recruiter.
Master Chief Kevin Daniel Kikawa
Recruits to Recruiters: New Sailors Return to Recruit Future Sailors
Story and photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Torrey Lee, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Pacific Northwest Public Affairs
SILVERDALE, Wash. – Just months ago, Erin Chartier stepped into Navy Recruiting Station Silverdale with questions about her future. Now, after completing boot camp and “A” school, she’s back in the same station, not to ask questions, but to answer them.
Chartier is supporting Pacific Northwest recruiters as part of the Navy’s Recruiting Assistance Leave Program, a program that allows Sailors to support local recruiting efforts for five consecutive days while on leave between training and their first duty station.
“I thought it was a good opportunity to reach back out to the community, especially, young women who are interested in possibly pursuing something with the Navy,” said Chartier. “I think a lot of young girls are intimidated, and I think having a familiar face they could reach out to and ask questions about the Navy can help.”
Chartier is rated as a Master-at-Arms, part of the Navy’s police and security force, and is set to report to Bahrain in September for her first duty assignment as part of the base security team. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career in law enforcement after her Navy service.
“These Sailors bring a level of relatability, where as our seasoned recruiters can be a little intimidating,” said Senior Chief Navy Counselor Joshua Johnson, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Pacific Northwest’s Chief Recruiter. “Their recent experience resonates with our applicants and future Sailors. It also builds these Sailor’s own leadership skills in the process.”
From a Pakistani Medical School to the Fleet: One Rheumatologist’s Journey to Naval Service
Story and photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Cintron, Navy Talent Acquisition Group New England Public Affairs
BOSTON – Growing up in Pakistan, Dr. Basmah Jalil developed a love for science and desire to help people from an early age. This would lead Jalil to attend Agakhan University in Karachi, Pakistan and eventually to the Navy Medical Corps. She said her father, a former captain and doctor in the Pakistani army, raised his kids to have a high work ethic and understand the importance of discipline in their lives.
Today, as a new member of the Navy Medical Corps, Jalil hopes to raise her children to have that same level of discipline and work ethic.
“This is an opportunity to help our service men and woman; it is a very inspiring place to be,” Jalil said. “I have daughters and I would like them to experience some discipline in their lives and be in an environment with people disciplined and focused on their goals.”
Jalil believes serving in the Navy is an amazing opportunity to develop professionally and achieve personal goals.
“I think the opportunity to learn new things from different people and teach some of the fellows that will be rotating through Rheumatology is what I am looking forward to,” Lalil said. “I love adventure, and I look forward to seeing where the Navy will take me!”
Where Will The Navy Take You?
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Samuel Osborn, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Nashville Public Affairs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – From the rugged mountains of Afghanistan to the sandy beaches of Hawaii, the Navy has taken Logistics Specialist 2nd Class LeDon Brantley-Campbell around the globe.
“My all-time favorite duty station was Hawaii,” said Brantley-Campbell. “I fell in love with the culture, and the food was amazing. The views are breathtaking, and the adventures are endless in Hawaii.”
A Springfield, Massachusetts native and self-described foodie, Brantley-Campbell now serves as the supply liaison for Navy Talent Acquisition Group Nashville. Although many miles away from Hawaii, he still remembers his time there fondly.
“I got to visit an udon house while in Hawaii,” he said. “I got to pick out each item of the meal, step by step, for each part of the dish. I’m a foodie so I got excited.”
Outside of cuisine, Brantley-Campbell says he enjoys traveling around his duty station visiting scenic sites and going on hikes.
El Paso Native Earns Centurion Award for Recruiting Excellence in the Rio Grande Valley
Story and photos by Allen Cordova, Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO -- Operations Specialist 1st Class Ricardo Sanchez, stationed at Navy Recruiting Station McAllen, received the Centurion Award. Sanchez, a native of El Paso, Texas, earned the award by securing 100 net contracts for the U.S. Navy during his 36-month recruiting tour.
Sanchez enjoys being an involved member of his community and believes doing so can greatly assist any recruiter.
“I like working schools, personally developing contacts and meeting new people because referrals are going to be your best friend,” said Sanchez.
NRS McAllen also earned the Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio’s Large Station of the Year, for fiscal year 2024.
According to Sanchez, having good time management is a critical skill for any recruiter.
NTAG Nashville Recruiter in the Spotlight
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samuel Osborn, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Nashville Public Affairs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A father, mentor, Sailor, and recruiter, Logistics Specialist (Submarine) 1st Class Craig Weare brings his personal and professional experience to the recruiting field to guide the next generation of Sailors to success.
“The greatest accomplishment I’ve had in recruiting is changing people’s lives,” Weare said. “That’s the reason I got into this field. I struggled as a young adult, and seeing new Sailors flourish in the Navy and bypass those hardships is what motivates me. Life can be tough, in or out of the Navy, but the Navy provides guidance through that toughness.”
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Weare now recruits in Chattanooga, Tennessee — the same office where he was once recruited.
“Being able to work in the same schools my children attended and in the community I’ve been a part of for the last 18 years is deeply rewarding,” he said. “My children grew up in this community and I started and lost my business in this town. I’ve volunteered, donated and have been a part of this community well before my Naval career. Getting to recruit here connects me to a community that helped shape the man I’ve become, and it gives me the chance to give back.”
Weare regards recruiting as more than a job; it's a calling.
NTAG Empire State Recruiter in the Spotlight
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Srija Rai, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Empire State Public Affairs
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Fire Controlman 1st Class Tingting Dong, a recruiter assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group Empire State, believes every time she shares her Navy story with a future Sailor, she reconnects with the very reasons she joined.
“When I try to sell the Navy to candidates, I just sell it back to myself,” said Dong. “It’s been a rewarding journey. It helped me build a stable life, and I want others to see what’s possible too.”
Born in Fuzhou, China, and raised in the United States after immigrating at age 9, Dong’s early years were marked by movement and uncertainty. She grew up in small apartments and shared spaces, constantly relocating and never settling. Dong believes the lack of stability during those years left a lasting imprint, creating a strong desire for structure, independence and a place to call home.
Dong earned a finance degree from Baruch College and worked in finance, health care assistance, and the service industry. None of those jobs were able to provide her with what she was looking for.
“There was no fulfillment,” Dong said. “Something was always missing.”
$200K NROTC Scholarship Awarded to Kirkwood High School Senior
Story and photos by Chief Hospital Corpsman Coryann Pittman, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Mid America Public Affairs
KIRKWOOD, Mo. – Kirkwood High School senior Christian Ermilio has been awarded the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) National Scholarship, valued at $200,000. This scholarship will enable Ermilio to attend one of 170 Navy partner universities across the country to earn his degree. Upon graduation, he will serve in the U.S. Navy for five to eight years.
Ermilio secured the scholarship through a combination of academic excellence, ACT scores, volunteer service, physical fitness, and two interviews with Navy officers. Out of more than 10,000 applicants nationwide, he was among the 2,500 selected.
The announcement was made during Ermilio's business class at Kirkwood High School, where Navy personnel, school administrators, and his family surprised him. Cmdr. Matthew Howell of the Navy Talent Acquisition Group Mid America presented Ermilio with a ceremonial $200,000 check.
“Congratulations, Christian. You are an exceptional student who deserves this scholarship,” said Howell. “No student reaches this point without a strong support system behind them.”
Ermilio's parents, Melea and Paul, were present. “We are immensely proud of his hard work,” said Melea.
An active student-athlete, Ermilio participates on the Kirkwood hockey and tennis teams. He volunteers at the veterans’ food pantry at Jefferson Barracks and coaches youth hockey. Ermilio plans to pursue a degree in International Relations at either Georgetown University or George Washington University.
NTAG Nashville Recruiter in the Spotlight
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samuel Osborn, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Nashville Public Affairs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Operations Specialist 2nd Class Kayla Smith finds her purpose in educating the next generation of Sailors and helping them reach their goals.
“I became a recruiter because I wanted to help individuals achieve their dreams,” said Smith. “I want to help teach them about the opportunities and benefits they can utilize in the Navy and recruiting was the way to do that.”
Smith, a native of Fort Knox, Kentucky, says she draws inspiration from her father’s Army service and continued the legacy by joining the military.
“My father split his G.I. Bill between my brother and I,” she said. “That motivated me to learn more about what the military could offer. The Navy helped me earn my bachelor’s degree and even encouraged me to pursue a master’s. It’s also given me plenty of opportunities to travel, whether on deployment or with the money and time to travel on my own.”
While serving at Navy Talent Acquisition Group Nashville, Smith believes in consistently pushing for excellence.
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The Navy, in partnership with Skydweller Aero, recently achieved continuous solar-powered unmanned flight during a nonstop three-day test from Stennis, Mississippi. Led by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), the test of Skydweller UAS marks a significant advancement in both long-endurance solar-powered UAS technology and its potential to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). (Photo by NAWCAD Visual Information)
U.S. Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operators and Marine Raiders assigned to U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command secure a building during joint training as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 in Sydney, Australia, July 23. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, with multinational participation, advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. NSW provides maritime special operations force capabilities to enable Joint Force lethality and survivability inside denied and contested areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Rowe)
An MH-60R Seahawk, attached to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 26, 2025. George Washington is the U.S. Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas Quezada)
Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Thomas Shordon, assigned to the Wasp-Class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and a native of San Diego, left, instructs midshipmen how to heave a phone-and-distance line during a fueling-at-sea evolution with the Peruvian Navy Amsterdam-class support ship BAP Tacna (ARL-158), July 24, 2025. The Makin Island is currently underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Martinez)
Credits:
Commander, Navy Recruiting Command