THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 1996 TAG: 9604270339
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALVA CHOPP, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Pick an attainable goal and stick to it is the advice from the Atlantic Fleet's 1996 Sailor of the Year, selected to represent sea-based commands.
``The only limits you have are the ones you place on yourself,'' said Petty Officer 1st Class Charles W. Kixmiller the day after he was selected to the prestigious position.
Kixmiller, 31, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Petty Officer 1st Class Atkins Jinadu, of Virginia Beach - chosen Atlantic Fleet Sailor of the Year representing shore-based commands - were honored Friday by their boss, Adm. William J. Flanagan Jr., after their selection Thursday night during an awards banquet aboard the carrier John C. Stennis in Norfolk.
The two were among nine finalists vying for the honors and came from more than 135,000 mid-career sailors in the Atlantic Fleet eligible in the 25th year of the competition.
``I don't actually feel I've won anything, but was picked to represent the men and women in the Navy,'' said Jinadu, 38, based at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, where he is assigned to Assault Craft Unit Four.
Flanagan, who greeted the men Friday at his headquarters, called them champions.
``I hope you understand how much you mean to those you represent,'' said the four-star admiral. ``You have undergone a long and arduous screening process and have come out on top.
``The champions of the fleet are in this room.''
Flanagan told Kixmiller and Jinadu to return to their jobs ``and show the fleet how you carried their dignity with you.''
``It may be hard for you to understand, but in the course of my job there is nothing I've enjoyed more than participating in this program,'' said Flanagan. ``Of all the things I do, this is the best.''
Kixmiller is assigned to Sea Control Squadron 32 at Cecil Field, Fla., but will be reassigned to Atlantic Fleet Headquarters for two years. There, as a newly promoted chief petty officer, he will work as special assistant to Atlantic Fleet Master Chief David Borne. The promotion is part of his reward.
``I look forward to the next two years with Master Chief Borne,'' said Kixmiller. ``I consider my biggest talent to be my ability to communicate with junior personnel. I enjoy watching their faces light up as they complete a job well done, and I am anxious to act as a liaison between them and their superiors.''
While the Atlantic Fleet competition is over, Jinadu has one more hurdle to clear.
Next month he will compete in Washington with the Pacific Fleet's and Naval Forces Europe's shore-based Sailors of the Year for the Navy-wide honor. The winner of that title also will be promoted and will serve a tour in Washington as special assistant to the Navy's Master Chief Petty Officer.
``I was immensely honored to be selected,'' said Jinadu. ``This is a culmination of all the commands I've served and the leaders and servicemen I've worked with,'' he said.
If selected to work in Washington with the Navy's top enlisted man, Jinadu hopes to bring his ``deck-plate'' experience to the job and share his talents with the men and women he meets.
``In the Navy we continue to put people first,'' he said. ``As the chief of naval operations says, people are our best resources.'' ILLUSTRATION: BILL TIERNAN, The Virginian-Pilot photos
Petty Officer 1st Class Charles W. Kixmiller of Jacksonville, Fla.,
and his wife, Amber, react to the announcement of his honors
Thursday.
Petty Officer 1st Class Atkins Jinadu of Virginia Beach and his
wife, Julia, far left, greet well wishers after he was named the
Atlantic Fleet's 1996 Sailor of the Year for shore-based commands
during a ceremony at Norfolk Naval Base Thursday. Next month, he
will compete for the Navy-wide title.
by CNB