THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100400
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 74 lines
The Navy's new Shore Sailor of the Year, chosen from among sailors stationed at bases around the world, didn't join the seagoing service until he was 28 and didn't become an American citizen until three years later.
Petty Officer 1st Class Atkins Jinadu, stationed at Assault Craft Unit 4 at the Little Creek Amphibious Base, will be wined and dined in Washington, compliments of the Navy, later this month.
He'll also receive an expenses-paid family vacation, promotion to chief and a new position: special assistant to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Hagan.
The honors cap a life so far spent on three continents and a career that the 38-year-old Virginia Beach resident did not begin until nine years ago.
``No one has a greater appreciation of public service, and of this country, than me,'' said Jinadu, who was born in London of Nigerian parents and who moved to his family's west African homeland at age 9.
``In this country, everyone works together as Americans. We are seen as one people because we share a common language, common laws, a common way of life.''
After years of schooling in Nigeria - where a plethora of tribal languages and cultures split the population - Jinadu eventually won a U.S. government-sponsored scholarship to Missouri's Lincoln University.
Once here, he ``could see nothing but vast opportunities everywhere.'' He took advantage of them, earning an engineering degree, then a master's in industrial management.
Then, in 1986, Jinadu decided he wanted some adventure.
He joined the Navy.
The Navy permits resident aliens to enlist, but not as officers - Jinadu has spent his naval career on Norfolk-based ships and at ACU-4.
He became a citizen in 1989. By that time his performance was already attracting attention, and his supervisor at ACU-4 nominated him for his unit's sailor of the year in 1995. He went through tighter and tougher competitions, ending up in April as the Atlantic Fleet Shore Sailor of the Year.
From there, he became one of five finalists, drawn from bases around the world, for all-Navy honors. Professional records, duty assignments, awards and civic involvement were all weighed in the competition.
He attributed his winning Sailor of the Year to strong family support and luck. ``You're very lucky if you have a family that supports you,'' said the father of five, whose children range from ages 3 to 16.
``You might enjoy the Navy, be dedicated and have interest, but what about your family? How do they feel?''
The acting chief of naval operations and other officials will pin tiny brass fouled anchors on the newly appointed chief's collar in a ceremony in Washington July 22.
In the meantime, Jinadu, still wearing blue work dungarees, is going through chief's initiation, including enduring an intimate relationship with a heavy wooden book that tradition requires him to carry in a canvas bag slung over his shoulder.
The book is filled with advice from old salts.
He might be able to throw some around himself - including a little proverb he made up shortly after coming to America to help him cope.
``If you don't know where you are going,'' he said, ``at least you will always know where you came from.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by JIM WALKER\The Virginian-Pilot
Petty Officer 1st Class Atkins Jinadu was searching for something to
do after earning an engineering degree, then a master's in
industrial management. Joining the Navy seemed the next sensible to
do.
Color photo
Louis Rich
Color photo
Paul D. Fraim
KEYWORDS: SAILOR OF THE YEAR by CNB