“SHS alum is named Sailor of the Year”

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 07:09 PM PST

A Seguin High School graduate is making a name for himself in the United States Navy.

First Class Petty Officer Mark Rodriguez has been chosen as USS George Washington Sailor of the Year.

"At first I was shocked, I always work day-in and day-out because I absolutely love my job and I enjoy working directly with/for my sailors," said the 1998 graduate. "I really don't expect any type of recognition or reward, but it was really nice to know that all the time spent away from my wife and children was noticed and had a positive influence on everyone."

While on board the USS George Washington, Rodriguez said he is "Air Department V-1 Division Leading Petty Officer, directly responsible for the personal and professional development of 164 sailors, as well as the safe and expeditious movement of all embarked aircraft onboard."

It was his job there that got him the honor.

Being nominated as Command Sailor of the Year is not an easy process, Mark said.

First comes the nomination from the department's chain of command based off of "sustained superior performance, command and community involvement, as well as commitment to sailorization," Mark said.

Followed by an appearance before a oral board, where the sailor answers a series of questions.

Once selected for the department the process is started all over the Command Sailor of the Year, Mark said.

"From the Command Sailor of the Year, you then advance to the Sailor of the Year competition for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, then from there to the Sea Sailor of the Year for the entire Navy," he said. "Since I have been selected as the USS George Washington Sailor of the Year, I have been nominated to represent my command for U.S. Pacific Fleet Sailor of the Year competition which I believe is held in Hawaii, that competition includes all ships currently stationed in the Pacific fleet so I am really excited for the next round."

Mark's wife of 10 years, Laura Rodriguez — formerly Laura Gregory, a SHS 1999 graduate — is ecstatic about her husband's accomplishments. The family is currently stationed in Japan.

"I am so very proud of Mark. He works so hard and really gives all of himself to his job," she said. "Being separated is really hard on all of us, but when you see that all of the hard work pays off, it is truly rewarding. It makes all of the time apart feel worthwhile."

The couple has three children, Christian, 6, Ayden, 4 and Gavin, 1, who despite their young ages are proud of their father, too, Laura said.

"Both Christian and Ayden are really proud of him and obviously Gavin has no idea, he is just happy to see his daddy again," she said. "We explained to them that on all of the people on daddy's ship he was the number one sailor, then we had to explain for the whole year. They are little and still trying to grasp all of the time and numbers concepts, but they get it enough to know it is a big deal and they are really proud."

The nomination is a good way for the Rodriguez children to learn a valuable lesson, Mark said.

"They have all had to sacrifice so much because of our lifestyle and because I am always at work or gone out to sea," he said. "Its great to know that my family is proud of me and to be able to show my sons that hard work does pay off."

Having a loved one deployed is not easy on family but they find ways to fill the time, Laura said.

"We are a very close family and love being together," she said. "Mark was gone for six months, but the kids and I just stay busy going to the pool, going to school, sightseeing in Japan. We try and stay really busy and it helps the time to pass. We talk about Mark all of the time when he is gone, and how much fun it will be to take him to all the new places we have found in Japan. And we pray for his safe return every night before bed."

Even though the duty of a military family calls for long stays away from their hometown, the Rodriguez family looks at the good things the tour brings, Laura said.

"I wouldn't really call it difficult, so much as this is our lifestyle," she said. "Rather than thinking of how hard it is to be away from our family in Seguin, we think of all of the amazing culture we get to expose our children to. We definitely miss everyone back home, and I always tell them my door is open and Japan is only a 14-hour plane ride away, but they usually just laugh at me!"

While the family may get to see and learn about different parts of the world, Laura knows that the job her husband is doing an important one.

"I just want Mark to know how proud we are of him," she said. "Not just for winning this award, but for his everyday sacrifice. Our boys and I get to sightsee in Japan and have a good time while he is out on the ocean with all of the other brave men and women protecting our freedom. He is our hero and we love him so much."

As their family home base is in Seguin, Mark said their support reaches a lot further.

"I would just really like to thank our family, especially our parents my mom and dad, Cipriano and Oralia Carvajal Jr. and Laura's parents James and Irma Gregory, for all their love and support," he said. "I haven't been home in almost three years but no matter what, we know that they are always there for us whenever we need them."

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Monday, November 29, 2010

“SHS alum is named Sailor of the Year”

“SHS alum is named Sailor of the Year”

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