Photo By Chief Petty Officer Todd Macdonald | 190807-N-GV123-001 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (August 7, 2019) Ship's Serviceman 1st Class...... read more read more
Subscribe
Story by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Todd Macdonald, Navy Recruiting District Richmond Public Affairs
RICHMOND, Va. – Seven years ago, Jasmine Allen decided to embark on a journey that would take her around the world and eventually land her back in a recruiting station, much like the one in her hometown of Rock Island, Illinois, where it all began.
Allen has come a long way in that time. She is now a Ship’s Serviceman 1st Class in the U.S. Navy, working for Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Richmond’s Hyattsville recruiting station. Before this, she served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for five years.
When asked why she chose to join the Navy, Allen said her grandmother influenced her the most.
“She was always motivating me to strive to do better, to always push myself,” Allen said. “Ultimately though, I joined the Navy to pay for college and to travel and experience different cultures.”
She said that decision has blessed her in many ways. It established a foundation for her to become financially stable and allowed her to discover more about herself as a leader.
Allen said being in the Navy has also helped her assist her family.
“Just recently I was able to give my grandmother my previous car, fully paid off, so she can get to and from work.” Being able to help and serve her family, she said, has been one of the more gratifying aspects of being in the Navy.
Allen said choosing the job as a recruiter was a personal challenge to her.
“I’m naturally an introverted person, so I used recruiting as a tool for me to get out of my comfort zone and grow as a Sailor and a person.”
In addition to enhancing her people skills, she said she had to overcome the fast-paced and challenging world of recruiting.
“The most important thing I have learned is to adjust my time management,” Allen said. “It allows me to be able to control the things I can because there are so many things in recruiting that are beyond your control.”
She said as a recruiter everything changes constantly so it is imperative to adapt to situations, overcome every obstacle thrown your way and, above all else, not be afraid to ask for help.
She has risen to those personal and professional challenges, and distinguished herself a recruiter. In May of this year she was selected her as their recruiter of the quarter for Navy Recruiting Region East.
Recruiter of the quarter isn’t just a title for Allen; she was also meritoriously promoted to first class petty officer. Meritorious promotions are usually given to a select few Sailors who are on sea-duty aboard ships; however, Navy Recruiting Command has the unique ability to meritoriously promote top-performing recruiters who have earned it.
In her two and a half years as a recruiter, she has received many accolades for production, she was awarded the Navy achievement medal and she has been selected by her command as recruiter of the month multiple times.
When she’s asked what makes her unique as a recruiter and how she could achieve so much in such a short time, Allen says she can relate to people no matter what their background is.
“I see people for who they are at face value and I don’t judge,” she said. “That and my positive attitude and drive to succeed, are what keep me motivated to push forward no matter what.”
Allen is not taking all the credit herself. She said the Navy and the mentors she has had along the way have helped her attain her goals.
“They have pointed me in the right direction and have provided me the resources I needed to be successful,” she said. “I could not have
accomplished what I have at this point in my career without their help.”
Though she appreciates the words, Allen said the most rewarding part of recruiting is meeting people who need the Navy and really want to be a part of what it has to offer.
“Seeing them accomplish what they set out to do and seeing them begin the process of establishing themselves as a Sailor in the Navy is extremely rewarding.”
Allen feels recruiting for the Navy is important because it allows her to help other people have the same opportunities as she has had.
“I hope to help as many people accomplish their goals and lead those around me to success.”
Allen spends her off time assisting in high school junior reserve officer training corps (JROTC) events in the local area.
“I’ve taken part in several drill meets by helping the students prepare for the event,” she said. “It helps spread Navy awareness in a non-predominantly military area and gives me the opportunity to provide hands-on mentorship.”
Allen plans to stay in the Navy for at least 20 years, but she is not complacent in what she has at this point in her career. Allen desires to keep moving through the ranks and better herself.
“I would like to finish my bachelor’s degree in human resource and then use that college degree to become a naval officer,” said Allen. “Really I’m just a small town girl trying to establish my place in the world and build my legacy. Right now, I am doing it with the tools provided me through the world’s finest Navy. For that I will always be grateful and do my best to pay it forward.”
Allen said that working as a Navy recruiting has helped her to grow as an individual, a team player and mentor, which has given her the opportunity to contribute to the future of the Navy by starting Future Sailors on their Navy journey.
Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three
Navy Recruiting Regions, 18 Navy Recruiting Districts and eight Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,330 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.
For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NavyRecruiting), Twitter (@USNRecruiter) and Instagram (@USNRecruiter).
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2019 16:34 |
| Story ID: | 336281 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 306 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Navy Recruiter Strives to Return Success, by CPO Todd Macdonald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
