Photo By Chief Petty Officer Joshua Wahl | BOSTON (Jan. 31, 2020) - Navy Counselor 1st Class Joy Bragdon from Tuscon, Arizona is...... read more read more
Story by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joshua J. Wahl, Navy Recruiting District New England Public Affairs
BOSTON – Navy Counselors' (NC) serving at recruiting commands have a vital role in assuring the fleet is manned with high-quality Sailors. NC1 Joy Bragdon sees her opportunity to enhance the future of the Navy through the Sailors she leads and the people she recruits.
Bragdon grew up in Tucson, Arizona, graduating from Oro Valley's, Ironwood Ridge High School. She signed papers to join the Navy in December of her senior year knowing the Navy would be a perfect fit. Her grandmother served in the Navy, and her mother served 12 years active before retiring in the Navy reserves.
"I joined the Navy to be the third-generation female, which was important to me," said Bragdon. "My grandmother was always big into her WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) meetings, and I remember my mom got recalled as a drilling reservist after Sept 11th. It was when I first realized she was cool, she makes an impact on the world."
Bragdon remembers her mother telling her she did not think she would make it in the Navy at first. Now, in her 10th year, she has used that as a motivation to advance in her career.
"I am the type of person who is very competitive," said Bragdon. "I told her, 'I will outrank you one day,' so, just watch me. That was the friendly competition that we had. She pushed my buttons enough that it allowed me to grow and to blossom."
Bragdon began her Navy career as an Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR) aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). This gave her a thorough knowledge of the Navy organization needed for her conversion to NC. Her package was submitted and approved at her second duty station while recruiting for NRD Phoenix in 2014. Now attached to NRD New England, she continues to develop her leadership skills. NC1 has found success winning the Medium Station of the Year award in her first year as LPO, earning her DLCPO qualification as a petty officer first class and recognized as the NRD New England Sailor of the Year for 2019.
"The Navy has allowed me to travel, grow as a person, advance my education and just meet amazing people along the way," said Bragdon. "I just enjoy recruiting."
NC1 believes the essential strength of the Navy begins with the people she works with every day.
"What is unique, is your work with Sailors that might have minimal training, and it allows you to be creative understating their goals and aspirations," said Bragdon. "Creating a sense of family in the division is a bit of a challenge at first, but it is probably one of the most important things for success."
She said her job now, is to continue developing teams of exceptional recruiting managers who provide consistency to the command's mission.
"Since day one, the whole goal is to make the command the best it can be," Bragdon said. "Seeing the command blossom and whatever, however, I fall into that, I am good with, I just give it my all every day."
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 01.31.2020 12:28 |
| Story ID: | 361316 |
| Location: | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Hometown: | TUCSON, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 209 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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