Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class John Suits | Meet Lieutenant Jacquelyn Newberry, a Ships Officer at Recruit Training Command (RTC)...... read more read more
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Meet Lieutenant Jacquelyn Newberry, a Ships Officer at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, the Navy’s only boot camp.
Hailing from Seneca, Illinois, Newberry graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2018, earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics prior to joining the Navy. Her decision was motivated by a desire to serve her country and set herself up for career success.
“My grandfather was in the Navy, and choosing to follow in his footsteps has given me a meaningful connection to him that I’m grateful for,” Newberry says. “I’ve always had a strong sense of service, and the Navy has enabled me to be part of something bigger than myself. Of course, earning a four-year NROTC scholarship and having my college tuition covered to commission was a nice bonus.”
Before arriving at RTC, Newberry, a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO), was stationed on USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) in Mayport, Florida, and on USS Shiloh (CG 67) in Yokosuka, Japan. Newberry’s primary duties as a Ship’s Officer include providing leadership, training, and discipline to the staff and recruits to ensure they are prepared for service in the fleet.
In her current role, she also serves as the Future Sailor Preparatory Course (FSPC) division officer, where she leads a staff of Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs) in program execution. The goal of the FSPC program is to provide those who currently do not meet Navy standards for physical readiness or aptitude scores required for specific ratings with the opportunity to work hard to achieve those standards and proceed to Basic Military Training.
Newberry credits much of her success at RTC and in the fleet to her family and mentors, who have significantly shaped her leadership style.
“When I was in NROTC, I asked a chief petty officer if he had any advice for a soon-to-be officer,” she says. “The advice he gave me was to always listen with the intent to understand, rather than with the intent to respond. This has helped me ensure that I have a complete understanding of a situation before reacting. I also learned from my parents and some very impactful department heads that empathy and kindness are not weaknesses. We are in an organization where our people are our greatest asset, so as leaders, we must take care of them to the best of our abilities. Sailors are the heart of the Navy.”
Though many of Newberry’s responsibilities present challenges, she has found her experience at RTC to be rewarding.
“Our RDCs are among the top-performing Sailors in the fleet and have the challenging task of shaping recruits into Sailors,” says Newberry. “Supporting them and participating in the development of the Navy’s newest Sailors gives me a sense of purpose. There is something special about watching a recruit learn to adapt, grow, and ultimately succeed in becoming a Sailor. At RTC, we have the unique opportunity to witness the future of the Navy, and it is rewarding to be an integral part of it.”
Newberry’s drive to influence the future of the Navy is firmly grounded in her dedication to service.
“Serving in the Navy has been a fulfilling experience that I can be proud of. I’ve had the opportunity to support and defend our Constitution and help to maintain the way of life for our citizens. I also like that it involves contributing positively to global partnerships and promoting freedom of navigation (FON) of the seas alongside our allies.”
Looking ahead, Newberry has set ambitious goals for the rest of her career.
“In the coming months, I will transition from active duty to the selected reserves. The reserves offer a great opportunity for me to spend more time with my family while continuing to serve. I also plan to attend graduate school and eventually become a high school math teacher.”
Newberry continues to contribute to the Navy’s mission, upholding the values of service and dedication to inspire future Sailors as they join the fleet.
Boot camp is approximately nine weeks and all enlistees in the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes five warfighting competencies of firefighting, damage control, seamanship, watch standing, and small arms handling and marksmanship along with physical fitness and lessons in Navy heritage and core values, Warrior Toughness, Life Skills, teamwork, and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2025 11:09 |
| Story ID: | 494476 |
| Location: | ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | SENECA, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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