Photo By Todd Hack | Personnel Specialist 1st Class Mei Zhang, a Wuxi, China native, assigned to Navy...... read more read more
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 20, 2024) Personnel Specialist 1st Class Mei Zhang, a Wuxi, China native, assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Southwest as a talent scout at Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) Brea, was notified November 27, 2024, she was awarded the National Award for Recruiter of the Year for Recruiting Enlisted Non-Prior Service Recruiting of Reserve Service Members and needed to get ready to fly to Washington D.C.
“I couldn’t believe it when I got the email saying I was selected,” said Zhang. “Sure you hope for it when your command nominates you and then put in your package, but I never thought I would get the National award.”
Commander Navy Recruiting Command Rear Adm. Jim Waters announced the command’s national selections for Recruiters of the Year (ROY) awards and offered his congratulations.
“To all awardees and nominees, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition,” said Waters. “Your hard work and dedication have left a profound impact on our command and mission, and I could not be prouder of your accomplishments.”
Each awardee is recognized for outstanding performance in recruiting duties, directly contributing to the Navy’s fleet readiness and capability. An annual ROY awards ceremony is scheduled during the week of the Army Navy Game in Landover, Md. on December 14.
“PS1 Zhang has impressed the command and made substantial impacts since she arrived,” said NTAG Southwest Commanding Officer Cmdr. Elizabeth McMullen. “She showed diligence, fortitude, and deep level of knowledge during her Junior Sailor of the Year board and was also NTAG Southwest’s New Accession Training (NAT) Recruiter of the Year for fiscal year 2023.”
Zhang has been a stellar recruiter and her effort and work ethic have paid dividends for her career and for NTAG Southwest.
“We love to to recognize our top Sailors and PS1 Zhang is a stand-out Recruiter in every sense of the word,” said NTAG Southwest Command Master Chief John Lanza. “She had been selected as Junior Sailor of the Year for 2023 and then was advanced through the Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) earlier this year.”
Zhang had the opportunity to tour Washington D.C. with many of the other ROY selectees the week before the Army Navy football game.
We got to see the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti surprise NTAG Jacksonville Active Component Enlisted Recruiter of the Year Damage Controlman 2nd Class Rheann Hieptas, when she advanced her to 1st Class and that was amazing, said Zhang. “I really enjoyed touring the Pentagon and honoring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.”
Besides being a top Recruiter, Zhang is in the process of obtaining a master's degree in Healthcare Administration from National University.
“Thank you to my chain of command for the recognition, and I truly appreciate the acknowledgment from everyone,” said Zhang. “I'm grateful for this shining moment. It has given me more motivation to continue to work hard and live up to my leadership’s expectations. This experience has made me even more committed to submitting a package to become an Naval officer.”
NTAG Southwest’s area of responsibility encompasses more than 210,000 square miles covering southern California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona. Headquartered at Naval Base Point Loma, Harbor Annex, the command has 43 recruiting stations with a mission to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy. The command employs more than 325 Sailors and civilian personnel.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2025 12:49 |
| Story ID: | 494742 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | WUXI, JIANGSU, CN |
| Web Views: | 13 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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