Swift Named TR BJOQ
Story Number: NNS051012-19
Release Date: 10/12/2005 10:00:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class Kimberly R. Stephens, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) named Airman (AW) Lori Swift of V-2 division's Maintenance Control as Blue Jacket of the Quarter (BJOQ) for October 2005.
Swift, a native of Bath, N.Y., has been in the Navy for a little more than a year and half, and one year of that has been aboard TR.
“She is constantly looking for any available program that promotes future growth,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class (AW) Chukudi Crawford, V-2
Maintenance Control leading petty officer. “She has completed all prescribed personnel qualification standards, as well as earned her air warfare pin.”
Swift inputs job orders for the catapults and arresting wires. She also tracks how many launches and recoveries the ship has done.
“She stood out from peers by going that extra mile,” Crawford said. “She contributes to community service around the Hampton Roads area.”
“I volunteer for community service projects like Clean the Bay Day,” Swift said. “I am also on the ship’s soccer team.”
Swift said she joined the Navy for travel, but she also takes advantage of the educational benefits.
“She is very adamant about her education. Currently, she is enrolled in history and algebra,” Crawford said.
Balancing work, school and Navy qualifications is not an easy task. Swift’s advice is to “not get discouraged, take everything one step at a time and eventually everything will come together.”
Going to the BJOQ board was challenging for Swift, but she anticipated what some of the questions might be.
“They asked questions from the basic military requirements manual, the blue jackets manual and current events,” Swift said.
“Swift exemplifies all aspects of the Navy’s core values,” said Crawford. “She is wonderful to work with, very delightful and humorous, and has outstanding customer service skills.”
Currently, Swift is working on a package to apply for the U.S. Naval Academy.
“I have my transcripts and now my BJOQ to add,” Swift said. “All I have to do now is take the SAT.”
