Petty Officer 2nd Class Victor Rushing Jr., left, accepts a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from Vice Adm. David Dunaway, commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), March 12 after being named the 2014 NAVAIR Junior Sailor of the Year.  (U.S. Navy Photo)

Patuxent River, MD — A Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) Sailor who spends most of his time taking care of others got a chance to stand in the spotlight.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Victor J. Rushing, Jr. was named as the 2014 Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Junior Sailor of the Year here March 12.
In addition to a plaque commemorating his accomplishment, Vice Adm. David Dunaway, NAVAIR commander, presented Rushing with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Rushing said he considered joining the Navy after high school but, on the advice of his family, decided to go to college. After earning an Associate’s degree at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, and taking a few classes at the University of Arizona, Rushing decided it was time to join the Navy.

“I knew I wanted to serve, so when the opportunity presented itself (in early 2009), I did it,” he said. “Three months later, I was in boot camp.”

As the COMFRC administrative lead petty officer, Rushing supports COMFRC headquarters at NAS Patuxent River and Fleet Readiness Centers world-wide, with more than 15,000 military and civilian employees. Between October 2013 to September 2014, Rushing processed 381 correspondence documents, 146 awards and 23 fitness reports and evaluations requiring flag officer signature, according to his nomination packet.

Rushing is also credited with establishing an electronic correspondence, evaluation and awards tracker, which helped streamline efficiency and resulted in 100 percent accountability for all documents requiring signature, said Capt. Eric Simon, COMFRC chief of staff, in Rushing’s nomination.

“I take pride in what I do, and I try to be the best at what I do,” Rushing said, who has served for about six years.

Rushing also was named the NAVAIR Junior Sailor of the Quarter, 4th Quarter 2014. He said preparing to compete was intense, but he drew upon his prior job and Navy experiences to be successful.

“I studied hard to earn my Aviation Warfare and Surface Warfare badges (at a previous assignment),” he said. “Luckily much of that knowledge stuck with me, so all I had to do was brush up.”

According to members in Rushing’s chain of command, his being named NAVAIR Sailor of the Year is no surprise. He “sets the example,” and “is always there to do whatever is best for the command and the Navy.”

“He is a mature and poised Sailor, who always gives sage advice and professional customer service,” Simon said. Rushing “actively takes on responsibilities that are normally staffed by much senior personnel and completes such duties in exemplary fashion.”

Some of Rushing’s duties include being the command leave administrator, government vehicle custodian, official mail manager and motorcycle safety coordinator. He is an active member of the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) and the Naval District Washington’s Joint Non-Commissioned Officer/Petty Officer Professional Development group.

While undecided about continuing his Naval career, Rushing is working on a bachelor’s degree in cyber security as he is preparing for his future.
“I’m taking it step by step,” Rushing said. “I have my eggs in several baskets to see where the world takes me.”