Damage Controlman First Class(SW) Germaine Benjamin has been selected as the Afloat Training Group (ATG) Pacific Northwest’s Sailor of the Year for 2004.

Benjamin, a native of Hartford, Conn., has served in the Navy for 13 years on board four amphibious ships and on two shore tours. He has been assigned to ATG since June 2003.

“ATG (PACNORWEST) has a great command climate, the atmosphere is great, and you really feel like your actions have a direct influence on the training readiness of the fleet,” said Benjamin.

Since arriving at ATG, Benjamin has been a part of the Damage Control teams that are responsible for the training and evaluation of Navy and Coast Guard ships. This has included the Pacific Northwest based ships, USS Camden (AOE 2), USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), USS Ford (FFG 54), USS Ingraham (FFG 61) and San Diego based ships USS Hurricane (PC 3) and USS Boxer (LHD 4) as well as the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in Yokosuka, Japan.

Broadening his experience, he has also assisted training teams on the US Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Sea (WAGB-11).

“It was interesting to see how the other side operates and observing differences,” said Benjamin. “But sharing the knowledge and learning the similarities really solidified our feelings of partnership between the branches of service.

“Working here helps me to understand the big picture issues that face a ship during the training cycle. I think that will be an advantage as I move on in my career,” he said.

Benjamin’s mentoring does not stop on the deck plates or in the offices of ATG. For the past two years he has also volunteered his time at the Praise Tabernacle Apostolic Church in San Diego. Though he doesn’t live in San Diego anymore, Benjamin still continues his volunteer work every time he returns

“I was made a deacon by the minister at the church I attended when I lived in San Diego and I have been a mentor and role model to the children of the congregation,” he said. “Every time I go down to San Diego, I visit the church and spend time with the kids, some of whom have never even been outside San Diego County. They are interested to hear the stories of traveling overseas. It expands their view of the world.”