Crozet Sailor Named Best Shiphandler in the U.S. Navy

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Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. D.C. Curtis and Lt. Sam Train.
Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. D.C. Curtis and Lt. Sam Train.

Navy Lt. Sam Train, Western Albemarle High School Class of 2001 and a 2005 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, has been selected as the U.S. Navy’s 2009 Junior Officer Ship Handler of the Year. Train competed within the Atlantic fleet and won and then competed against the winner of the Pacific fleet and won.

“There is nothing more central to what we do as professional mariners than expert shiphandling,” said Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn, Commander of Naval Surface Forces for the Atlantic Fleet, in a message to Lt. Train. “Through your exceptional skill alongside a pier, your safe and rapid recovery of a man overboard, your steady and confident work alongside an oiler, and your thorough knowledge of the rules of the road, you have proven yourself the best JO shiphandler in the U.S. Navy, a tremendous achievement. I can think of no one better to train our next generation of Junior Officers.”

Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis presented the award to Lt. Train at the Surface Navy Association’s National Symposium in Washington, D.C. Jan 15. He is the son of Kirk and Cathy Train of Mechums River.