THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220397
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
They've been doing everything together since they first met four years ago - re-enlisting together, counseling Navy colleagues, serving on PTA, bowling.
So as unusual as it is to have a husband and wife named sailors of the year at the same base, it's about what you'd expect from Bob and Nancy Adams.
Each of the hundreds of Navy commands in Hampton Roads names a sailor of the year, but a husband-wife team may be a first. The Navy doesn't keep records on such things, but no one around Dam Neck can remember it happening before.
``I didn't see it coming,'' said Nancy. ``It was a complete surprise, although it was a pleasant one.''
The Adamses both are petty officers first class, both data-processing technicians at Dam Neck Fleet Combat Training Center.
Bob, 34, is surrounded by computers in his job with the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Nancy, 32, works mainly in operations with the Atlantic Tactical Training Group.
What does it take to become sailor of the year? Here, again, the Adamses are in agreement.
``Hard work, dedication and the right attitude,'' said Nancy, who has been on active duty for 15 1/2 years.
``Perseverance and adaptability,'' said Bob, who has 16 years' broken service. ``During the time I've been in, I've seen three different navies. If you can't change, you'll be pushed to the wayside.''
The two met in 1991 in Sigonella, Italy, and married a year later. From then on, theirs has been a story of togetherness.
They re-enlisted together in 1993 while riding in the personal airplane of Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda, now the Navy's top officer as chief of the naval operations and then a top NATO commander. Boorda's personal pilot did the honors as they flew over Italy.
They returned together later that year to the United States and Dam Neck, on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Their commands are just down the street from each other.
They serve together in Cub Scouts and PTA. Bob wears the uniform of Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 374 - seven dens made up of 60 Cub Scouts and eleven adults. They meet every Wednesday night at North Landing Elementary School. Nancy is a pack committee member and publishes its newsletter. Both are members of the PTA at North Landing and Landstown Middle School.
They both are designated as career counselors within their commands.
They both are in a Navy bowling league, pursuing the Captain's Cup for the team fielded by their respective commands.
This is where they part company sometimes, said Bob.
``It's OK, except when we bowl against each other.''
The Adamses live in the Princess Anne section of Virginia Beach with their two children, Nicole, 11, and Joshua, 9.
Bob, a Civil War buff who comes from Scottsville, New York, has taken advantage of his tour in Virginia to portray characters from the period during living history demonstrations.
He has served as a crewman aboard a 56-foot replica of the Virginia, trading his U.S. Navy uniform for one worn by the Confederate navy. He takes part in re-enactments of the battle of the ironclads in Hampton Roads, trading shots with a 32-foot replica of the Union's Monitor.
Nancy, who was raised in Phoenix, is taking courses at St. Leo College, pursuing a bachelor's in Technology Management.
If they are to stay on the togetherness track, Bob has some catching up to do. Sailor of the year is a tiered competition, and Nancy has moved up a notch to win honors as Training Command Atlantic Sailor of the Year.
Bob's next competition, at the Naval Sea Systems Command, is later this month. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MORT FRYMAN/Staff
Bob and Nancy Adams are both data-processing technicians at Dam Neck
Fleet Combat Training Center, and both have been named sailor of the
year for their respective commands.
by CNB