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BY KATHERINE LEBLANC 07/27/2008

BY KATHERINE LEBLANC

Special to the Kennebec Journal

Growing up in Central Maine many school-age children don't realize that if they "believe it they can achieve it."

Albert Snipes, formerly of Bingham, is proof that having a dream and making a plan can lead you exactly where you want to go in life.

AW1 Albert Snipes was recently named the 2007 Sailor of the Year, by the Chief of Naval Air Training office, based in Corpus Christi, Texas. AW1 stands for the "Aviation Warfare Operator First Class" classification.

When asked how he felt about receiving the award, Snipes said he was "happy, yet very humble, because an award of that stature couldn't have been obtained without the help of those that I work with."

The road from central Maine to Sailor of the Year was not without its bumps, Snipes said by phone from his home in Pace, Fla.

"Living in Bingham has made me the person I am today," he said. "I was an only child that made the decision to run away from home in Georgia with my mother. We went to live with my aunt and uncle and five cousins, all girls, until we could get back on our feet."

"I had to deal with family I hardly knew, cold winters, a new school system and being that person in school that was different.

"Bingham, being a small town, was the only thing going for me during my transition from one small town to another. I learned that opportunity, despite where you're at, small town or not, will always present itself. It is what you chose to do with that opportunity, and what you make of that opportunity. That's what counts."

While attending Upper Kennebec High School, Snipes walked into the Navy Recruiting Office in 1998.

It was his junior year of high school and his sole intention was to ask a few questions, but he left the office having entered the Delayed Entry Program.

The idea that at 17 years old, an organization could offer him a roof over his head, three meals a day, a paycheck and college opportunities sealed the deal.

Snipes now had a plan.

After graduating high school in 1999, Albert Snipes departed for Boot Camp at Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois.

He went on to Naval Aircrew Candidate School/Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Fla., from there he continued on to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302 in New River, N.C.

In 2002 he left to join the Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Four at Naval Air Station in Sicily.

During the four and a half years he was stationed in Italy, AW1 Snipes did mostly Fleet work such as repair and maintenance of the advanced electronic systems on the aircraft as an aviation electronics technician for MH-53s, a heavy-lift helicopter used for special missions.

He became a Crew Chief during this time and in that role, he was responsible for maintenance for the MH-53s and "hauling VIPs," most notably Vice President Dick Cheney; the Secretary of the Navy; the Secretary of Defense and the President of Albania.

In addition to his duties at NAS Sigonella, he was also deployed four times to various countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Known as a teen in Maine as "Bubba", several of his teachers remember him as polite and hard-working.

"Bubba was an outstanding kid," said Jack Kaplan, former athletic director in Bingham. "I met him when he was 12 years old and at that time he carried himself like a grown man. He always said 'Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am.' We love him like a son. We knew he would be successful and we are all very proud of him. He is hardworking, loyal, and was perfect for the service."

Snipes received notification recently that he was picked for Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I.

After being commissioned, he will go through the pilot-training program in Pensacola, Fla.

He and his wife, Meg, have a son, Brian, now seven months old.

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