Groton — The submarine force recognized its Senior and Junior Sailors of the Year Wednesday, March, 6, and the honorees included local submariners.

“These young sailors have demonstrated the expertise, discipline and initiative to become the decisive and capable leaders of our submarine force for the next decade or more,” said Vice Adm. Michael Connor, commander of the Submarine Force. “The submarine force is in good hands as it continues dominance of the undersea domain.”

Petty Officer First Class William E. Cox, the Submarine Group Two Senior Sea Sailor of the Year in Groton, is the 2012 SUBLANT Senior Sea Sailor of the Year. Cox is a machinist’s mate on the USS Montpelier (SSN 765) in Norfolk, Va. 

Petty Officer First Class Jared A. Leary was recognized as the Senior Shore Sailor of the Year. He is a machinist’s mate at the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department in Groton. He was the submarine group’s Senior Shore Sailor of the Year.

Cox and Leary will compete in the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Sailor of the Year competition.

The Junior Sea Sailor of the Year was Petty Officer Second Class Nicholas G. Rucinski and the Junior Shore Sailor of the Year was Petty Officer Second Class Austin M. Walters. Rucinski is a machinist’s mate on the USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (Blue Crew), in Kings Bay, Ga. Walters is an electrician’s mate at the TRIDENT Refit Facility in Kings Bay.