Breakfast for Champions
The Marine Corps Association & Foundation welcomed the honor graduates from The Basic School’s Echo Company Monday, Jan. 28 for the breakfast reception in the MCA&F building atrium in Bartlett Hall.
MCA&F staff congratulated the company’s honor graduates, staff platoon commanders and commanding officers while the group munched on a spread of bagels, pastries, orange juice and coffee.
The graduates swapped TBS stories with MCA&F staff and described their upcoming MOS training and duty stations.
Congratulations to 2dLt Thomas Patterson for the 1stLt Baldomero Lopez Honor Graduate Award, 2dLt Jake Lunsford for the Leadership Award and the Colonel William B. Lemly Award for Academics, 2dLt Joseph Roberts for the Military Skills Award and 2dLt Walter Graves for the Mitchell Paige Medal of Honor Mustang Spirit Award.
The TBS honor graduate awards are given through the MCA&F Marine Excellence Awards Program and are officially presented during the TBS graduation at MCB Quantico the following day. Each year MCA&F gives awards to recognize nearly 11,000 deserving Marines and provides about 97 percent of all awards distributed in the Corps. The program offers tangible recognition of professional accomplishments and recognizes the honor graduates throughout the Marine Corps officer and enlisted formal schools.
To support Marines and encourage the existence of these MCA&F programs, please participate in our Special 100th Anniversary Campaign. The three-tier donation levels recognize our donors by name in the April editions of Leatherneck and Marine Corps Gazette magazines celebrating the association’s centennial. All contributions are tax-deductible and directly touch the lives of thousands of Marines each year.
Click HERE to visit the donation page and make a contribution today.
Marine Corps Gazette Editor Col John Keenan, USMC (Ret) stands with the TBS Echo Company's honor graduates. Pictured from left is 2dLt Jake Lunsford, 2dLt Walter Graves, 2dLt Joseph Roberts and 2dLt Thomas Patterson.
Photo Credit by Ron Lunn.
Honor graduates from Echo Company stand with their commanding officers. Pictured from left is Staff Platoon Sergeant (SPC) Capt BumGardner, 2dLt Jake Lunsford, 2dLt Walter Graves, Echo Company Commanding Officer Maj Warfield, 2dLt Joseph Roberts, 2dLt Thomas Patterson and SPC Capt Parks.
Photo Credit by Ron Lunn.
Member Oorahs!
It is ALWAYS a pleasure to work with a consummate professional such as SgtMaj (Ret.) Frank Pulley. As the company 1stSgt for Hotel Company, MCT, SOI (West), I’ve attended a number of his briefs and one can visually see a positive change in the student’s attention levels as the SgtMaj delivers his presentation. The SgtMaj truly cares about the Marines and the Marine Corps and represents the MCA in an extremely admirable manner. It has been my experience that all Marines (including myself) benefit from the experience of attending a MCA presentation. And regardless of rank or years of experience, Marines should always seek to increase their level of proficiency and knowledge and MCA briefs provide us with that opportunity.
I want to relay my many thanks to everyone at Marine Corps Association and Military Historical Tours for providing me the opportunity to experience such a wonderful trip to Russia. Had I not won this trip through MCA I may have never taken advantage of such fantastic travels. The group, the Russian Tour guide (Oleg Alexandrov) and Charlie Dunn were wonderful companions during the trip. It will be a memory I will cherish all of my remaing days on this earth.
Again, Many thanks and Semper Fidelis!
You have been the easiest person I have ever dealt with since I have started MWR out here. You were very quick to respond to my every question and very knowledgeable about your work for an order over a phone that was my greatest experience. If you were in the Marine Corps Skylar I would write you up for a meritorious promotion. I will surely write it in my books to pass the word to the next MWR rep to continue the membership with you guys.
Sgt Richard Colmenarez
I'm so pleased to see all the great merchandise you are stocking and the awesome promotions. Your store was dissappointing a few years ago and I shopped only at Sgt Grit.
Now, I can find what I am looking for with you guys.
Great job!
Ma’am,
I received the shipment of plaques, books and certificates today for
mail call. It was more exciting to me than candy or magazines! Thank
you very much.
Semper Fi,
My Name is Sergeant Major Juan. M. Hidalgo, Sergeant Major of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) out of Camp Pendleton, CA. Sergeant Major (Ret.) Frank Pulley is one of my mentors and is someone that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. The MCA and SgtMaj Pulley do a phenomenal job in helping us recognize our Marines and Sailors and they continually demonstrate that they are always more than ready to support; anytime...Anyplace! And on behalf of the entire 13th MEU, I thank you very much!
Colonel Ford, I have to pass this on because I'm in shock that I was able to Connect (on the first Ring), Chat and concluded my business with "Sharon" in less than 30 seconds, at the MCA-Office. I was taken by surprise. Why, I'm Not used to anyone answering the phone especially on the first ring. AND...a human being...a lovely lady with a disarming voice, which at first I thought was a recording. WOW! I commend THE MCA for doing such an outstanding service for its members...make me proud. Just think...I was not asked "if I knew my parties Extension."?
Wish I had a Blog...I would spread around how delighted I am. What transpired to me today is Rare, just doesn't happen anymore. See, I'm so impressed I'm blitzing you here.
S/F
I received them this morning. Thank you so much for your help! you guys are awesome and you will have my business for any uniform or military need in the future as well as a hearty recommendation via word of mouth to anyone who wonders where they should purchase uniforms from!
I received my Dress Blues I ordered from The Marine
Shop in the mail today. And I just wanted to write and tell everyone there
that you all did a great job! Everyone from the tailors, to the customer
service reps. I am highly impressed with the quality and tailoring of your
uniforms. I will definitely keep coming back to The Marine Shop in the
future for uniforms!
Thanks for the email; I purchased the two Marine Corps. Cups for my brother who served with the First Marine Div. in Vietnam . He was very pleased with the cups and I was very impressed with the purchase. The online catalog did not do the product the justice it deserved. Thanks again and I am sure you will hear from me in the future.
Related Content
- TBS Honor Graduates Receive Semper Fidelis Award (Magazine Page)
- Special Notices - Aug. 2011 (Magazine Page)
- Marine Corps Association & Foundation: Advancing Leadership and Recognizing Excellence (Article)
- April 2012: Special Notices (Magazine Page)
- July: Special Notices (Magazine Page)