Gung-Ho Training Award - USMC OCS
Officer Candidate School can be tough training, said Candidate Rahsan Johnson, but keeping a positive outlook can make all the difference.
That’s why he tries to push through the difficulty and exhaustion to lead by example.
“That’s just my demeanor and I come in and bring the heat 110 percent every day,” Johnson said. “If you have a bad day everybody in the platoon can feel defeated with their head down but I try to keep morale high and everyone happy and the effect is so candidates don’t get complacent.”
Johnson’s peers in Echo Company, OCS recognized that motivated attitude during training and voted him the Gung-Ho Award. Candidate Ryan Montgomery from Golf Company also received the Gung-Ho Award for Golf Company.
The Marine Corps Association & Foundation sponsors the OCS Gung-Ho Award through the association’s Marine Excellence Awards Program. Each year MCA&F gives awards to recognize more than 10,000 deserving Marines and is the largest contributor of awards given to Marines.
“It’s very important to show (the candidates) we still recognize when they go above and beyond because that’s what we’re looking for,” said OCS Drill Master GySgt Hill. “They want to succeed and do more than what we ask of them.”
MCA&F Quantico Area Representative SgtMaj Kevin S. Bennett, USMC (Ret) presented the awards during the graduation ceremony on Saturday, 18 Aug.
“The award process is vital for these youngsters because they need to understand from the beginning that if they work their tail off for ten weeks they will be recognized as the best of the best,” Bennett said.
Other MCA&F OCS awards are a wristwatch for the Phil Yeckel Award as the candidate with the highest overall average and a set of tailored dress blues from The MARINE Shop for the Major Harry Elms Award as the candidate with the highest overall average with prior enlisted service.
The MCA&F awards the OCS Honor Graduate for the highest overall performance average. Candidate Natalie Smith from Golf Company scored a 96.53 GPA during the six-week training and earned her spot as top candidate and company commander during the graduation ceremony.
“It’s a nice pat on the back,” Smith said. “Awards are important because it’s the Marine Corps philosophy of discipline in private and reward in public.”
Candidate Heath Gomez from Echo Company was recognized for the MCA&F Leadership Award. He said it wasn’t something he was initially aiming for, but hopefully high standards and awards create a goal for future incoming candidates.
“We don’t do it for the awards, we’re just doing our best but it’s great to set an example,” Gomez said.
In addition to the awards dedicated to Marine Officer Candidates, the MCA&F also recognizes five Battalion Awards for OCS staff including Drill Instructor of the Cycle, Corpsman of the Cycle, Instructor of the Cycle, Physical Training Instructor of the Cycle and the Eagle Award.
The Drill Instructor of the Cycle recipients were GySgt Nicholas M Romer from Echo Company, Sgt Paul Bribiesca from Golf Company and SSgt Marvin K Walker from India Company. The Instructor of the Cycle recipient was SSgt Dominic A. Easton. The Physical Training Instructor of the Cycle recipient is Sgt Brett Y. Nelson. The Corpsman of the Cycle recipients were HM2 Jefferey M. Baker from Echo Company, HN Isaac Castellanos from Gold Company and HM2 Amethyst Persechino from India Company.
The Eagle Award is earned by the junior Marine who exemplified esprit de corps and devotion to duty on a daily basis behind the scenes and the recipient is LCpl Philip S. Jimenez.
Member Oo-Rahs!
Just a quick note of thanks to Patty Everett. I arrived home from a week vacation to find a package from the Marine Corps Association. I was expecting to find one of the magazines I requested, however, I was pleasantly surprised to discover both magazines were inside. In a time when it seems no one cares about customer satisfaction I am gratified to discover that customer service is not a lost art at the MCA. Once again I thank you for your efforts on my request. It may have been thing but the effort made a huge impression.
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
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
Christina,
Thank you for all your help over the phone today. Planning a Marine Corps Ball is a lot of time, energy and work.
Timothy C. Summers
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!
Member saying thanks to our Customer Service Representative, Skylar Hand.
Thank you so much for your help!!! I think you should be commended for your excellent customer service! You were extremely helpful and I was about to get upset about my order but you handled it before I could say anything. You are the best. Thanks again!!!
Ms. Pappas,
Congratulations. You are more responsive and informative than any other website contact I can recall. I appreciate that very much. It’s really nice to have someone like you at the MCA “front door.”
Sincerely, Alfred
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!
Ma’am,
Just wanted to let you know that I got the sword yesterday with time to spare. It showed up unscathed due to the excellent packing job despite the rough postal process. And most importantly it looks great and the Bahraini’s couldn’t be happier! Thanks again for all of your assistance.
R/S
Major Wayne Phelps
3d LAAD Bn XO
Security Force, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
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,
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