2006 Marine of the Year - 2nd Marine Division
Sgt Jeffrey Wade Hunt was born on 16 November 1984 in Winfield, Kansas. Following his 2003 Arkansas City High School graduation in 2003, Sgt Hunt attended Butler Country Community College for a semester on a baseball scholarship before realizing the Marine Corps was his calling. Recruit Hunt arrived on the yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit, San Diego, California on 11 April 2004 and graduated recruit training in July 2004. From July to September 2004, PFC Hunt attended the School of Infantry, West and upon graduation was assigned as a rifleman. He then attended the light armored vehicle crewman’s course at Camp Pendleton and was assigned to 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina when he graduated. In March 2005 PFC Hunt deployed to Camp Korean village, Al Anbar Province Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in July 2005, and upon his return from deployment was awarded Marine of the quarter for his battalion. Later competing at the Division level, he was subsequently awarded Marine of the Quarter for 2d Marine Division and for his exceptional efforts and performance he was meritoriously promoted to Corporal on 2 June 2006. In September 2006, Corporal Hunt deployed a second time to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07. While there, Corporal Hunt was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant on 2 February 2007 for winning the Marine of the year board for 2d Marine Division. On the same day Sergeant Hunt and his wife Meagan were blessed with their first child, Hailey Grace Hunt. Sergeant Hunt was subsequently redeployed to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in March 2007. Sergeant Hunt’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievment medals (2nd award), 2 certificates of Commendation, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, two awards of the Sea Service deployment ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.
