Posted on 08/25/2005 4:18:30 PM PDT by SandRat
AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 25, 2005) -- The largest Marine aircraft group in the Corps is bound to have outstanding service members in its ranks. Recently, three Marines with the headquarters squadron of Marine Aircraft Group 26 were announced as winners of the 2004 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award.
Sergeant Thomas R. Fuller, the training, anti-terrorism and force protection chief, won in the noncommissioned officer or petty officer category.
An Oyster Bay, N.Y., native, Fuller is also serving as an instructor at the Al Asad Regional Police and Border Patrol Academy while maintaining his responsibilities in the group.
“It’s always a great honor to receive an award,” said Fuller. “Something that I’ve always lived by is ‘never be truly satisfied with the standard.’ As a sergeant I have the initiative to start things up and give my Marines the opportunity to be challenged.”
And challenges are something Fuller said he’s fond of. He joined the Marine Corps looking for a challenge and throughout his six years of service he’s developed leadership traits that have helped him get where he is today.
“I challenge my Marines and I’m always there for them,” he said. “I let everybody have a good time so they’re influenced to stay in the Marine Corps but I’m firm and fair when I have to be.”
The winner in the staff noncommissioned officer or chief petty officer category is Gunnery Sgt. Charles E. Stove, a Houma, La., native serving as the squadron first sergeant.
“I’m very appreciative to have won this award,” said Stove. “I’d like to thank my commanding officer for recognizing me and I’m grateful to know I was appreciated. It’s one of those final finishes to my career and it’s nice to know I made a difference.”
Due to retire next year, Stove provides mentorship to the Marines and staff noncommissioned officers in the unit while instilling leadership traits and enforcing the commanding officer’s guidance and policies.
“A lot of my success here I attribute it to prayer, understanding God’s will and the mentoring of Sergeant Major Cotterell,” said Stove, speaking of Sgt. Maj. Collin A. Cotterell, MAG-26 and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) sergeant major. “Also, all staff NCOs in the MAG have made my job easier. They’ve always been there to smooth out the rough edges and help me along the way.”
Stove serves in a position generally filled by a Marine of higher rank and said his job is challenging but worthwhile. “One of my goals has always been to be a Marine first sergeant,” he said. “The taste of sitting in a first sergeant’s billet and seeing what it’s like to be a first sergeant has been very rewarding for me.
“I’ve given direction and guidance to many Marines here on how to be effective leaders and I have no doubt that everyone in this command has the ability to do that. They aggressively seek that challenge.”
In the company grade junior officer category, the winner is Capt. Patrick Nelson, ground supply officer and Bronx, N.Y., native.
“I’m surprised because I didn’t know I had been nominated,” said Nelson, “but it feels good to be one of the winners. I want to thank all my senior officers who have mentored me along the way; Gunnery Sergeant Flietstra, my platoon sergeant and supply chief; my supply platoon, who gives 100 percent every day; and my wife Lovina and daughter Isabella, who I miss very much during this deployment.”
Formerly an enlisted Marine, Nelson served six years of active duty and transferred to the reserves while pursuing a college degree. After graduating from California Baptist University he attended the Officer Candidate Class program and was commissioned a Marine officer.
“Just like every Marine is a rifleman every Marine officer is an infantry platoon commander,” said Nelson. “I take my platoon commander duties seriously. I see them equally with my ground supply officer duties.”
As the group’s ground supply officer Nelson is responsible for supporting more than 3,000 Marines and sailors in the unit. Though his schedule is busy, he takes time to mentor his Marines and remind them what’s expected of them every day.
“What I expect of my Marines is loyalty, confidence and leadership,” he said. “As a result the section has accomplished every mission and has the most meritorious promotions and winners of the Marine and NCO of the quarter boards. My Marines are a very competitive group who have pride in their section and take everything they do seriously. We realize that as Marines we are a war fighting organization where there’s no second place in battle or anything else we do.”
The achievements of Fuller, Stove and Nelson are noticed throughout MAG-26 and winning the Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award is a testament to their hard work, dedication and outstanding leadership.
“It’s always good to see hard working Marines get the recognition they deserve,” said Lt. Col. Thomas R. McCarthy, MAG-26 executive officer and Chanhassen, Minn., native. “They’re deserving of the award and I’m happy that they got it. They are a good example of all the professionals we have in MAG-26.”
- For more information about the Marines reported on in this story, please contact Sgt. Juan Vara by e-mail at varaj@acemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil -
MARINE NCO PING!
BTTT!!!!!!!
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