Featured Marine LtCol Michael Babilot Promoted by Gen O'Meara

Photo By Staff Sgt. Gavriel Fleischman | Lt. Col. Michael Babilot was promoted by Brig. Gen. James O'Meara at the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Babilot is the deputy future plans directorate for Marine Forces Europe and Africa.  

STUTTGART, BW, GERMANY

01.03.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Gavriel Fleischman 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

STUTTGART, Germany - Lt. Col. Michael Babilot was promoted by Brig. Gen. James O'Meara at the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Babilot is the Deputy Comptroller, responsible for financial management for Marine Forces Europe and Africa. He joined the Marine Corps in 1994 from the small city of Auburn, N.Y. Since a young age, Babilot has valued the commitment to give back to one's community.

After looking into the other services, including a time in the Army Reserves and selected by the Naval Academy, he chose to accept an appointment at West Point. Spending two years there, he left to blaze his own path at Clarkson University in Postsdam, N.Y. where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in integrated engineering.

Even though Babilot had attained a solid educational foundation and was ready to enter the civilian workforce, he finally found his home in the Marine Corps.

"About two years after college I had a highly technical degree and was being offered jobs open to folks with a lesser degree and education,” said Babilot. “I decided if I was going to take a pay cut then I would do so serving my country. I talked to the services and the Marine Corps recruiter had the answers I was looking for."

He eventually earned his Master of Science in operations research and systems analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.

His 20-year military career has afforded him the opportunity to serve in Okinawa, California, Afghanistan, a tour at Joint Forces Command in Virginia and now Germany.

“It is an honor to serve with the men and women comprising the greatest fighting force in history,” said Babilot of his promotion. “It is humbling to be honored for the sacrifice and support my fellow Marines and my family have contributed to this achievement."

• Date Taken: 01.03.2014
• Date Posted: 01.08.2014 08:27
• Story ID: 118916
• Location: STUTTGART, BW, DE
• Hometown: OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: AUBURN, NY, US
• Hometown: SYRACUSE, NY, US
• Hometown: WEEDSPORT, NY, US