Warrior of the Week #3 - Lance Cpl. Williams

Photo By Sgt. Shawn Valosin | Lance Cpl. James Williams, a Decatur, Ga., native and warehouse clerk with SP-MAGTF Africa 14 conducts a gear inspection with a team leader prior to issuing kits to a Theater Security Cooperation team aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Aug. 18, 2014. Williams has worked tirelessly to organize and sort equipment and to update computer based inventory so everything can be located with ease at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)  

SIGONELLA, ITALY

08.18.2014

Story by Cpl. Shawn Valosin 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

SIGONELLA, Italy - When the Marines and Sailors of the second iteration of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 need tools to get their job done they call on the men and women in Supply.

Supply maintains, issues and stores equipment for service members when they go on missions. The long hours and meticulous attention to detail gives mission personnel peace of mind so they can focus on the tasks at hand.

Lance Cpl. James Williams, a Decatur, Ga., native and warehouse clerk with the second iteration of SP-MAGTF Africa 14 may not be working in an environment he is familiar with, but he hasn’t let that stop him.

His can-do attitude and adamant refusal to give anything less than his all is what put Williams on our radar and why he is this week’s Warrior of the Week.

“Lance Cpl. Williams has hit the ground running at Supply,” said 1st Lt. Melissa Mocello, a Gold Hill, Ore., native and supply officer with SP-MAGTF Africa. “He has never had any experience at the organic level but has gone above and beyond to learn all facets of his new job. He knows his warehouse better than anyone, and that speaks volumes about his initiative and attitude towards our mission here.”

The supply warehouse here is loaded with gear and equipment, some of it broken beyond repair and in need of processing and reutilization, other equipment stands ready for issue to support planned and emergent missions. Lance Cpl. Williams has worked tirelessly to sort everything out and update items in the computer system so everything can be located with ease at a moment’s notice.

“The cages have been challenging,” said Williams. “There is so much stuff in them, the [Theater Security Cooperation] teams had their gear scattered everywhere, so I had to sort through it all, figure out which stuff is ours, and find out whom else has gear in the cage. My goal is to get the warehouse organized enough to where if the other clerk or I aren’t able to come in, anybody can come in and easily find what they need.”

Sgt. Dexter Criner, a Dallas, Texas, native and fiscal noncommissioned officer in charge with SP-MAGTF Africa said that Williams has made the warehouse more organized and efficient.

“[Lance Cpl. Williams] has the desire to be the best,” said Criner. “If he starts a job he has to finish it, that’s one thing I like and admire about him. He knows what he’s good at and works on his weaknesses, but you won’t see him walking around here talking about how great he is.”

Warrior of the Week was created to recognize the Marines and Sailors of SP-MAGTF Africa who play a significant role in the day to day operations that lead to mission success. Sometimes these accomplishments go under the radar, thus we try to capture the moments so that everyone else can appreciate their value.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2014
• Date Posted: 08.18.2014 03:31
• Story ID: 139609
• Location: SIGONELLA, IT
• Hometown: ATLANTA, GA, US
• Hometown: DALLAS, TX, US
• Hometown: DECATUR, GA, US
• Hometown: GOLD HILL, OR, US