II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Aide-de-Camp Nabs Marine Corps Engineer Association Award

Photo By Master Sgt. Keith Milks | First Lt. George A. Saenz Jr. uses the occasion of his receipt of the Combat Engineer Officer of the Year Award from the Marine Corps Engineer Association to turn the attention toward the Marines with whom he served in Iraq's Al Anbar province in 2007. Saenz received the award on Oct. 28, 2008 for service as the Route Clearance Officer for Regimental Combat Team 6.  

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, UNITED STATES

10.29.2008

Story by Master Sgt. Keith Milks 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Master Sgt. Keith A. Milks
II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- During his seven-month tour in Iraq in 2007, 1st Lt. George A. Saenz Jr. saw more of the Iraqi countryside and highways than most other Marines as he crisscrossed the Al Anbar province in his mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle.

Leading a platoon of 22 combat engineers from the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion attached to the 6th Marine Regiment, Saenz was responsible for sweeping clean the roads and highways in his unit's of area of operations of obstacles and improvised explosive devices. Saenz and his Marines navigated more than 3,750 miles of Iraq's dangerous roadways clearing the way for other units, and in so doing, discovered 53 IEDs and survived 16 IED or mine attacks.

In recognition of this service, Saenz was recently named the Combat Engineer Officer of the Year for 2008 by the Marine Corps Engineer Association, and received the award in a brief ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune. Presenting the award was retired Marine Colonel Jim Marapoti, associate director for the MCEA, and Brig. Gen. Larry D. Nicholson, the Deputy Commanding General for Iraqi Security Transition and the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

"We recognize the best in many fields," said Nicholson, to whom Saenz now serves as aide-de-camp. "We give the Heisman Trophy to football players, the Leftwich Trophy to infantry officers, and we now have the opportunity to recognize the best combat engineer officer in the Marine Corps."

On hand for the ceremony was Saenz's wife, members of the II MEF (Fwd) staff, and Marines from his platoon in Iraq to whom he credited his success.

"Even though my name is on this plaque, all their names deserve to be on it as well," said Saenz, referring to his Marines. "They knew that if we didn't find the IEDs, it could detonate on other coalition forces who didn't have our MRAPs, which are designed to mitigate blast effects from mines and IEDs."

"He took his job in Iraq extremely seriously and never allowed us to get complacent," said Staff Sgt. Tim Kessler, Saenz's former platoon sergeant. "I think his enlisted background allowed him to realize he could depend on us [enlisted Marines] to do our jobs while he made the tactical decisions. He had a way of keeping things lighthearted and was personable to all the Marines and they really responded to him. This was important because we were on the road for about 185 of the 210 days we were in Iraq."

Upon his return from Iraq in October 2007, Saenz received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V and used his combat experiences to contribute to creating the Marine Corps' standard operating procedures for route clearance, which deploying units will use in deployments to Iraq and elsewhere.

The announcement of the award came as a shock to the Texas native and Texas A&M graduate who served as an enlisted aircraft mechanic and infantryman, rising to the rank of sergeant before his commissioning in 2005.

"I was definitely surprised because there are so many other engineer officers out there deserving of recognition," said Saenz.

The MCEA is a fraternal organization of current and former engineers founded in 1991 by retired Marine Colonel Jim Marapoti. Each year, the MCEA honors active duty and reserve Marine engineers and engineering units, as well as sailors from U.S. Navy construction battalions.

"Lt. Saenz has led from the front and continues to lead from the front," Nicholson continued, "and we are fortunate to have him in our ranks."

Saenz is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in early 2009 with the command element of II MEF (Fwd), and return to the Al Anbar province.

For more information on II MEF (Fwd), visit the unit's web site at http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd, and to learn about the ongoing mission in Iraq, go to http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil.

• Date Taken: 10.29.2008
• Date Posted: 10.29.2008 22:14
• Story ID: 25714
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, US