Warrior of the Week # 1

Photo By Sgt. Shawn Valosin | Cpl. Blaise Johnson, a Kettle River, Minn., native and landing support specialist with SP-MAGTF Africa 14 hauls trash across the parking lot at the end of the day aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, July 30, 2014. Johnson always looks for work to do and hates being cooped up inside. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn Valosin)  

SIGONELLA, ITALY

08.11.2014

Story by Cpl. Shawn Valosin 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

SIGONELLA, Italy - From time to time many of us have fallen prey to repetitive work schedules and time clocks. We get so focused on our tasks that we get tunnel vision, only looking up when someone asks us a question or tells us it’s time to go to lunch or home. One Marine has remained diligent in his duties and resisted the lull. He doesn’t do [what he does] for praise, and if you ever get him to sit down for a second to talk, that will be apparent.

Who is this mystery man among us? Cpl. Blaise Johnson, a Kettle River, Minn., native and landing support specialist with SP-MAGTF Africa 14. If you are a part of SP-MAGTF Africa 14, then you’ve probably seen him around, taking on tasks left and right, from helping build a pallet and strap gear down right before a plane is slated to take flight, or making sure the vehicles we rely on to move gear and Marines around are in good working order and clean.

I had an opportunity to speak with Cpl. Johnson’s senior noncommissioned officer and officer in charge to ask them about him and his work ethic.

“He doesn’t require a lot of guidance from anyone, you just have to point him in the right direction and he’s gone,” said Sgt. Anthony Christy, a platoon sergeant with the SP-MAGTF Africa 14 S-4 section. “It’s hard to find that in young Marines, but it’s what the Marine Corps needs and what it wants. It’s what every SNCO or senior NCO is looking for and needs in their Marine.”

Cpl. Johnson said he’s always looked for work to do and hated being cooped up inside.

“When I was a kid I would always ride my bike up and down the dirt roads of Kettle River, go fishing with my cousins and help them milk the cows on their dairy farm,” said Johnson. “Even in the winter I would go out and find things to do.”

With such emphasis being put on the reawakening of the Marine Corps, NCOs like Cpl. Johnson are prime examples of what junior Marines should strive to emulate.

“Through discussions with [Cpl. Johnson] I think it’s his want to better the Marine Corps through his actions that stands out so much,” said 1st Lt. Victoria Crabbe, the S-4 OIC. “No matter how big or small his actions are they always lead to a better result in the end, which shows other Marines that even if they’re having a bad day there’s always something positive that can come out of it. He’s the kind of corporal that Marines need to be. He’s positive, ambitious and he tries his best to make sure that the entire mission is accomplished, not just his part.”

• Date Taken: 08.11.2014
• Date Posted: 08.11.2014 10:17
• Story ID: 138958
• Location: SIGONELLA, IT
• Hometown: KETTLE RIVER, MN, US