Photo By Laurie Pearson | Sgt. Moses Machuca, substance abuse control officer aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base...... read more read more
BARSTOW, Calif. - How he spends his off-duty hours helps one Marine excel in uniform by focusing on fitness and teamwork.
Currently assigned as the substance abuse control officer aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., Sergeant Moses Machuca was once an infantry grunt. He was previously assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command Twentynine Palms, then with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, both with 1st Marine Division. His time with infantry inspired Machuca to be more athletic and competitive in his work and personal life and prompted a sense of brotherhood that reaches into other aspects of his life.
This was clearly the case during the Sergeants Course aboard MAGTFTC Twentynine Palms, from which he graduated with honors for his high grade point average, earning the third highest GPA out of 50 students, April 28. Machuca also won the peer-nominated Gung Ho Award.
“I want to be able to lead others to carry (their) own weight and then some,” he said of his leadership style.
“He really stood out,” said Staff Sergeant Mary Gilreath, faculty advisor for the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer Academy where the course was held. “He was very sincere and people want to follow somebody like that.”
For every physical training event during the course, he finished first then returned to the rear of the group to motivate and encourage everyone else.
“People were falling behind or struggling and he was out there, always positive,” said Gilreath. “He was leading from the front (literally) making people feel good even when they were down.”
This teamwork, leadership and camaraderie was a big help to others such as Sgt. Kentrena McMonigal, information technology specialist with II Marine Expeditionary Force who pointed out that Machuca truly displayed what it means to be gung ho and to enthusiastically work together as a team at every opportunity.
“(In) one particular instance, we were doing our obstacle course and there was a very tall wall that was preventing me (from) moving forward to the next obstacle,” said McMonigal.
She was starting to feel defeated when Machuca came to her side, encouraging and coaching her until she made it over the wall.
“That’s what separates us (in CrossFit) from other gyms is that teamwork,” said Leticia Sitzer, owner of the only licensed CrossFit gym in the Barstow area, and Machuca’s coach. “We’re always cheering everybody on, we work as a group, and if somebody needs help we’re right there for them. We do this as a team and for every achievement somebody makes, we are happy for them.”
They celebrate the small and large victories, posting personal goals, personal records, and words of encouragement on the walls of her gym. Sitzer said Machuca was a perfect fit for her gym.
“If somebody is struggling with a movement, he is always right there, always cheering others on,” she said. “He’s always positive, kind and takes time to help others and people really like that. They’re really drawn to him.”
In February 2015, Machuca, Sitzer and a team from her gym competed in Riverside at a CrossFit competition. Machuca’s team took second place in the novice division. Throughout the competition, he could be found smiling and encouraging friends and strangers alike.
“He motivated the Marines to finish strong,” McMonigal explained. “He not only was one of the most physically fit Marines at the course, but also mature, and (he) worked hard at everything he did.”
Machuca has honed this team-oriented and hard-working nature in the gyms where he surrounds himself by people who inspire him to achieve and do more.
“If (teammates) are trying, then there is no reason why I shouldn’t be,” explained Machuca.
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2015 19:09 |
| Story ID: | 163251 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CA, US |
| Hometown: | LA FERIA, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marine uses CrossFit to excel in sergeants course, by Laurie Pearson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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