Service Member of the Year award goes to humble, resolute AAB corpsman

Photo By Sgt. Michelle Reif | Petty Officer 1st Class Delita D. Shields, a surface force independent duty corpsman with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and native of Baltimore, poses for a photo holding the North American Aerospace Command and U.S. Northern Command Junior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award while surrounded by her fellow corpsmen aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 12, 2015. In the face of such enormous achievement and recognition, Shields remains humble, giving credit for her success to her team of Navy corpsmen.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

05.12.2015

Story by Cpl. Michelle Reif 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Petty Officer 1st Class Delita D. Shields has a subtle confident presence about her. She speaks softly yet assuredly, the tone in her voice motherly and sincere. Her eyes are kind and her warm smile invites openness and trust. She guides the corpsmen under her command with a fair hand and an even temper.

She has her own leadership style, and her corpsmen find it effective. It came as no surprise to the corpsmen of 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, because of Shields’ caring and passion for her work, that she shined above her fellow service members and was pronounced the North American Aerospace Command and U.S. Northern Command Junior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Shields, a surface force independent duty corpsman with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and native of Baltimore, was presented the award in Colorado Springs on April 23, 2015, after completing seven rounds of examination boards. She went up against service members from all branches of the armed forces located within USNORTHCOM including Canadian forces.

However, for Shields, the most rewarding part of the competition wasn’t going home with the prize, but gaining a new perspective.

“It wasn’t about the winning part, it was more about the experience,” Shields said. “I got a chance to learn about the other services; I got the opportunity to appreciate what each service does and brings forth to the mission.”

Before claiming the title Junior NCO of the Year, Shields won several other notable titles including 2nd Marine Division Sailor of the Year, the II Marine Expeditionary Force Sailor of the Year and U.S. Fleet Forces Sea Sailor of the Year.

In the face of such enormous achievement and recognition, Shields remains humble, giving credit for her success to her fellow corpsmen.

“Winning the award felt more so that I was bringing it home for everyone,” Shields said. “I felt I was just there representing everyone [from my unit] because it was all of us that really allowed me to get to that point. It took a big team to get there.”

Due to Shields incredible kindness and leadership skills, she is well-loved among the battalion by both peers and superiors alike.

“She is fair,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Tyler Paul Davison, a corpsman with 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion and native of Rockford, Illinois. “She never brings people down when they mess up. She never focuses on the negative. She never talks down to anybody. She always loves to hear your input and is willing to discuss it.”

Shields believes that it is much more important to focus on others when you are in a position of leadership and influence.

“When you start to lead and get into a position like this, it’s not about you, it’s really about the people you work with,” Shields said. “You only reap the benefits when you see them go far. At the end of the day, they should surpass you because that’s what you want.”

Shields has made a lasting impact on her team of corpsmen as well as set new standards within the Navy and Marine Corps team as one of the first females to be assigned to and deploy with a division unit.

“People are resistant to change,” Shields said. “And how do you generate change? You have to lead change.”

Shields says that she draws her strength and inspiration from her religious beliefs as well as the support she receives from her husband, a Navy corpsman with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and their five children.

“My family is my backbone, they are the ones who supported me through constant deploying and helped me to maintain my strength,” Shields said. “It is because of all that I have experienced throughout my career."

Others often gravitate toward Shields for a source of sound advice in both personal and professional matters. Her words to them are always motivating and encouraging.

“You have to know what you want in life and you have to know where you are going,” Shields said. “You figure that out through growth. Never become discouraged because you don’t know what the future may bring. Your bad day may be somebody else’s good day. Just take time and enjoy the journey, it goes by fast. And always, always focus on the people around you.”

• Date Taken: 05.12.2015
• Date Posted: 05.15.2015 08:15
• Story ID: 163392
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: BALTIMORE, MD, US