Photo By Sgt. Scott Achtemeier | United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command Commander Maj. Gen....... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command held its annual awards ceremony recognizing eight accomplished and professional Marines, sailors and civilians at the MARSOC Headquarters at Stone Bay, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 3, 2015.
MARSOC Commander Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman presented five unit personnel with awards citing each individual’s various accomplishments and superior performance in their duties throughout 2014. Three awardees were unable to attend the ceremony.
The award recipients include:
MARSOC Recruiter of the Year – Not named upon request.
MARSOC Commander’s Award of Excellence – Lt. David L. Duprey, the Marine Special Operation Support Group chaplain, from Big Piney, Wyo.
MARSOC Special Operations Forces Support Marine of the Year – Gunnery Sgt. Edward J. Garay, the administrative chief for the MARSOC Personnel Administration Center, with MSOSG, from Aurora, Ill.
MARSOC SOF Marine of the Year – Not named upon request.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Luke Milam Award of Excellence – Not named upon request.
MARSOC Instructor of the Year – Not named upon request.
MARSOC SOF Operator of the Year – Master Sgt. Aaron Torian, a critical skills operator with 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, from Paducah, Ky.
MARSOC Civilian of the Year – Mr. Glenn C. Wright, Jr., the Marine Special Operations School telecommunications chief, from Hoquim, Wash.
“It’s a great opportunity, today, to recognize some truly exemplary professionals who are associated with MARSOC, and who I really view as a privilege to work with,” said Osterman.
Those personnel awarded made invaluable contributions to the command, said Sgt. Maj. John W. Scott, the MARSOC sergeant major. They impacted Marine SOF operations through innovation, bold initiative and self-sacrifice, he said.
“Every Marine, sailor and civilian exemplifies the traits and attributes we expect from anybody who serves within this tree line,” said Scott. “But at times, we have the opportunity to select a few who stand out, with the help of their peers; so this is a pretty incredible group.”
A thorough selection process takes place to identify individuals for the awards. Each year, MARSOC’s Major Subordinate Commands nominate personnel based on their contributions to the command. Those nominees find themselves at the MARSOC commander’s discretion for a final evaluation, resulting in the definitive selections, explained Scott.
The awardees were all presented with plaques, not including Wright, who was given a Certificate of Commendation. Garay, Scarborough, Suetos and Torian were also awarded Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (NAM), in addition to their plaques. Borja, Duprey, and Kahn were unable to attend the ceremony, but were nevertheless acknowledged and celebrated by the command.
The plaques presented to awardees were donated by the MARSOC foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting active-duty and medically-retired MARSOC personnel and their families, as well as the families of those who have lost their lives in service to the nation, according to its website www.marsocfoundation.org.
Ms. Jurley Torian accepted the MARSOC SOF Operator of the Year award and the NAM on behalf of Master Sgt. Torian, who was also selected as the 2014 MARSOC Critical Skills Operator of the Year by the Marine Corps Association and Foundation. For that award, Ms. Torian accepted a Marine Corps non-commissioned officer sword on her late husband’s behalf.
Torian was killed during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2014.
“Speaking about Master Sgt. Aaron Torian, specifically, he exemplifies everything all of us aspire to be,” said Scott.
“Not because he gave his life, but because of the legacy he left behind. His actions, his words, his character, his professionalism…his thumbprint rests in the raiders right now.”
As Scott reflected on the merit of the awardees, and their contribution to the command, he went on to discuss his thoughts about all the Marines, sailors and civilians with MARSOC.
“I could not be more proud to be the senior enlisted leader for MARSOC, because I believe this group of individuals represents the entire component and it’s indicative of the quality of people we have within the component,” explained Scott.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.10.2015 09:19 |
| Story ID: | 166065 |
| Location: | NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 500 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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