2017 U.S. Marine Corps Visual Information and Excellence in Communication (VIEC) award winners announced

Photo By Matthew Callahan | UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, SYRIA (June 3, 2017)— A U.S. Marine fires an M777-A2 Howitzer in the early morning in Syria, June 3, 2017. They have been conducting 24-hour all-weather fire support for the Coalition’s local partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces, as part of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. CJTF-OIR is the global coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Callahan)  

DC, UNITED STATES

05.21.2018

Story by Master Sgt. Jeremy Vought  

Communication Directorate             

Each year Marines compete against each other and against servicemembers across the Department of Defense (DoD) in a number of categories in the Graphic Design, Photography, Videography and Communication disciplines. The Marine Corps competition is known as the Visual Information and Excellence in Communication (VIEC) awards program and is open to any Communication Strategy and Operations (CommStrat) Marine and unit. The awards recognize commands and individuals for their significant contributions and accomplishments in historical documentation and communicating Marine Corps priorities to audiences worldwide. The media attached to this article is a sampling of the awardees.

Winners at the Marine Corps-level represent the Corps and move on to compete at the DoD-level in the Defense Media Awards (DMA) program.

The William T. Perkins CommStrat Marine of the Year award recognizes the Marine who most displayed exceptional performance, leadership, and courage and who embodies the total Marine concept. This prestigious annual award pays tribute to the heroic actions of Cpl. William T. Perkins who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions while serving as a Combat Cameraman in the Republic of Vietnam, Oct. 12, 1967. This year’s recipient is Cpl. Juan C. Bustos, Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC). Bustos was born in Cartagena, Colombia and migrated with his family to United States at age 6. Bustos grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he graduated high school and attended college.

The Charles M. Grow CommStrat Unit of the Year award recognizes the unit that has demonstrated superior execution of the 45XX Occupational Field core competencies and provided outstanding, professional communication and products. This prestigious annual award pays honor to Charles G. Grow, Combat Camera Officer, for his dedication, professionalism and leadership. This year’s recipient is 1st Marine Division CommStrat.

Awardees designated with a “*” placed in the DMA program.

Marine Corps Award recipients:
Graphic design
(1) Digital Art:
1st: Sgt. Elize McKelvey, HQMC
2nd: Cpl. David Staten, DMA Marines
3rd: Sgt. Cristian Bestul, HQMC
(2) Identity Design:
1st: Sgt. Elize McKelvey, HQMC
2nd: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Kropiewnicki, MCB Hawaii
(3) Layout and Design:
1st: Sgt. Elize McKelvey, HQMC
2nd: Sharon McPeak, MCCSSS*
3rd: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Kropiewnicki, MCB Hawaii
(4) Animation:
1st: Sgt. Hector De Jesus, MCI-West
2nd: Sgt. Cristian Bestul, HQMC
3rd: Cpl. Desiree King, MCI-West
(5) Military Graphic Designer of the Year:
1st: Sgt. Elize McKelvey, HQMC

Photo
(1) Operational Photo Series:
1st: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, II MEF*
2nd: Sgt. Kelly Street, DPAA
3rd: Staff Sgt. Marcin Platek, MARFOREUR/AF
(2) Training Photo Series:
1st: Lance Cpl. Danny Gonzalez, 13th MEU
2nd: Sgt. Aaron Patterson, MCB Hawaii*
3rd: Cpl. Jonathan Sosner, 26th MEU
(3) Picture Story:
1st: Lance Cpl. Danny Gonzalez, 13th MEU
2nd: Sgt. Dana Beesley, HQMC
3rd: Sgt. Hector De Jesus, MCI-West
(4) News Photo:
1st: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, II MEF*
2nd: Sgt. Kelly Street, DPAA*
3rd: Gunnery Sgt. Timothy Parish, 31st MEU
(5) Feature Photo:
1st: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, II MEF*
2nd: Sgt. James Skelton, MCCSSS*
3rd: Lance Cpl. Alex Quiles, HQMC
(6) Portrait:
1st: Sgt. Cristian Bestul, HQMC*
2nd: Cpl. Molly Hampton, HQMC*
3rd: Sgt. James Skelton, MCCSSS
(7) Military Photographer of the Year:
1st: Sgt. Aaron Patterson, MCB Hawaii
2nd: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, II MEF*
3rd: Staff Sgt. Dengrier Baez, 26th MEU
(8) Sports Photography:
1st: Gunnery Sgt. Robert Brown, 11th MEU
2nd: Sgt. Aaron Patterson, MCB Hawaii
3rd: Lance Cpl. Erin Ramsay, MCAS Beaufort

Print
(1) Printed Publication:
1st: “Lintai” MCAS Iwakuni
(2) Information Story:
1st: Cpl. Bryann Whitley, MARSOC
2nd: Sgt. Ian Leones, MARFORSOUTH
3rd: Lance Cpl. Troy Saunders, DMA Marines
(3) Feature Story:
1st: Cpl. Bernadette Wildes, III MEF*
2nd: Lance Cpl. Luke Kuennen, MCB Hawaii
3rd: Cpl. Melanie Wolf, MARFORSOUTH
(4) Photojournalism:
1st: Sgt. Amaia Unanue, 31st MEU
2nd: Cpl. Bryann Whitley, MARSOC
3rd: Lance Cpl. Stephen Campbell, MCAS Iwakuni

Video
(1) Short-form Production Video:
1st: Pacific Fury, 11th MEU*
2nd: Camp Pendleton 75 Year Anniversary, MCI-West
3rd: Why We Stay 0352, 1st MARDIV
(2) Long-form Production Video:
1st: Running Forward, SPMAGTF-CR-CC
2nd: 242nd Marine Corps Birthday Message, HQMC
3rd: Cobra Gold 2017 Exercise Video, MARFORPAC
(3) Operational Videography:
1st: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, CJTF-OIR*
2nd: Cpl. Juan Soto-Delgado, 26th MEU
(4) Training Videography:
1st: Cpl. Devan Gowans, I MEF
2nd: Sgt. Gregory Boyd, HQMC
3rd: Lance Cpl. Derek Mol, MARFORPAC
(5) Multimedia Product:
1st: Sgt. Laiqa Hitt, HQMC
2nd: Cpl. Jamie Arzola, HQMC
3rd: Sgt. Isaac Ibarra, III MEF
(6) Video Story:
1st: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, 24th MEU
2nd: Sgt. Isaac Ibarra, III MEF
3rd: Lance Cpl. Bernadette Wildes, III MEF
(7) Video Spot:
1st: Cpl. Jamie Arzola, HQMC
2nd: Cpl. Raul Torres, MARFOREUR/AF*
3rd: Sgt. Dana Beesley, HQMC
(8) Video Series:
1st: Sgt. Conner Robbins, 1st MLG*
2nd: Sgt. William Perkins, I MEF
3rd: Cpl. Jamie Arzola, HQMC
(9) Military Videographer of the Year:
1st: Sgt. Matthew Callahan, II MEF*
2nd: Cpl. Jamie Arzola, HQMC
3rd: Sgt. Laiqa Hitt, HQMC

This is the first year in the DoD competition that the same servicemember was awarded dual honors as both Military Photographer (MILPHOG) and Military Videographer (MILVID) of the Year. The 2017 MILPHOG and MILVID is Sgt. Matthew Callahan, U.S. Marine Corps.

Headquarters Marine Corps and the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association (USMCCCA) will present awards to the winners at the USMCCCA Professional Development and Training Symposium in New Bern, N.C, Aug. 21-23, 2018. Awards will be presented Aug. 22, at the evening awards banquet. For more information on the Symposium and to register visit: http://www.usmccca.org/archives/11446.

For a full list of the DOD-level award winners visit: https://www.dma.mil/Portals/0/Documents/AwardsProgram/2017%20Defense%20Media%20Awards%20Winners%20-%202018-05-08.pdf?ver=2018-05-08-103552-753.

All awardees and units are commended for their significant contributions made toward furthering Marine Corps communication efforts. Congratulations to all for a job well done.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2018
• Date Posted: 05.21.2018 13:06
• Story ID: 277749
• Location: DC, US
• Hometown: CARTAGENA, CO
• Hometown: SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US