Photo By Keith Hayes | Corporal Justin J. Zavala, armory chief, breaks down an M-16 rifle for inspection at...... read more read more
Corporal Justin J. Zavala is the newest Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, California.
As the armory chief for MCLBB, Zavala said he is responsible for making sure the armory is running right, the programs he administers for the armory are being conducted properly and on time, and he makes sure the other Marines assigned to that billet are supervised and guided.
“I fill eleven different billets here,” he said. “Besides the different programs that have to deal with weapons, I’m also the rifle coach, the ammo driver and a member of the Walking Color Guard. I’ve done 14 different events.”
The armory chief aboard larger Marine bases is usually a staff or senior NCO position, Zavala explained, which leads to what he considers to be the biggest challenge he faces.
“I’m tested on my knowledge about my (Military Occupational Specialty) from a staff NCO level even though I was just a lance corporal at the time I was appointed armory chief,” he said.
Zavala is constantly studying the Marine Corps orders and regulations covering his position so that he can speak from a base of knowledge to senior NCOs when he is on the weapons range.
Captain Mark Machado, S-4 director, said he nominated Zavala for NCO of the Quarter consideration because he has demonstrated the maturity and leadership to handle the increased responsibility and has proven himself to be a person of real character and genuine selflessness.
“In the short time, he’s been the armory chief, Cpl. Zavala has shown an impressive ability to organize the armory,” Machado said, “to the point that the (Commanding General’s Inspection Program) group has identified a number of best practices implemented by the corporal that can be recommended to other Marine Corps installations.”
A native of Angleton, Texas, Zavala joined the Marine Corps in July 2016 and attended boot camp training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
His father, and to an understandable lesser extent, his mother, pushed him to join the military so he could go out and experience the world.
“I had a good job out of high school as a welder and pipefitter for a large chemical manufacturer in Angelton,” Zavala said. “The pay was good but I have always wanted to be in the military. The Marine recruiter was very enthusiastic and did a great job in helping me decide on the Corps.”
An injury stymied his plans, however. “A week before I was to swear in I damaged my knee, so I had to delay joining the Marines by two years.”
After boot camp, Zavala found out he was coming to MCLB Barstow for his first permanent change of station.
“I googled Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow when I found out I was going to be assigned here,” he said. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to Radiator Springs like out of the movie Cars.’”
As with many Marines who have spent some time aboard MCLBB, Zavala soon found out that the base is not in the middle of nowhere, but is actually in the middle of everywhere.
“Best thing about Barstow is it’s just two hours from Las Vegas or Los Angeles and the beaches and just about an hour up the road from Big Bear,” he said.
The corporal has done a lot of volunteer work with the Single Marine Program and the Apple Valley S.H.O.C.K. program for at-risk youths. He mentors a group of foster children in Hesperia. He was also on the Marine Corps Ball committee to raise funds for the event.
Zavala said he and his small family live aboard base, and his wife enjoys the challenge the military family lifestyle presents.
He also has 16 siblings from both sides of his parents’ lives. “I’ve met maybe 13 or 14 of them, people I grew up with, but the others I have yet to get a hold of.”
Zavala officers some advice for young people considering the Corps as a career.
“Don’t enter for the money. I was making a lot more before I came into the Marine Corps,” he said. “If you don’t enter with the right mindset of it’s something I really want to do rather than I want to make money, then you’re not going to be very happy.”
As for himself, Zavala said he has found his niche in life with the Marine Corps. “I really like the military and its challenges and perks. I plan on staying in for the full 20 years.”
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2019 17:49 |
| Story ID: | 308161 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | ANGLETON, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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