Photo By Staff Sgt. Sarah Ralph | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Troy M. Bergquist (left), a Marine with Alpha Company,...... read more read more
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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Troy M. Bergquist, a Marine recruited out of Recruiting Sub-Station Fullerton, Recruiting Station Orange County, graduated with Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion as the company honor graduate aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on July 1, 2021. This is the highest honor a Marine can receive when graduating recruit training.
The one Marine in the company, who demonstrated the highest degree of discipline, proficiency, bearing, physical fitness, and basic leadership traits that exemplify the highest standards of the United States Marine Corps was Bergquist. He is presented with a plaque from the Marine Corps Association denoting that he is the number one Marine in his company. The company honor graduate also receives a Certificate of Commendation from the Commanding Officer of Recruit Training Regiment recognizing his superior performance during recruit training.
“Originally when I arrived at the depot I wanted to keep my head down and not draw any attention to myself,” says Bergquist. “As the weeks went by, I thought to myself, that it would be cool to become a squad leader, and then after getting that position; I thought to myself, that being guide would be even better. I was presented with the opportunity to be the guide temporarily, and after showing how dedicated I was at being successful, I was able to stay as the guide until graduation. I never thought I’d be in this position, but I’m extremely proud of myself.”
Before recruit training, Bergquist was attending California State University Fullerton for business administration and was looking into enlisting into the reserves for the National Guard. While looking into the National Guard, Bergquist met Staff Sgt. Joe Maldonado, a recruiter with Recruiting Sub-Station Fullerton, Recruiting Station Orange County, who presented the idea of joining the Marine Corps.
“I knew he was looking into the National Guard so I didn’t want to pressure him into the Marines if he already had interest elsewhere,” says Maldonado. “I kept in contact with him just to see how school was going, and if he needed anything. One day I received a call from him telling me he was ready and wanted to become a United States Marine. Now we’re here celebrating this major achievement of becoming the honor graduate.”
Bergquist said that receiving this recognition and meritorious promotion to Lance Corporal has not really settled as a reality for him yet.
“I don’t think it has really hit me yet, what I’ve accomplished, but I’m so very proud of myself,” says Bergquist. I come from a military background and it’s awesome to be able to represent my family today.”
Lance Cpl. Bergquist is set to go on with his training to Marine Combat Training in Camp Pendleton, and then onto Camp Johnson, North Carolina, where he will learn his military occupational specialty of supply administration. After finishing his training and school, he will be returning to California State University Fullerton to continue working towards his bachelor's degree.
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2021 15:27 |
| Story ID: | 400491 |
| Location: | FULLERTON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Recruiting Station Orange County Reservist Makes Honor Graduate, by SSgt Sarah Ralph, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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