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CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan – As a testament to his unyielding dedication and esprit de corps, the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs named Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Payne the Career Counselor of the Year in March of 2026. In one of the most competitive career counselor boards—featuring 28 nominees—Payne distinguished himself through superior leadership, professionalism, and dedication to the retention and career development of enlisted personnel across Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.
Payne’s recognition reflects years of commitment to mentoring Marines through some of the most important moments in their Marine Corps careers. As a counselor assigned to Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Payne has guided countless Marines through reenlistment opportunities, promotions, and personnel development while ensuring they remain aware of the benefits of continued service.
“I enjoy talking to and helping Marines, not just on a career level but on a personal level,” said Payne. “I tell NCOs and officers all the time, you cannot fake caring about an individual, you either do or you don’t, there is no middle line; and the Marine can see right through it.”
Payne’s career didn’t start behind a counselor’s desk. At 23 years old, he first enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2011 as a trombone player for the Marine Corps Band at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. While his early years were spent in the meticulous environment of a unit facing significant challenges, his perspective began to shift after reenlisting in Hawaii.
Seeking to push himself, Payne volunteered for recruiting duty in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Serving as a recruiter from April 2018 to April 2021, Payne assisted countless men and women in joining the Marine Corps. During that time, he realized there was a broader calling for him within the Corps beyond playing an instrument.
“When you’re on recruiting duty, you’re constantly talking to young men and women about how they want to be successful and how they define the word success,” said Payne. “By doing that, I realized, I’m showing these young men and women on how they can be successful, not just for their career, but in life and I realized I’m not doing this for me anymore.”
After serving as a recruiter for two years and reaching the rank of staff sergeant, Payne knew it was the right time to reach out to the career planner at MCRD Parris Island in hopes of lateral moving to a new MOS. Because Payne already had significant time in grade, many occupational fields were hesitant to accept a Marine who lacked specialized technical experience at that rank. However, thanks to the guidance of his mentor, Payne found the career planner MOS. After passing a rigorous screening board, Payne’s package was approved.
For Payne, being named Career Counselor of the Year is more than just a personal milestone; it is a validation of his personal philosophy that has guided him ever since his days in Atlanta. No matter if it’s the states or overseas, Payne’s focus remains on the individual Marines whose lives he helps shape. Whether he is assisting a corporal in finding a new career path or mentoring a junior Marine through a difficult reenlistment, Payne’s mission remains rooted in the belief that leadership requires a genuine heart.
| Date Taken: | 05.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2026 03:11 |
| Story ID: | 564972 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Guiding Marines forward: Gunnery Sgt. Payne named Career Counselor of the Year, by LCpl Joseph Kreis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
