Photo By Cpl. Judith Ann Lazaro | U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Seth L. Fricke, a combat engineer officer with 2nd Combat...... read more read more
Subscribe
When 1st Lt. Seth L. Fricke was named the Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer of the Year on Aug. 3, 2026, his first instinct was to give the credit away. To Fricke, a combat engineer officer with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, the prestigious award does not belong just to him. Instead, he insists it belongs to the Marines he leads.
"This award reflects the dedication, adaptability, and grit of my Marines," said Fricke, a prior enlisted officer who served more than a decade in the enlisted ranks as a heavy equipment operator, rising from private first class to staff sergeant before earning his commission. "Leadership is the amount of time and effort that is put into developing your Marines. My job is to prepare them to succeed without micromanagement."
That leadership philosophy was forged in the dirt of the enlisted ranks and put to the ultimate test during a recent deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
When gang violence erupted in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fricke’s platoon was dispatched to the U.S. Embassy. Tasked with fortifying the compound's defenses under volatile conditions, Fricke chose to trust his Marines rather than direct their every move. While Fricke focused on the complex logistics and securing raw engineering materials, his junior Marines took the initiative on the ground.
"The Marines arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, where they conducted force protection measures to strengthen the compound’s defenses and help sustain potential engagements amid local gang violence," Fricke said. By stepping back, Fricke allowed his junior Marines to apply their training in a real-world crisis, building critical thinking skills under fire.
Shortly after the mission in Haiti, the platoon traveled to Trinidad and Tobago to conduct engineer exchanges with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force. When the partner nation expressed concerns about border security, Fricke again empowered his subordinates. He had his junior Marines and noncommissioned officers take the lead in teaching foreign partners how to construct counter-mobility barriers, while he and his platoon sergeant collaborated with senior international leaders.
"I had some of my Marines go teach the partner nation’s NCOs and below on different counter-mobility barriers, while my platoon sergeant and I shared tips with their officers and staff NCOs," Fricke said. "Giving them those opportunities in unfamiliar environments builds a level of confidence you can't teach in a classroom."
This dedication to mentorship has left a lasting footprint on those who work closest with him. For Cpl. Noah M. McCloskey, an engineer equipment operator with Company B, 2nd CEB, Fricke’s mentorship provided a vital blueprint for his own growth as a leader.
Having walked in McCloskey’s shoes, Fricke shared the struggles he faced as a young corporal, particularly with peer-to-peer leadership and the temptation to micromanage.
"In those [enlisted] ranks, there is a lot of peer-to-peer style leadership," Fricke explained. "This was a struggle for me, both as a follower and a leader. I had to learn to set my ego to the side and adopt a sense of humility in order to conduct efficient and conducive operations in support of the mission."
Hearing those struggles from an officer gave McCloskey the confidence to adapt his own style.
"My biggest struggle as a leader has been micromanagement; my biggest success has been leading by example," McCloskey said. "Lieutenant Fricke taught me that my peers and junior Marines respond and retain information differently. He aided my development with different leadership styles, allowing me to be more flexible as an NCO."
McCloskey now implements those same standards, giving his own junior Marines the time and trust they need to master their heavy equipment under supervision.
"The most important aspect of enlisted leadership is to interpret my chain of command’s intent and ensure my Marines know exactly what is expected of them," McCloskey said.
For Fricke, seeing his Marines step up to lead the next generation is the ultimate validation of his career. The Combat Engineer Officer of the Year award may bear his name, but the legacy of his leadership is written in the capable Marines he leaves behind.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2026 13:38 |
| Story ID: | 574446 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 7 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From Heavy Equipment to Top Honors: 2nd Marine Division Officer Named Combat Engineer of the Year, by LCpl Steven Trevino, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
