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Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (7/28/2012) - In a formation in
front of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Lt. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser,
the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, presented
the Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award to Sgt.
Nicholas T. Govin and Sgt. Jeremiah L. Hoff, both serving with 1st
Recon's Alpha Company.
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Marine Sergeant Jeremiah L. Hoff (left) and Marine Sergeant
Nicholas T. Govin (right) serving with Alpha Company, 1st
Reconnaissance Battalion, were presented the Navy and Marine Corps
Association Leadership Award by Lt. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, the
commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, during a
ceremony on July 25, 2012. Combined photos by USMC Sgt. Michael
Cifuentes
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According to the citation, the award recognizes Marines
for overall leadership in their organization. Alpha
Company's first sergeant said the recognition is appreciated
and welcomed.
“The reconnaissance Marines are pretty unique, and throughout the
Marine Corps we know that,”1st Sgt. Tate Ulven said. “They have a
very special job, and it takes a lot out of them personally and
professionally. They don't always get credit for it.”
Waldhauser
said 1st Recon is a big part of what 1st Marine Division and the
Marine Expeditionary Force brings to the fight. As a veteran of 1st
Recon, he expressed that the Marines who serve with the battalion
have to train hard day in and day out, “and these two guys certainly
underscore that.”
Govin, a native of Park City, Utah,
enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 2000, but joined the
reconnaissance field in December 2009. Since then, he's trained in
numerous advanced training courses that equipped him with the
tactics and proficiency needed as a leader. Ulven said Govin now
works at a master sergeant or first sergeant level.
Even
though the award was presented to him, Govin said the award really
reflects his leaders and the caliber of Marines in his battalion.
“Hopefully people can understand that 1st Reconnaissance
Battalion is doing an excellent job at molding and mentoring their
Marines and leadership capabilities,” Govin said.
Hoff
shares the same sentiment and attributes the award to his past
leaders. Hoff enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 2006 and was first
assigned to 1st Recon early the next year.
“I'm being
recognized for the guys who have shown me the right thing to do,”
said Hoff, from Muskegon, Mich. “I think a Marine becomes a good
leader by seeing the qualities and knowing the good qualities they
see in other Marines and their previous leaders. Everything I
learned as far as leadership skills and knowledge is attributed to
my past team leaders and platoon sergeants.”
The battalion
sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. William C. Carter, said he expects a lot
from the noncommissioned officers in the battalion and holds them to
high standards. He expressed the importance of recognizing Marines
for their abilities to lead both up and down the ranks.
Members
of 1st Recon nominated the two awardees. Govin said since two
Marines cut from the same unit were selected, “no one can say
there's a problem with leading Marines in the battalion.”
By USMC Sgt. Michael Cifuentes
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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