MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS ARMORY CHIEF, 1ST BATTALION, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE DIVISION FROM DECEMBER 2020 TO FEBRUARY 2023. WHILE DEPLOYED ON THE 31ST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT, STAFF SERGEANT ESPARZA EXPERTLY AND TIRELESSLY SUPPORTED MAINTENANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY EFFORTS FOR 60,000,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT ACROSS THREE SHIPS IN THE AMPHIBIOUS READY GROUP. OVER TWO YEARS, HE SUPPORTED OVER 300 UNIT TRAINING EVENTS, INCLUDING 50 LIVE FIRE RANGES AND TRAINING EVOLUTIONS SUCH AS INTEGRATED TRAINING EXERCISES 3-21, THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT READINESS EVALUATION, MOUNTAIN EXERCISE 1-23, AND STEEL KNIGHT 23. WITH SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO BOTH MISSION AND MARINE, HE TRAINED, SUPERVISED, AND MENTORED 25 ORDNANCE MARINES, 50 ARMORY CUSTODIANS, 17 COMPANY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, FIVE BATTALION EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND TWO COMMANDING OFFICERS IN EXECUTING ARMORY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF COMBAT READINESS, AND HIS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE LED THE ORDNANCE PROGRAM FROM A 30 PERCENT TO 95 PERCENT LOGISTICS READINESS INSPECTION SCORE. STAFF SERGEANT ESPARZA'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT ON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.