MOS 18 Tank & Assault Amphibious Vehicle
1803 Maintenance Officer, Assault Amphibian BN
MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS MAINTENANCE OFFICER, 4TH ASSAULT AMPHIBIAN BATTALION FROM AUGUST 2019 TO FEBRUARY 2021. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 GRIFFITH'S WORK ETHIC WAS BEYOND REPROACH AS HE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT ENERGY TO BUILD COHESIVE AND EFFECTIVE TEAMS THAT BECAME THE BATTALION'S CENTER OF GRAVITY. DESPITE THE BATTALION'S GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION, HE IMPROVED EACH SITE'S ACCOUNTABILITY, MAINTENANCE PRODUCTION, MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES, AND QUALITY CONTROL OF ALL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. FOLLOWING A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT IN A SISTER BATTALION AND THE SUBSEQUENT NEED TO REASSESS THE STATE OF THE AMPHIBIAN ASSAULT VEHICLE COMMUNITY, HE WAS A CRITICAL VOICE IN DEVELOPING THE NECESSARY SAFETY AND WATER INTRUSION INSPECTIONS TO IMPROVE SURVIVABILITY AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLES. CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 GRIFFITH'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.
1834 ACV Crewmember
Sergeant Harper served as assistant Section Leader, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Sergeant Harper lead company wide SL-3 accountability of 18 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) worth more than 120 million dollars and provided over 600 hours of hands-on maintenance that included replacing 16 shocks, 24 half-shaft/CV bearings, and repairing 3 gearboxes, directly increasing vehicle readiness across three platoons.
Sergeant Harper served as a vehicle commander and vehicle crew evaluator, qualifying 15 marines for General Skills Training (GST) qualification for upcoming gunnery ranges. He led 35 hours of continuous day/night operations with 18 vehicles while training, evaluating, and certifying ACV crews, reducing reliance on external evaluators while improving platoon-level lethality.
As an ACV commander with 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Sergeant Harper performed above his grade, mentoring junior marines and achieving a distinguished Table VI gunnery score, two major land driving operations, amphibious certification, and the highest ramp inspection score during the battalion commander's inspection.
Sergeant Harper supported large-scale exercises including MWX, ITX, and Steel Knight, executing over 300 MK-19 rounds, over 500 .50 cal rounds, and sustaining three continuous days of high-tempo operations, sustaining vehicle readiness throughout the operation.
During shipboard and cargo operations aboard four naval vessels, Sergeant Harper supervised 15 marines, trained 14 sailors, coordinated the movement of seven tactical vehicles, valued at more than 21 million dollars, executed seven waterborne splashes, and led 350 operational hours, culminating in a meritorious promotion to corporal by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
1812 Tank Gunner
FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTY WHILE SERVING AS TANK GUNNER, COMPANY C, 1ST TANK BATTALION, 1ST MARINE DIVISION (REIN), FROM SEPTEMBER 2019 TO AUGUST 2020. DURING THIS PERIOD, CORPORAL BRITT'S LEADERSHIP, ENTHUSIASM, AND EXPERTISE IN HIS MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN ACCOMPLISHING THE TRAINING AND DIVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF COMPANY C. AS ONE OF THE SENIOR GUNNERS IN THE COMPANY, HIS EXCEPTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF TANK OPERATIONS PROVED INVALUABLE DURING THE DIVESTMENT, RECOMMENDING PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS FOR IRREGULAR PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH PREPARING THE TANKS FOR RAILHEAD OPERATIONS. HIS SOUND DIRECTION AND UNFALTERING ATTENTION TO DETAIL INSTILLED CONFIDENCE IN HIS MARINES, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE TIMELY AND EFFICIENT STAGING OF ALL 17 M1A1 MAIN BATTLE TANKS WELL AHEAD OF ESTABLISHED DEADLINES. IN ADDITION, HIS AFFINITY FOR MILITARY SKILLS ENABLED THE EXECUTION OF A COMPANY-WIDE INTER-SERVICE TRANSFER AND LATERAL MOVE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT RESULTED IN OVER TWENTY MARINES TRAINED ON THE TOPICS OF MANEUVER WARFARE, LAND NAVIGATION, AND CALL FOR INDIRECT FIRE. CORPORAL BRITT'S EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
1812 Tank Gunner
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS TANK GUNNER, COMPANY D, 1ST TANK BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 7, II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD) FROM JANUARY 2013 TO JULY 2013 IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. CORPORAL FLAVIN DISPLAYED UNPARALLELED PROFESSIONALISM AND ENTHUSIASM IN THE EXECUTION OF HIS DUTIES AS A TANK GUNNER. HE PARTICIPATED IN THREE NAMED OPERATIONS AND 41 PATROLS, PROJECTING COMBAT POWER INTO FOUR DISTRICTS ACROSS NORTHERN HELMAND PROVINCE. DURING OPERATION DYNAMIC PARTNER, CORPORAL FLAVIN ENGAGED AND DESTROYED ENEMY FIGHTERS IN HIS SECTOR OVER FIVE DAYS OF COMBAT, WITH AT LEAST FIVE ENEMY FIGHTERS DESTROYED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS ACCURATE AND EFFECTIVE FIRE. ON 13 MAY, WHEN COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY WAS ATTACKED BY A VEHICLE-BORNE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE, CORPORAL FLAVIN IMMEDIATELY TOOK DECISIVE ACTION. HE PERSONALLY TREATED AND CARRIED FOUR CASUALTIES 150 METERS FROM THEIR POINTS OF INJURY TO THE FORWARD AID STATION. CORPORAL FLAVIN'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
1812 Tank Platoon Sergeant
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS PLATOON SERGEANT, THIRD PLATOON, COMPANY D, 4TH TANK BATTALION, 4TH MARINE DIVISION, FROM JANUARY 2016 TO JANUARY 2017. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT JOSHUA A. FERNANDEZ CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. AS A TANK PLATOON SERGEANT, A BILLET NORMALLY RESERVED FOR A STAFF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, SERGEANT FERNANDEZ DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY BEING NAMED THE 4TH MARINE DIVISION NON-COMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR. HIS LEADERSHIP SERVED AS AN EXAMPLE TO BE EMULATED BY HIS FELLOW MARINES. SERGEANT FERNANDEZ LEADS HIS MARINES WITH ENTHUSIASM, LOOKS AFTER THEIR WELFARE, AND CONSTANTLY FINDS TEACHABLE MOMENTS, MAKING SURE ALL HIS MARINES UNDERSTAND THE CAPABILITY OF EACH ASSET IN THE PLATOON. SERGEANT FERNANDEZ'S MINDSET AND CONFIDENCE UNDER PRESSURE WAS EVIDENT IN COMPANY LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS. HE ENSURED MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT BY CONSTANTLY SEEKING WAYS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND COMBAT READINESS ACROSS HIS PLATOON. SERGEANT FERNANDEZ'S UNSURPASSED PROFESSIONALISM AND DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.