MOS 59 Electronics Maintenance
5952 NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TECHNICIAN
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HER DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TECHNICIAN, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MAINTENANCE DIVISION, HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER FROM JULY 2020 TO JANUARY 2021. AS A NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TECHNICIAN, CORPORAL JONES COMPLETED OVER 1,030 HOURS OF PLANNED AND CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE, ENSURING THE HIGHEST STATE OF READINESS OF COMMUNICATIONS, NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, AND WEATHER SYSTEMS IN SUPPORT OF OVER 16,300 FLIGHT OPERATIONS. THROUGH HER UNTIRING EFFORTS, CORPORAL JONES TOOK ON THE DUTIES OF TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR AND UTILIZED THE NAVAL LOGISTICS LIBRARY TO RESEARCH, ACQUIRE, AND ORGANIZE 112 TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS REQUIRED FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MAINTENANCE DIVISION TECHNICIANS TO EXECUTE THEIR MISSION CORRECTLY AND EFFICIENTLY. HER UNFAILING WORK ETHIC AIDED IN THE DIVISION'S 100 PERCENT PASSING RATE DURING THE NAVAL AIR TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION INSPECTION. CORPORAL JONES' EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, KEEN JUDGMENT AND LOYAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HER AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
5952 NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TECHNICIAN
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TECHNICIAN, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MAINTENANCE DIVISION, HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER FROM JULY 2020 TO JANUARY 2021. AS A NAVIGATIONAL AIDS TECHNICIAN, LANCE CORPORAL PEPIK COMPLETED OVER 1,100 HOURS OF PLANNED AND CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE IN SUPPORT OF OVER 16,300 FLIGHT OPERATIONS. STEPPING OUT OF HIS NORMAL DUTIES AND TAKING OVER AS SAFETY WORK CENTER SUPERVISOR, HE OVERSAW 150 MAINTENANCE ACTION ITEMS AND TOOK PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL REQUIRED PERIODIC INSPECTIONS REQUIRED FOR A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT. HE MAINTAINED AND ENSURED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT WAS IN COMPLIANCE AT ALL OF THE 15 BUILDINGS UNDER THE MAINTENANCE DIVISION'S RESPONSIBILITY. HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION ENSURED A 100 PERCENT PASSING RATE FOR BOTH THE NAVAL SAFETY CENTER INSPECTION AND NAVAL AIR TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION INSPECTION. LANCE CORPORAL PEPIK'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, KEEN JUDGMENT AND LOYAL 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.
5954 Air Traffic Control Communications Instructor
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS MARINE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTOR, AVIATION MAINTENANCE SQUADRON 2, MARINE AVIATION TRAINING SUPPORT GROUP 23, NAVAL AVIATION TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER PENSACOLA, FLORIDA FROM FEBRUARY 2017 TO JULY 2020. STAFF SERGEANT GARAY EDUCATED 144 ENTRY-LEVEL TRAINING MARINES IN THE MARINE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL COMMUNICATION TECHNICIAN PIPELINE, RESULTING IN INCREASED APTITUDE AND READINESS OF THE FLEET. DUE TO HIS KNOWLEDGE AND PROFICIENCY OF COURSE MATERIAL, HE CERTIFIED FIVE ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTORS BY SUPERVISING 3,070 HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. AS THE KEY MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE CUSTODIAN, STAFF SERGEANT GARAY ACCOUNTED FOR 50 CONTROLLED CRYPTOGRAPHIC ITEMS VALUED AT TWO MILLION DOLLARS WITH ZERO INCIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO HIS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES, STAFF SERGEANT GARAY DEDICATED 109 MAINTENANCE HOURS ENSURING MORE THAN 40 MILLION DOLLARS OF EQUIPMENT REMAINED MISSION READY FOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE TESTS. STAFF SERGEANT GARAY'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
5974 Tactical Data Systems Crew Chief
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS TACTICAL DATA SYSTEMS CREW CHIEF AND PLATOON SERGEANT, EARLY WARNING AND CONTROL DETACHMENT, MARINE AIR CONTROL SQUADRON 2, FROM JUNE 2017 TO AUGUST 2020. DURING THIS TIME, SERGEANT SYKES DISPLAYED UNPARALLELED LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE SHOWN BY TANGIBLE RESULTS WITHIN THE DETACHMENT. SERGEANT SYKES IMPROVED DETACHMENT PHYSICAL STANDARDS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PERFORMING AS TACTICAL DATA SYSTEM MAINTENANCE PLATOON SERGEANT, LEADING OVER 40 MARINES IN MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY. SERGEANT SYKES SUPPORTED AND SUPERVISED WEAPONS AND TACTICS INSTRUCTOR COURSES 1-19 AND 2-19 AS CREW CHIEF, TOTALING OVER 600 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS FLIGHT OPERATIONS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO A FULLY OPERATIONAL TACTICAL AIR OPERATIONS CENTER. SERGEANT SYKES'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
5979 Air Defense Systems Technician
Throughout the year, Sergeant Zhigimont exhibited his leadership, initiative, and technical experience in every position and billet he held. When confronted with adversity amid situational chaos, Sergeant Zhigimont habitually established a steadfast, calm, and level mindset, characteristics of a leader that should be sought after in a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). As a mentor to his junior Marines and advisor to his superiors, Sergeant Zhigimont's is depended on for his expertise. Determined and proficient in this work, the prolific results he produces confirms that he is vital to the success of the mission.
While attached to 2D LAR Bn, Reconnaissance, Counter Reconnaissance (RXR) Company, Sergeant Zhigimont participated in four Littoral Exercises (LEX). During these exercises, he supervised and tested the capabilities of the Marine All Domain Command and Control (MADC2), Mini MOJO (Move Out/Jump Off), and Virtual Aegis Weapon System (VAWS), effectively permitting the targeting of actionable data. He continually maintained the connection between participating units through JREAP C with sensors over MUOS radios.
As the Maintenance Chief for Tomahawk Thunder 23 and MISTEX 3-23, Sergeant Zhigimont supervised and ensured the proper conduct of maintenance and setup of the Aviation Command and Control System (AC2S) was completed. This ensured that maximum data capabilities would be available during each exercise. He provided a thorough functions check of the AC2S and other command and control (C2) systems such as an Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), which produced fully automated support for planning, coordinating, controlling, and executing fires and effects. If not for Sergeant Zhigimont's oversight and aptitude working with the C2 systems, air support operators would not have been able to integrate fires and live sorties within their airspace. Throughout both operations, he was responsible for 2.03 million dollars of Direct Air Support Center assets and the facilitation of multiple data links, including Link 16, J-Voice, JREAP A, and JREAP C, which were pertinent to the mission success.
Sergeant Zhigimont served as the Platoon Sergeant, of the Communication and Electronics Maintenance Platoon within Bravo Company, a billet normally held by a Staff Sergeant. As a newly promoted Sergeant, Sergeant Zhigimont demonstrated a level of maturity that far exceeds that of his rank. Beyond his normal duties as a senior technician and Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant Zhigimont also holds the Military Occupational Specialties of Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival (MCIWS) and Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor (MAI). Outside of running the physical fitness program within the company, Sergeant Zhigimont trained Marines in water survival and martial arts skills and techniques, improving the skills of over 200 Marines across the Marine Aircraft Wing.
Sergeant Zhigimont proves to be an exceedingly valuable and vital asset within the Marine Corps and certainly within MASS-1. He constantly searches for avenues of self-improvement and opportunities to challenge himself but does not claim credit for successes. Sergeant Zhigimont humbly contributes to the success of others without expectation of acknowledgement or recognition. Sergeant Zhigimont truly exemplifies the traits of a Non-Commissioned Officer and seamlessly models those desired characteristics on a daily basis.
5979 Air Defense Systems Technician
DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SERGEANT SYKES WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT AND MARINES THAT SUPPORTED OVER 40 TEST AND ENGINEERING EVENTS. HIS EFFORTS LED TO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MOBILE TACTICAL AIR OPERATIONS MODULE, AIDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMON AVIATION COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM, AND INFLUENCED FIELDING AND ACQUISITION DECISIONS. HIS ENDURING ENTHUSIASM TOWARDS MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO A GUNG HO ATMOSPHERE AMONG HIS MARINES WHICH ENABLED THEM TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF RELIABLE PERFORMANCE AND EQUIPMENT READINESS IN THE FACE OF A DEMANDING OPERATIONAL TEMPO. SERGEANT SYKES'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
5979 Air Defense Systems Technician
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN, MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON 3 FROM SEPTEMBER 2021 TO DECEMBER 2025. STAFF SERGEANT COLBERG EXEMPLIFIED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL ACUMEN, BOLSTERING UNIT CAPABILITIES AND OPERATIONAL READINESS. HIS MASTERY OF DATA SYSTEMS ENSURED SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY AND OPTIMAL SENSOR-TO-SHOOTER INTEGRATION IN SUPPORT OF STEEL KNIGHT, WEAPONS AND TACTICS INSTRUCTOR COURSE, AND JOINT MARINE AIR GROUND TASK FORCE LEVEL EXERCISES. HIS EXPERTISE IN TACTICAL SYSTEMS EMPLOYMENT INSPIRED COMPLETE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, REFLECTING LEADERSHIP THAT EXTENDED BEYOND TECHNICAL OPERATIONS. AS ACTING COMPANY FIRST SERGEANT AND TACTICAL DATA SYSTEMS STAFF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE, HE OPERATED WITH AUTONOMY, PRECISION AND UNWAVERING INITIATIVE DRIVING EXCELLENCE IN MOS PROFICIENCY, DISCIPLINE, AND MORALE DIRECTLY SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR EXCELLENCE AND DRIVING OPERATIONAL SUPERIORITY. STAFF SERGEANT COLBERG'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.
5979 MADIS Crew Chief
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS MARINE AIR DEFENSE INTEGRATED SYSTEM (MADIS) CREW CHIEF, 3RD LITTORAL ANTI AIR BATTALION, FROM APRIL 12TH 2026 TO APRIL 28TH 2026. SERGEANT MONTERO DISPLAYED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INITIATIVE BY INDEPENDENTLY MANAGING THE STAGING AND OPERATIONAL READINESS OF OVER 35 MILLION DOLLARS IN MADIS ASSETS AT NAVAL STATION LEOVIGILDO GANTIOQUI. IN THE ABSENCE OF PLATOON LEADERSHIP, HE ESTABLISHED A RIGOROUS DAILY TRAINING REGIMENT THAT DRASTICALLY ENHANCED THE TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY OF JUNIOR GUNNERS. DURING THE KINETIC PHASE OF THE INTEGRATED AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE EXERCISE, HIS TACTICAL COMMAND DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE CONFIRMED DESTRUCTION OF 17 CLASS 2 AND CLASS 3 UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS. NOTABLY, SERGEANT MONTERO OVERSAW THE FIRST-EVER FIM-92 STINGER ENGAGEMENT OF A BANSHEE TARGET IN THE JOINT FORCE, SOLIDIFYING THE MADIS PLATFORM'S LETHALITY AGAINST ADVANCED AERIAL THREATS. BY HIS UNWAVERING INITIATIVE, PERSEVERING EFFORTS, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY, SERGEANT MONTERO REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
5979 Section Leader, Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS SECTION LEADER, ALPHA BATTERY, 3D LOW ALTITUDE AIR DEFENSE BATTALION, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 18, 1ST MARINE AIRCRAFT WING FROM NOVEMBER 2025 TO FEBRUARY 2026. SERGEANT SIMS WAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY HAND-SELECTED TO SERVE AS A SECTION LEADER, A BILLET TRADITIONALLY HELD BY STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. HIS COMMITMENT TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE UNIT DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENSE TO III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT SIMS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED THREE MAJOR EXERCISES, TACTICALLY LEADING 17 MARINES ACROSS THE FIRST ISLAND CHAIN AND JUNGLE ENVIRONMENT. HIS SKILLFUL EXECUTION AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING IN HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE TRAINING AREAS HAS RESULTED IN 35 SUCCESSFUL SIMULATED ENGAGEMENTS OF HOSTILE AIRCRAFT. SERGEANT SIMS' RELENTLESS DEDICATION TO THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HIS MARINES CULTIVATED A HIGHLY LETHAL SECTION FULLY PREPARED TO EXECUTE REAL-WORLD OPERATIONS. SERGEANT SIMS' INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL 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.