6672 Aviation Supply Specialist

First Sergeant Jeffery R. Bowers is highly recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his exceptional service and outstanding contributions to 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion and to the United States Marine Corps. Throughout his long career in the Marine Corps, First Sergeant Bowers and demanded quality results from himself and his Marines. Since enlisting in November 2004, First Sergeant Bowers has consistently demonstrated superior leadership, professional competence, and an unwavering commitment to the readiness, welfare, and development of Marines. A native of Sanford, Florida, he completed recruit training at MCRD Parris Island in February 2005 and began a distinguished career marked by operational experience, instructional leadership, and senior enlisted stewardship across the Active and Reserve Components.

Beginning his career as an aviation logistics specialist with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-14 in Cherry Point, North Carolina, First Sergeant Bowers quickly distinguished himself through performance and leadership, earning meritorious promotions and recognition as 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter.

He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later served with Presidential Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), where he supported over 25 Presidential airlift missions worldwide. His assignments as an instructor, operations SNCOIC, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Chief Instructor, Information Operations Specialist, and senior enlisted leader across multiple commands reflect a breadth of experience that shaped his exceptional ability to lead Marines at every level. His academic achievements, including advanced degrees in management and cybersecurity, further exemplify his dedication to professional excellence.

As a senior enlisted leader, First Sergeant Bowers has dedicated himself to providing the leadership, mentorship, and realistic training that the Marines and sailors in his charge deserve. As the senior enlisted leader at Headquarters and Service Company 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, First Sergeant Bowers was directly responsible for the readiness, accountability, and professional development of 160 Marines, ensuring full compliance with all Marine Corps Annual Training Requirements and MOS proficiency standards. His disciplined training management and emphasis on individual accountability directly enhanced company-wide operational effectiveness and ensured Marines remained fully prepared to meet mission requirements.

First Sergeant Bowers maintained an aggressive and precise administrative battle rhythm, overseeing the completion of over 200 JEPES occasions and 60 Fitness Reports, guaranteeing accurate, timely, and equitable performance documentation. His efforts ensured Marines and leaders were properly evaluated, developed, and postured for future advancement and increased responsibility.

Demonstrating exceptional stewardship of recognition programs, First Sergeant Bowers processed more than 15 personal awards in strict accordance with Battalion and Force Headquarters Group timelines, ensuring deserving Marines received timely recognition. His actions directly improved morale, retention, and command climate. Additionally, he completed three Meritorious, Marine of the Quarter, and NCO of the Quarter packages, reinforcing a culture that values excellence and performance.

Since joining Headquarter and Services Company 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, First Sergeant Bowers significantly strengthened the company's leadership foundation by personally mentoring six Marine Officers and 30 Staff Noncommissioned Officers. Through deliberate counseling, professional guidance, and example-based leadership, he reinforced standards of morale, inclusion, diversity, accountability, and ethical leadership, ensuring these principles were upheld at the highest levels within the company.

Serving as a key advisor to the Company Commander, First Sergeant Bowers assisted in the development and implementation of administrative process improvements, including a new RIDT form, streamlined billeting request procedures, and enhanced accountability systems. These initiatives improved administrative efficiency, reduced friction, and established sustainable processes benefiting the command beyond his tenure.

First Sergeant Bowers' leadership extended beyond routine duties as he spearheaded all activities for the 250th Marine Corps Birthday Ball, coordinating planning, logistics, and execution of a complex large-scale event. His efforts preserved Marine Corps tradition, strengthened esprit de corps, and fostered camaraderie among Marines, families, and leadership.

First Sergeant Bowers' professionalism, command presence, and tireless dedication to Marines and mission significantly enhanced unit readiness, administrative excellence, and command climate. His ability to balance operational requirements with the welfare and development of Marines reflects the highest traditions of Marine Corps senior enlisted leadership.

First Sergeant Bowers' superior performance, steadfast devotion to duty, and exemplary service reflect great credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He is highly deserving of the Meritorious Service Medal both for these specific actions and as the culmination of 22 years of faithful and honorable service.

For outstanding meritorious service while serving as First Sergeant of Headquarters and Services Company 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion 4th Marine Division from January 2025 to March 2026.

First Sergeant Bowers' superior performance of duties culminated his 25 years of honorable and dedicated military service.

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Commanding Officer, NR CNAL SUPPLY

From day-one, he aggressively cultivated relationships within the COMNAVAIRLANT Enterprise and with his Active Duty counterparts, re-focusing the unit on direct operational support from the waterfront up to COMNAVAIRLANT N41 to improve unit war fighting skills. He doubled the unit's support of COMNAVAIRLANT Staff, Aircraft Carrier Supply Divisions and Aviation Support Divisions. He skillfully used all sources of funding available to him, increasing Warfare Readiness funding from 58% to 84% of the Unit's annual budget. Exploring broader training possibilities, he brokered opportunities for sailors to learn more realistic Warfighting skills on underway Carriers and overseas Aviation Support Divisions. Annual Operational Support jumped from 22 days per member in 2023 to 33 days in 2025, a 50% improvement. There were a total of 1120 days of Active Duty Operational Support to Naval Aviation Units during his command. He and 5 Junior Officers, 100% of those eligible, have completed Naval Aviation Supply Officer qualifications. He personally conducted site visits to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain seeking out relevant, real-world Operational Level of War Annual Training opportunities for Unit sailors. Because of the trust developed between him and the COMNAVAIRLANT N41, the Unit has been tasked to lead an ongoing Carrier Air Wing Supply Training Mission at Naval Air Station Fallon, NV for all deploying Carrier Air Wing Supply Departments.

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6672 Aviation Supply Officer

Over a span of three weeks, 380 hours were dedicated to translating crucial communications, which significantly enhanced interoperability and readiness between the U.S. and Armenian forces during peacekeeping and stability operations. This effort facilitated effective joint communication among key leaders, enabling them to address logistical challenges, coordinate firing range setup and execution, manage transportation requirements, and oversee base facilities for over 300 military and civilian personnel.

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MOS 6672 - Aviation Supply Specialist

Lance Corporal Walter Melo is enthusiastically recommended for the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as an Aviation Supply Specialist, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49 (MALS-49), Supply Management Division (SMD), Audit Branch from 14 March 2022 to 20 August 2022.
While serving in the MALS-49 SMD Audit Branch, Lance Corporal Melo was an integral part of the overall Aviation Supply Department's (ASD) readiness. Due to his outstanding work ethic, attention to detail, and technical skill, he quickly qualified himself on the Aviation Supply Desktop Internal Audit Processes. While conducting the internal SMD Appendix G audits, he identified and corrected a variety of serious discrepancies inside the divisions which directly enabled the ASD to improve the overall score from 60 percent to an unprecedented 88 percent during the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Functional Area Re-Inspection (FAI).

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MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS A MARINE AVIATION SUPPLY SPECIALIST COURSE INSTRUCTOR AT MARINE AVIATION TRAINING SUPPORT SQUADRON ONE, MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI FROM JULY 2013 TO SEPTEMBER 2015. SERGEANT MOORE'S SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES HIGHLIGHTS THE CULMINATION OF SIX YEARS OF HONORABLE AND DEDICATED SERVICE. IN 2010, SERGEANT MOORE SERVED AS THE NCOIC OF THE SUPPLY SHIPPING BRANCH WHERE HE HANDLED OVER 600 REPAIRABLE RETROGRADES FOR TEN SQUADRONS. IN 2011, HE DEPLOYED WITH HMH 366 TO DJIBOUTI, AFRICA WHERE HE PROCESSED OVER 700 REQUISITIONS AND MAINTAINED AN INVENTORY OF OVER 1600 LINE ITEMS. HE DEMONSTRATED SUPERIOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES AND OUTSTANDING CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION SKILLS WHICH WAS EVIDENCED BY GRADUATING NINE COURSES SERVING OVER 130 STUDENTS, WITH AN OVERALL GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 96 PERCENT. SERGEANT MOORE SPENT COUNTLESS ON AND OFF DUTY HOURS INVESTING IN STUDENTS' SCHOOL WORK, AND ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE MINI MALS EFFICIENCY AND HELPED TO STREAMLINE THE CURRICULUM. HIS INITIATVE HELPED TO CREATE A MOCK NALCOMIS DATABASE TO REDUCE STRESS ON INSTRUCTORS WHILE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO LEARN AT THEIR OWN PACE WITH A SIMULATED SYSTEM. SERGEANT MOORE'S 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.

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PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS AN AVIATION SUPPLY SPECIALIST, AVIATION SUPPLY DEPARTMENT, MARINE HELICOPTER SQUADRON ONE, QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, FROM APRIL 2010 TO JUNE 2013. THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD, PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS COULTER CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HIS DILIGENCE MADE POSSIBLE THE COMPLETION OF THE AVIATION SUPPLY DEPARTMENT'S COMMANDING GENERAL'S INSPECTION WITH ZERO DISCREPANCIES. HE METICULOUSLY MANAGED THE REPAIRABLES WAREHOUSE, MAINTAINING STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AN INVENTORY OF IN EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND LINE ITEMS VALUED AT MORE THAN THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS WHILE MAINTAINING ONE HUNDRED PERCENT INVENTORY VALIDITY. ADDITIONALLY, HE CLOSELY MONITORED THE ACCURATE AND TIMELY PROCESSING OF 1,234 RETROGRADE COMPONENTS DEEMED BEYOND CAPABLE MAINTENANCE. HIS ACTIONS ENSURED THE RECEIPT OF FINANCIAL CREDIT, PREVENTING TWENTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN POTENTIAL CARCASS BILLS, AND ENSURED CRITICAL COMPONENTS WERE READILY AVAILABLE FOR THE FLYING SQUADRON. PETTY OFFICER COULTER'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.