NCO of the Quarter!!

Congratulations Chad!

This past July, Chad was awarded with Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Quarter!

NCO of the Quarter is a big deal - and pretty darn competitive. Basically, a superior needs to write a letter of recommendation to the Sgt. Major of the battalion. Once there, candidates are scrutinized and compared based on their physical fitness scores, rifle scores, success in their job, etc. Then someone is picked - and this Summer - it was Chad!

As a Marine - this is a big deal - his picture goes up on the wall in the headquarters building and a letter commendation goes into his permanent record.

As far as the community goes - it is a HUGE deal! Chad has had to dress up twice now to go to community events in his honor.

In August, the Silverdale Rotary Club hosted a luncheon for him and other Marines and Sailors of the Quarter. At this event everyone was given a plaque and a gift certificate, "in recognition of their outstanding military performance and service to their country."

Then later that month, the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce hosted an event to honor them again. This time, businesses from around the city donated their time and gifts to these amazing people. Here he was awarded a certificate and numerous "thank you" gifts - including a Marine Corps. watch and a few gift cards. At his table sat, James Donaldson, an N.B.A. All-Star in 1988. Pretty amazing!

Being the NCO of the Quarter puts Chad up for Marine of the year! We'll know if this is the case by November.

Chad is an amazing Marine. Its just icing that the Marine Corps. has recognized this. Congrats my love!!!

A Dress Blue/White Parade

Last week Chad invited me to a "Parade" on base that he had to go to. Neither of us really knew what this was, but we knew it was a community event, with lots of Marines and Sailors in their dress blues and whites.

The night was very structured. Starting with the Navy band, then the bagpipes. There was then a long procession of men and women in uniform - starting with the entire history of Marine uniforms and epic events throughout their existence. Then officers, then a march of all the units on the base. There was even a retierment ceremony thrown in. A very impressive part was the inter-service drill. There were 4 Marines and 4 Sailors with rifles - throwing them, spinning them, up the line down the line - they looked as thought they were dancing, all in perfect sync. An announcer was explaining everything, who they were, why they were saying what they were saying, why certain things were done as such. It was very well choreographed.









The best part was the end, when they gave a 21 gun salute and re-enacted the Iwo Jima Memorial Statue.

Apparently they have these parades about once a month. This one was very much about the history of the Marines, I am hoping the next might focus on the Navy.