2013 MCA&F Ground Awards Dinner

MCA hosted the 10th Annual Ground Awards Dinner on Thursday, 6 June 2013 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Co-hosted with the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations (PP&O), the dinner provided the opportunity to recognize the outstanding leadership of the top performing officers and enlisted Marines in the ground combat community during 2012 and featured General James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps as the guest speaker and senior awards presenter. The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Micheal Barrett assisted the Commandant on stage with the award presentations.

A no-host social hour and VIP reception for award recipients, families, award sponsors and General Officers preceded the dinner and awards presentation ceremony. As the reception concluded, dinner guests were summoned to the banquet hall with the assistance of a bugler and then enjoyed a brief but thrilling concert by the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps who played a medley of upbeat marches and traditional ceremonial music including, “Uncommon Valor,” the theme from the movie “Silverado,” Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” and the National Anthem.

The room was called to order by MCA&F’s National Capital Area Representative, SgtMaj Kevin Bennett, USMC (Ret) and the guests then observed a traditional presentation of the colors ceremony presented by the color guard from Marine Barracks, Washington along with the National Anthem and, following the Marines Hymn, marched out followed in short order by the Drum and Bugle Corps.

Sgt Maj Bennett then introduced MCA&F President and CEO, MajGen Edward Usher, USMC (Ret). MajGen Usher welcomed the guests and observed that the dinner was the 10th annual dinner to recognize the best and bravest in the ground combat community. He said he was honored to co-host the dinner with HQMC PP&O Division and pointed out that LtGen Richard Tryon, Deputy Commandant for PP&O was moving on to a new assignment.

Needling the other Deputy Commandants in attendance who also co-sponsor awards dinners with MCA&F he said that this dinner just set an attendance record to spur them on to greater efforts to get their communities to attend future events. He went on to recognize the many VIP’s in attendance including General Amos and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General John M. Paxton, as well as retired LtGen Carl Fulford and retired General Charles Wilhelm. As the Ground Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with an annual meeting of the Marine Corps’ Ground Board which includes attendance of the Division Commanders, he also recognized MajGen Ron Bailed, CG of 1st MarDiv, BGen James Lukeman , CG of 2d MarDiv, BGen Frederick Padilla, CG of 3d MarDiv and BGen James Hartsell, CG of 4th MarDiv.

Turning to special guests in the room, he acknowledged a number of previous Leftwich trophy recipients in the room and made special mention of the parents of the namesake for the Zembiec Award, Don and JoAnn Zembiec. He concluded by thanking all MCA&F members for their support and then called on the Chaplain of the Marine Corps, RADM Margaret Kibben, USN to provide grace for the dinner. Guests then turned to a sumptuous meal of NY Strip Steak. Following Dinner, SgtMaj Bennett again took the stage and introduced LtGen Richard Tryon, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies & Operations (PP&O). LtGen Tryon took the stage and recognized many of the same attendees previously acknowledged and specifically singled out MajGen Usher and MCA&F Board Member, MajGen Harry Jenkins for MCA&F efforts to support Marines.

He reflected a bit on the auspicious date of the evening’s dinner pointing out that not only was it the anniversary for the D-Day landings in Normandy, but it was also the anniversary with the 5th and 6th Marines advanced into battle through the wheat fields at Belleau Wood in WW-I, relating a few anecdotes about terms and sayings that came into Marine lore as a result. Touching on the subject of the Ground Board, he mentioned that it served to foster innovation, tactics, technologies and procedures to keep ground combat Marines effective and that the dinner was held annually in conjunction with its meeting to explore those ideas and thus a very fitting setting for the dinner. He then attempted to introduce General Amos but was humorously cut short from doing that by the Commandant who came on stage as he began the introduction and put his hand over LtGen Tryon’s mouth to prevent him from continuing.

General Amos took the stage recognized several in the audience including MajGen Buck Beddard and thanked them for attendance. Ruefully looking back at the long week that had included long and stressful testimony to Congress, he quipped that “…there was no shortage of anxieties in Washington, D.C and mentioned that the JCS testimony that week had involved over three straight hours without opportunity for a head call-which brought a laugh from the audience.

Turning to the subject of his remarks, he mentioned that he reserved speaking at the Ground Awards Dinner for himself. He explained that when he took over command of II MEF he felt comfortable with the aviation and logistics elements because of his background and surrounded himself with staff that was almost exclusively 0302 (Infantry) and that he fought with them through the second battle of Fallujah and the extended campaign at Ramadi in an expanded battle space. He said that over those 2 years with II MEF he developed love and a unique feeling of being bonded with the infantry that led to the feeling that they were “MY” ground forces – a feeling that intensified since then to the extent that he “…always wants to be in touch with his ground forces…” wants to stay plugged in to infantry issues and asserted that “EVERYTHING” in the Marine Corps centers on infantry battalions.

His remarks were brief and he concluded his remarks by saying that he was proud and honored to be there and thanked the parents in the audience for their sacrifices.

Following the guest speaker’s remarks, the following awards were presented with General Amos, along with LtGen Tryon, Division Commanders (or their representative) and award sponsors assisting in the presentations. The following awards were presented:

2012 Marine of the Year Award – 1st Marine Division – Sponsored by Battelle and MCA&F –
Corporal Brandon Wayne

2012 Marine of the Year Award – 2d Marine Division – Sponsored by American Systems and MCA&F
Staff Sergeant Nicholas Collins

2012 Marine of the Year Award – 3d Marine Division – Sponsored by ITT, Excelis and MCA&F
Sergeant Matthew J. Fogleson

2012 Marine of the Year Award – 4th Marine Division – Sponsored by Engility and MCA&F
Sergeant Joseph V. Dugan

Chambers Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Company Grade Officer in the Marine Reserve Component – Sponsored by Booz Allen Hamilton and MCA&F
Captain Dustin Hammit

MARSOC NCO/Critical Skills Operator of the Year – Sponsored by FLIR and MCA&F
Master Sergeant John Bailly

Zembiec Award for Outstanding Leadership in the USMC Forces Special Operations Command – Sponsored by Lockheed Martin and MCA&F
Captain Matthew Manoukian

The Zembiec Award was presented posthumously to the parents of Captain Manoukian, Pete and Patty Manoukian.

Hulbert Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Marine Gunner – Sponsored by Nammo and MCA&F
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin S. Gonzalez

Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership
Captain Benjamin M. Middendorf

For biographies of the award recipients and the namesakes for the named awards, visit the dinner program.

At the reception

MCA&F Awards Display

Sgt Maj Bennett calls the room to order

Drum and Bugle Corps in action

Color Guard Ceremony

MCA&F President & CEO, MajGen Ed Usher welcomes guests

Chaplain Kibben’s invocation

LtGen Richard Tryon tries to introduce the Commandant – Unsuccessfully!

General Amos addresses the Guests

2012 Marine of the Year Award – 3d Marine Division –Sergeant Matthew J. Fogleson

2012 Marine of the Year Award – 4th Marine Division – Sergeant Joseph V. Dugan

Chambers Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Company Grade Officer in the Marine Reserve Component –Captain Dustin Hammit

MARSOC NCO/Critical Skills Operator of the Year – Master Sergeant Johyn Bailly

Zembiec Award for Outstanding Leadership in the USMC Forces Special Operations Command – Captain Matthew Manoukian
The Zembiec Award was presented posthumously to the parents of Captain Manoukian, Pete and Patty Manoukian.

Hulbert Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Marine Gunner –Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin S. Gonzalez

Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership - Captain Benjamin M. Middendorf