thedrifter
07-13-07, 07:49 AM
Outfitted in the service “C” uniform, one Marine riding in a decorated convertible waved to a crowd of patriotic spectators at the Scripps Ranch and Mira Mesa parades July 4.
Cpl. Shannon Evans, a military police officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, represented service members from all branches of the military as the grand marshal of the Independence Day ceremonies.
“I am extremely honored to represent the Marine Corps along with every other branch of the military,” said Evans. “I am happy to stand up for those who are deployed as well.”
“They couldn’t have picked a better person,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. John Hood, the provost sergeant of H&HS. “She’s a workaholic, an outstanding individual who always steps aside allowing others to be successful any way she can.”
Evans, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, enlisted in the Corps after attending college and working as a skincare advisor.
Upon completion of boot camp, Marine Combat Training, and military police officer school, she received orders to Miramar.
Evans holds the billet of field-training officer for her unit and is responsible for preparing more than 120 military police officers for response to emergency situations.
The corporal trains with her Marines at East Miramar in preparation for responding to incidents ranging from domestic violence calls to common noise complaints.
Besides job proficiency in garrison, Evans has gained her share of combat experience.
Evans deployed to Iraq in 2006 for seven months. While in theater, she worked with the incident response platoon and quick reaction force. The incident response platoon frequently toured Iraqi roads and villages on 12 to 16 hour security patrols. The quick reaction force acts as a security escort for explosive ordnance disposal units.
“I have personally observed her operating to the highest standards in combat and in garrison,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Loux, the staff non-commissioned officer in-charge of military police officers with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. “While in Iraq she continued her college courses online, which was tough at times due to a steady operational tempo. Not even an improvised explosive device blast that cut the back half off the humvee behind her seat could stop Evans. She is the type of Marine that you know you can trust to get any job done, a real go-getter.”
The IED explosion rocked the humvee in which Evans was manning the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. She tumbled around inside the vehicle suffering nerve damage to her right shoulder. As a result, she received the Purple Heart and a Combat Action Ribbon.
Evans’ combat experience, selfless devotion to duty, motivation, job proficiency and volunteer work recently earned her a parking space and title of NCO of the quarter for her unit.
With only two years time-in-service, Evans has already been selected for a meritorious sergeants’ board.
“Evans has been and continues to be a valuable asset and professional Marine who continuously dedicates her time to the Marines under her charge,” said Master Sgt. Eugene Redmon, the MP operations chief for H&HS. “Evans displays maturity that is usually found in senior Marines.”
Cpl. Shannon Evans, a military police officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, represented service members from all branches of the military as the grand marshal of the Independence Day ceremonies.
“I am extremely honored to represent the Marine Corps along with every other branch of the military,” said Evans. “I am happy to stand up for those who are deployed as well.”
“They couldn’t have picked a better person,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. John Hood, the provost sergeant of H&HS. “She’s a workaholic, an outstanding individual who always steps aside allowing others to be successful any way she can.”
Evans, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, enlisted in the Corps after attending college and working as a skincare advisor.
Upon completion of boot camp, Marine Combat Training, and military police officer school, she received orders to Miramar.
Evans holds the billet of field-training officer for her unit and is responsible for preparing more than 120 military police officers for response to emergency situations.
The corporal trains with her Marines at East Miramar in preparation for responding to incidents ranging from domestic violence calls to common noise complaints.
Besides job proficiency in garrison, Evans has gained her share of combat experience.
Evans deployed to Iraq in 2006 for seven months. While in theater, she worked with the incident response platoon and quick reaction force. The incident response platoon frequently toured Iraqi roads and villages on 12 to 16 hour security patrols. The quick reaction force acts as a security escort for explosive ordnance disposal units.
“I have personally observed her operating to the highest standards in combat and in garrison,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Loux, the staff non-commissioned officer in-charge of military police officers with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. “While in Iraq she continued her college courses online, which was tough at times due to a steady operational tempo. Not even an improvised explosive device blast that cut the back half off the humvee behind her seat could stop Evans. She is the type of Marine that you know you can trust to get any job done, a real go-getter.”
The IED explosion rocked the humvee in which Evans was manning the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. She tumbled around inside the vehicle suffering nerve damage to her right shoulder. As a result, she received the Purple Heart and a Combat Action Ribbon.
Evans’ combat experience, selfless devotion to duty, motivation, job proficiency and volunteer work recently earned her a parking space and title of NCO of the quarter for her unit.
With only two years time-in-service, Evans has already been selected for a meritorious sergeants’ board.
“Evans has been and continues to be a valuable asset and professional Marine who continuously dedicates her time to the Marines under her charge,” said Master Sgt. Eugene Redmon, the MP operations chief for H&HS. “Evans displays maturity that is usually found in senior Marines.”