Miramar Marine selected 3rd MAW NCO of the Year
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 20031230183558
Story by Cpl. Jeff Zaccaro



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- In 1997, a 19-year-old girl moved from her hometown of Ocotlan Jalisco, Mexico, to the United States with her father, bringing a valuable homeland work ethic, but only a limited English vocabulary.

Little did anyone know that this girl, Norma Garcia, would emerge six years later as Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Garcia, a sergeant serving the Wing as an aviation operations specialist, enlisted in the Marine Corps' Delayed Entry Program one year after arriving in the states and after finding out that her father couldn't afford to send her to college.

"When I came to America I thought there was only the Army. But when the Marine recruiter contacted me it seemed like a good challenge," she said. "I wanted to do something on my own and something I could be proud of and I really wanted to do something good for this country."

Shortly after graduating recruit training, Garcia started standing out as a stellar Marine at her military occupational specialty school. Although only a private first class at the time, her instructors noted her work ethic.

"At school the barracks manager was impressed by how I always tried to apply everything I learned in boot camp to the fleet," Garcia said. "He made me his scribe, and I was in charge of assigning rooms and giving new Marines tours of the base."

Like any great leader Garcia's actions at school, and to this date, were not for recognition, but for the satisfaction of doing the right things at the right time.

"Since I came from a different country, I appreciate things a little different than some people, so I always try to do the best I can," she said.

Following Garcia's graduation from MOS school, she was selected for an overseas tour in Okinawa, Japan, before being transferred here.

It wasn't long after Garcia arrived here that her superiors started noticing the same traits in her that her barracks manager noticed early in her career.

"Sgt. Garcia doesn't define herself by MOS or duty assignment," said Gunnery Sgt. Butch Trail, who nominated Garcia for the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 NCO of the Quarter for the fourth quarter. "First and foremost she's an NCO so she has a positive influence on many Marines everyday, not just the people she works with."

Garcia shares the same appreciation for her leaders, past and present, as they share for her.

"I owe a lot of thanks to my prior leaders because they have contributed a lot to who I am today," said Garcia. "One of the main reasons I always try to excel and do my best is to show them that their hard work is not in vain."

Perhaps one of the best payoffs to her leaders was going up for, and winning, the MWHS-3 NCO of the Quarter board, and subsequently taking the 3rd MAW NCO of the Quarter board.

Now that Garcia has these two accomplishments under her belt, she will be trying her hand at serving as a Marine Combat Training Instructor at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

"I want to influence new Marines and make sure they stay motivated and know that if they set goals they can achieve anything," Garcia said.

As for Garcia, who has earned her jump wings, she has a few goals of her own.

"I am just finishing up my associates degree, and I am going to work at my bachelors degree while at Camp Pendleton," she said. "I would also like to try to pick up meritorious staff sergeant."

Over the last six years, Garcia has transformed from a young girl unfamiliar with America and the Marine Corps, to a selfless, knowledgeable leader who knows her greatest challenges still lay ahead.

"I know that becoming a MCT instructor is going to be a big challenge, and I am going to have to work harder than I ever have over there," she said.


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...2?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger