By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Seaman Recruit Edward Arpa, a New Port Richey, Florida native, recently graduated from Recruit Training Command (RTC), Division 267, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) as top Sailor for his division.
The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award is the top
award presented to the No. 1 recruit of their graduating training group. The
MEA is awarded to the recruit that best exemplifies the qualities of
enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork. The award placed him
at the pinnacle of today’s newest Sailors; he was awarded a flag letter of
commendation for his achievements.
Arpa was surprised by the MEA selection.
“Honestly, I never saw it coming, not before I was in boot camp, nor when
I was in it,” said Arpa. “It is truly an honor to claim this award, and without
a doubt, I couldn’t have done it without my shipmates and RDCs. It was my
shipmates who allowed me to lead them throughout both the rough and easy times
in boot camp and it was my RDCs who mentored me on what being a leader actually
meant.”
Arpa, moved to the United States at age 7 from the Philippines and
joined the Navy to follow his childhood dream of growing up to become somebody
who had the ability and capability to rise above others and protect those
around him.
Prior to joining the Navy, he was enrolled in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps for four years at J.W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
His position within NJROTC was the physical fitness officer.
“Initially, I never really sought out to do much in boot camp, mostly due
to my recruiters encouraging me to ‘lay low,’ but a week into it I found myself
leading others within my division, being the recruit chief petty officer. That,
by itself, left me speechless. Then, a few weeks later my RDCs announcing that
I won the Military Excellence Award simply blew my mind,” he added.
Boot camp is approximately eight weeks and all enlistees into the U.S.
Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness,
seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with
lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. About 30,000
to 40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.
After graduation, Arpa will attend Nuclear Machinist’s Mate “A” School,
followed by nuclear propulsion school and finally prototype school. Machinist’s
Mate duties in nuclear propulsion plants include operating reactor control,
propulsion and power generation systems. He will be able to choose between
serving on an aircraft carrier and volunteering for submarine duty.
- - Alan Nunn, RTC Public Affairs