Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Southport Native Earns Military Excellence Award at Recruit Training Command


by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Seaman Recruit Elizabeth Kronebusch, a South Brunswick High School graduate and Southport, North Carolina native, recently graduated from Recruit Training Command (RTC), Division 263, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) as top Sailor for her division.
The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award (MEA) is the top award presented to the number one recruit of their graduating training group. The MEA is awarded to the recruit who best exemplifies the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork. The award placed her at the pinnacle of today's newest Sailors; she was awarded a flag letter of commendation for her achievements.
“Finding out that I earned the MEA was an incredible and much unexpected shock,” said Kronebusch. “I came to boot camp with the expectation to graduate similar to any other. I had no idea that in just a few weeks I would be named my training group’s top recruit. It is an amazing and inspiring feeling to know that I can achieve such a great accomplishment with the mentorship and support from my outstanding recruit division commanders and divisional shipmates."
Kronebusch, joined the Navy to have an impactful and meaningful purpose in her life. Through the Navy, she believes her actions will have an impact on her family and other U.S. citizens. In addition, the Navy offers many education opportunities alongside a steady and secure lifestyle.
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, Kronebusch will attend Nuclear Machinist’s Mate “A” School.  She will then go to Nuclear Propulsion School and finally Prototype School.  Machinist Mate duties in nuclear propulsion plants include operating reactor control, propulsion and power generation systems. She will be able to choose between serving on an aircraft carrier and volunteering for submarine duty.
-- Ensign Seth Schaeffer, RTC Public Affairs
For more information visit: http://www.navy.mil; http://www.facebook.com/usnavy; or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy. For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/rtc/