GREAT LAKES (NNS) — Seaman Recruit Troy Hays, Division 202, graduated as the top sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on Aug. 11.
Hays, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, joined the Navy for personal and professional growth.
“I was looking for something to challenge me,” Hays said. “I had learned a lot about who I was and what I was capable of, but I knew there was a lot more to learn and I wasn’t going to be able to do that on my own. I had to put myself in an uncomfortable and challenging situation and the Navy provides that.”
Hays,18, is a 2023 graduate of Rutherford County (Tennessee) Virtual School and a high school state swim qualifier.
Hays is assigned the rate of hospital corpsman.
The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award (MEA) 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 Hays at the pinnacle of today’s newest sailors. Hays is awarded a flag letter of commendation as part of this recognition.
Hays is honored to be awarded the MEA.
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity and to be in the place I’m in,” Hays said. “I will continue to give my all in everything I do in my Navy career and in my personal life.”
Hays credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Gunner’s Mate John Speth, Engineman 1st Class Joseph Nowe,and Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jamiah Bradley, for their leadership and guidance. Hays' sister, Carly, also provided incentive and inspiration.
“Unknowingly, Carly motivated me the most while I was at boot camp,” Hays said. “My mom sent a letter explaining my sister had included me in her essay for a college application. It put into perspective how much she paid attention to what I was doing. It gave me even more of a fire to do the best I could and to set a good example, not only for myself but for her as well.”
Hays said being away from home for the first time was the toughest part of boot camp.
“Leaning on God and reading my Bible helped me overcome missing home,” Hays said. “Being disconnected from the world helped me learn to lean more on Him, which brought a lot of peace and comfort. The friendships I made here at RTC are genuine. People care about each other and there’s no way I could have made it through boot camp or won this award without them.”
After graduation, Hays will attend Hospital Corpsman “A” School in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, to learn the basic principles and techniques of patient care and first-aid procedures.
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. More than 35,000 recruits are trained annually at RTC and begin their Navy careers.
For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc/