GREAT LAKES (NNS) — Seaman Recruit Timothy Schoonover, Division 813, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on June 1.
Schoonover, 25, said his motivation for joining the Navy originated during his childhood.“I had a great childhood, some of my fondest memories are from hanging out with friends in my neighborhood,” he said. “I attribute a lot of those memories to the freedom that we have as Americans due to the sacrifice of our armed forces. I feel that it is my duty to protect future generations so they have a chance to have a childhood like mine.”
Schoonover, from Fort Worth, Texas, graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He was employed as a regional supervisor of ground network services for a supply management company in Grapevine, Texas.
Schoonover was assigned the rate of Special Warfare Operator.
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. Schoonover is awarded a flag letter of commendation.
Schoonover said he was honored to be chosen as the MEA winner, adding that there were many other qualified recruits from his division.
“When my RDCs put it to a vote among my peers, I was voted among the top three percent,” Schoonover said. “I felt honored that my peers consider me among one of the highest performing in our division. I believe that winning the MEA was a culmination of doing every task to the best of my ability.”
Schoonover credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Operation Specialist Jocolbia Johnson, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class Shaun Hehir and Engineman 1st Class Kevin Ives for their leadership and guidance.
Schoonover said he drew inspiration from the Navy Core Values of honor, courage and commitment during the MEA selection process. At one point, he was asked what his fourth value would be.
“I said determination because, as silly as it may sound, I think of ‘The Little Engine That Could,’” Schoonover said. “Wake up in the morning, I think I can. Every evolution, I think I can. Get to chow, I knew I could. Go to bed, I knew I could. Something about this response impressed the chiefs and petty officers on the board, I believe.”
Schoonover said his toughest part of boot camp was remaining humble when being corrected, even when thinking he’s right.
“I am working on overcoming this by focusing on the minute details in every task and being open to criticism,” he said.
After graduation, Schoonover will attend the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School in Great Lakes, Illinois. Special Warfare Operators perform a multitude of duties in support of special operations missions and operate on, under and from the sea, in the air and on land. These duties require skills in combat diving, paradrop and air operations, small boat operations, submarine and submersible operations, land warfare, small unit tactics, mounted and dismounted operations, small arms and crew served weapons, explosives, communications, tactical medicine, mission planning, intelligence gathering and interpretation, joint and combined operations, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense measures in all environments including urban, desert, jungle, arctic, and mountain warfare.
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 38,000 to 40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.
For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc/.