Monday, March 18, 2019

Orlando Native Earns Military Excellence Award at Recruit Training Command

by Alan Nunn, Recruit Training Command Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Seaman Recruit Jon Kepa Ibarra, a Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida, graduate and native of Orlando, Florida, graduated as top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, Division, 144, earning the Military Excellence Award on March 15.

Ibarra said he was excited to win the MEA and it has made him more confident.

“Life has its highs and lows and prior to joining the Navy, I believe I had hit one of those lows,” Ibarra said. “Coming into this new career and receiving this award is an incredible reassurance in myself and my capabilities to become a fantastic sailor.”

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. Ibarra was awarded a flag letter of commendation for his achievements.

Ibarra, 26, received an International Baccalaureate diploma from Winter Park High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in entrepreneurship from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He was employed as an independent contractor for educational products, software sales, and utility scale solar development.

Ibarra said he joined the Navy to pursue a more rewarding career.

“Most of the careers I had after college felt unfulfilling,” Ibarra said. “I was really looking for something that would give my life more purpose and meaning, something I would be proud of.”

Ibarra said he was inspired by his father, Vincent Ibarra.

“He immigrated from Spain when he was eight, and lived and created the iconic American dream for himself,” Ibarra said. “He worked his way through college and eventually he and my mother, Diana Ibarra, created their own successful architectural firm. It took a while to pinpoint where my urge to serve came from, but it comes from my desire to give back to my nation for providing me and my family for the life that we now have.”

Ibarra credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Fire Controlman (Aegis) Derek Webb; Operations Specialist 1st Class Adrian Mares, and Naval Aircrew (Operator) 2nd Class Tonya Wright for their leadership and guidance.

“My RDCs had a collective role in my development,” Ibarra said. “Chief Webb, especially, had a major impact in the way that he strives for perfection in everything he does. That is something I believe we share in common. It was through his guidance and strict critique that I believe I was able to receive the MEA.”

Ibarra said becoming a leader was the most difficult part of boot camp.

“For me, as a Recruit Chief Petty Officer, getting an entire division to work cohesively as a singular unit and keeping a calm relaxed demeanor was the biggest challenge,” Ibarra said.

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 30,0000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

Ibarra is assigned the rate of cryptologic technician (collection).

After graduation, Ibarra will attend Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Class “A” school in Pensacola, Florida. Cryptologic Technicians (Collection) operate state-of-the-art computer systems to conduct Information Operations, and they collect, analyze and exploit signals of interest to identify, locate and report worldwide threats. CTRs control and safeguard access to classified material and information systems, and provide tactical and strategic signals

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc/