GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Seaman Recruit Meaghan Sandler, a native of South Berwick, Maine, graduated as top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, Division 439, earning the Military Excellence Award on Nov. 22.
Sandler said she was excited and honored to receive the MEA.
“I definitely was not expecting it, and I never thought I would win an award like this,” Sandler said.
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 Sandler at the pinnacle of today’s newest sailors; she was awarded a flag letter of commendation for her achievements.
Sandler, 20, is a 2017 graduate of Marshwood High School in South Berwick, Maine, where she played varsity softball. She earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Sandler said she joined the Navy for career opportunities and educational benefits.
“I want to pursue a career in the criminal justice field and believed the Navy could help achieve that goal,” Sandler said. “Also, I want to continue my education and earn a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science.”
Sandler credited her Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Hull Maintenance Technician Lucas Giles, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jeric Martin, and Engineman 1st Class Windhyjoy Guerrero for their leadership and guidance.
“My RDCs pushed me the most throughout boot camp,” Sandler said. “They helped me feel confident and ready whenever I had a test or inspection. They also told sea stories and shared personal experiences that were inspiring and made me feel like I was a part of something much bigger than myself.”
The toughest part of Sandler’s boot camp experience was learning to ask for help.
“I have always been the kind of person to complete tasks by myself,” Sandler said. “When I’m confused or unsure about something, I usually tried to figure it out on my own. It took me a few weeks to realize that I have shipmates who can help me. When I struggled with an evolution, my shipmates always had my back to help me through it. I eventually learned that it’s OK to ask for help.”
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.
Sandler is assigned the rate of intelligence specialist.
After graduation, Sandler will attend Intelligence Specialist “A” School at Dam Neck Naval Base, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Intelligence Specialists assist in every phase of the planning, collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence information. They assemble and analyze multi-source operational intelligence in support of all warfare areas, assist in support of intelligence briefings, reporting, and analytical programs.
For more news from Recruit Training Command visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc/.
“I definitely was not expecting it, and I never thought I would win an award like this,” Sandler said.
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 Sandler at the pinnacle of today’s newest sailors; she was awarded a flag letter of commendation for her achievements.
Sandler, 20, is a 2017 graduate of Marshwood High School in South Berwick, Maine, where she played varsity softball. She earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Sandler said she joined the Navy for career opportunities and educational benefits.
“I want to pursue a career in the criminal justice field and believed the Navy could help achieve that goal,” Sandler said. “Also, I want to continue my education and earn a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science.”
Sandler credited her Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Hull Maintenance Technician Lucas Giles, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jeric Martin, and Engineman 1st Class Windhyjoy Guerrero for their leadership and guidance.
“My RDCs pushed me the most throughout boot camp,” Sandler said. “They helped me feel confident and ready whenever I had a test or inspection. They also told sea stories and shared personal experiences that were inspiring and made me feel like I was a part of something much bigger than myself.”
The toughest part of Sandler’s boot camp experience was learning to ask for help.
“I have always been the kind of person to complete tasks by myself,” Sandler said. “When I’m confused or unsure about something, I usually tried to figure it out on my own. It took me a few weeks to realize that I have shipmates who can help me. When I struggled with an evolution, my shipmates always had my back to help me through it. I eventually learned that it’s OK to ask for help.”
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.
Sandler is assigned the rate of intelligence specialist.
After graduation, Sandler will attend Intelligence Specialist “A” School at Dam Neck Naval Base, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Intelligence Specialists assist in every phase of the planning, collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence information. They assemble and analyze multi-source operational intelligence in support of all warfare areas, assist in support of intelligence briefings, reporting, and analytical programs.
For more news from Recruit Training Command visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc/.