GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Seaman Recruit Aristide Kongnyuy, a sailor from Cameroon, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, Division 185, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) on July 21.
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Kongnyuy was honored to receive the MEA.
“This award signifies that I did not just overcome my fears, but I put in 110 percent," said Kongnyuy. “It will serve to motivate me to put forth all I have throughout my Navy career.”
Kongnyuy earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Buea (Cameroon) in 2018. He graduated from Government Bilingual High School in Ndop, Cameroon, where he participated in soccer and volleyball. Kongnyuy speaks French, English, Lamnso and Pidgin. He is a certified soccer referee and was employed as a heating and air conditioning technician.
Kongnyuy, 29, joined the Navy for professional and personal development.
“I wanted to make myself a better person,” said Kongnyuy. “I realized the military has the tools I needed. The Navy has allowed me to overcome my fear of water, learn how to swim, and become part of the greatest Navy in the world.”
Kongnyuy credited his Recruit Division Commanders (RDC), Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Edward Sembrano, Damage Controlman 1st Class Winzel Cabarrubias, and Hosptial Corpsman 1st Class Savannah Buza for their leadership and guidance.
“I received words of encouragement, understanding, and support from all of my RDCs,” said Kongnyuy "I felt like they were rooting for me and that motivated me, especially when this all seemed impossible to achieve.”
Conquering his fear of water and qualifying as a third-class swimmer was the biggest challenge of boot camp.
“It took me 17 trials, and on the last day before I would have been set back and lost my chance of receiving this award, I passed my exam," added Kongnyuy. "It was not easy for me and I am very proud."
Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees in the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes five warfighting competencies of firefighting, damage control, seamanship, watchstanding, small arms handling and marksmanship, physical fitness, and lessons in Navy heritage and core values, Warrior Toughness, Life Skills, teamwork and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.
Kongnyuy is assigned the rate of Seaman Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks (PACT).
PACT is designed to enlist sailors into a monitored general apprenticeship program that provides apprentice-level formal training and on-the-job training leading to a viable career field.
Kongnyuy will attend the core apprenticeship training program in Great Lakes, Illinois.
For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc