Mid-South Excellence Honored at 2017 Banquet

Mid-South Excellence Honored at 2017 Banquet

The “best-of-the-best” of Mid-South Sea Service Units were recently saluted at the Navy League Memphis Council’s 2017 Spring Awards Banquet.  Rear Admiral Richard A. Brown, Commander, Navy Personnel Command/Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, updated Navy Leaguers and attending Navy personnel on the challenges and highlights of our Navy’s recruiting opportunities before he presented awards to the individuals who were chosen as the best Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and NROTC Midshipmen from the Mid-South area.

Scholarship awards were presented to Naval ROTC Midshipmen at University of Memphis and University of Mississippi.  This scholarship program provides financial support to select midshipmen in their first and second years of undergraduate education and officer training.  This unique program is intended to support students who desire to receive their officer commission in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps, but were not initially selected for national scholarship programs.  All were selected for these awards based not only upon academic achievement but also for physical fitness and demonstrated officer qualities.   Awards proceedings are pictured below.

RDML Richard Brown shares sea stories and remarks with awardees, their guests, and members of the Navy League Memphis Council and ANA El Dorado Chapter.

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First to be honored were Midshipmen from the Universities of Memphis and Ole Miss.

Navy League Scholarship Chairman, Buz Sorce, announced the awards for each scholarship recipient.  RDML Brown, CAPT Brian Goszkowitz (CO of Naval ROTC Mid-South) and Navy League President, David Sutton, congratulated each scholarship awardee.  The midshipmen pictured above were presented with a scholarship check in recognition of their Outstanding Academic and Military performance.  These midshipmen are:

• MIDN 4/C Matthew Jones
• MIDN 4/C Colton Kirby
• MIDN 4/C Cullen Schwartz
• MIDN 4/C Austin Tuohy

1/C Matthew Gumpert is recognized as the Outstanding NROTC Honor graduate from the University of Mississippi.  He is presented with the Sword Award by David Sutton, Navy League Memphis President.  Also pictured:  RDML Brown and CAPT Goskowicz.

1/C Casey Guthrie is recognized as the Outstanding NROTC Honor graduate from the University of Memphis.  He is presented with the Sword Award by David Sutton, Navy League Memphis President.  Also pictured:  RDML Brown and CAPT Goskowicz.

Next to be honored were our Sailors of the Year from the Naval Support Activity Mid-South, pictured below:

MC1 (SW) Jeff Atherton of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Mid-South was presented with the 2016 Sailor of the Year award.  Congratulating him are CMDCM Marilyn Kennard, Command Master Chief of NSA Mid-South, RDML Brown and David Sutton.

YN2 (SW) Jordan G. Daniels of Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) was presented with the 2016 NSA Mid-South Junior Sailor of the Year award.  Congratulating him are RDML Brown and David Sutton.

YN2 (SW) Erin Goodwin of Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) was presented with the 2016 NSA Mid-South Junior Sailor of the Year award.  Congratulating her are RDML Brown and David Sutton.

SK1 Joshua Halligan was presented with the 2016 Coast Guardsman of the Year award for Mississippi River Lower Sector.  Congratulating him are AETCS Stacy Dasher, Command Senior Chief, RDML Brown and David Sutton.

Sergeant Isaac D. Ramirez of Site Support Memphis, 6th ESB, 4th MLG, was presented with the 2016 Marine of the Year award.  Congratulating him are RDML Brown and David Sutton.

At the 2016 banquet, CAPT. Buz Sorce, USN (Ret.), Navy League Scholarship Chairman, thanks CAPT Brad Mai for his commitment as CO of Naval ROTC Mid-South and congratulates him on his upcoming retirement as RDML Andrews looks on.

Photo courtesy of MC2(SCW) Scott Bigley from the

Commander Navy Recruiting Command Public Affairs Office at Naval Support Activity Mid-South.