MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Two Marine Corps Base Hawaii Marines and three sailors were honored for their performance aboard the base in 2014.
Sgt. Brittany N. Kroha is the 2014 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Cpl. Destry C. Walrath is the Marine of the Year. Petty Officer 1st Class Raymond Grindle is the 2014 Sailor of the Year and Petty Officer 2nd Class Nikolas Jaggan is the 2014 Junior Sailor of the Year. Seaman Johnta Minor, a boatswain’s mate with Waterfront Operations, is the 2014 Blue Jacket of the Year.
“I didn’t expect to get it,” said Minor, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C. “It’s a pretty tough competition. (There are) people more deserving than me. I’m honored to (have been) nominated for it.”
Headquarters Battalion and Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay leaders submit nominations for NCO of the Quarter, Marine of the Quarter and Sailor of the Quarter four quarters of the year. Those who are chosen for the quarter are eligible for the year’s title.
Kroha, a military financial technician and pay noncommissioned officer at the Finance Office, was also chosen as the 2014 Marine Corps Installations Pacific Marine of the Year. She and Walrath, travel noncommissioned officer at the Finance Office, spoke at a Kaneohe Business Group luncheon in the Pohai Nani Retirement Community club room, Wednesday.
“I was very surprised (and) honored because it’s such a great award to win,” Kroha said.
The NCOs undergo a screening process during the competition, which includes a physical fitness test, a uniform inspection and question and answer board, according to Kroha. Sailors also had to stand before a board, and were tested on Naval history, according to Minor.
Kroha said one of the most challenging aspects of the competition was the question and answer board.
“You never know what they’re going to throw at you so they always keep you on your toes,” Kroha said.
Kroha, of Ironton, Ohio, enlisted in the Corps Aug. 24, 2009. She received orders to MCB Hawaii last January. She said the Marine Corps has helped her grow mentally and physically, as well as challenge her academically. She encourages junior Marines to keep pushing on, even if they fail.
“Never give up,” Kroha said. “You’re going to fall on your face so many times, you just have to know you can get back up and you can try again because you’re only going to do better.”
Kroha said she was grateful for her mother, whom she considers her best friend, and her husband, for providing support. She also recognized Master Sgt. Daniel Locke, from her previous duty station at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., who never gave up on her, as well as Gunnery Sgt. Robyn Brown whom she had known since she was a junior Marine.
Walrath said being chosen Marine of the Year was an honor. “It was humbling, but it’s also a shock.”
A native of Clinton, Mo., Walrath enlisted in the Corps March 19, 2012, and arrived at MCB Hawaii in December of that same year. He said he plans to re-enlist and eventually retire from the Corps.
For any junior Marines seeking advice from the Marine of the Year, Walrath recommends ultimately deciding whether or not the Corps is the right lifestyle.
“Choose if (you) want to be a Marine or choose if (you) want to be something other than a Marine,” Walrath said. “To be a Marine, you need to act a certain way on and off duty.”
Walrath said the Corps has improved his public speaking and confidence.
“I’d like to thank Sgt. Kroha,” he said. “She actually was my NCO (when I first) won, so she helped develop me the first seven months she was here. (I want to thank) my wife for providing great support, and really everyone in my command because they (are) all supportive and they do everything they can to make sure we succeed.”