Navy Recruiters Earn Master Chief Petty Officer Bakarian Award and the Officer Recruiter Distinguished Graduate Award

Photo By Nava Kiss | PENSACOLA, Fla. - Operations Specialist 2nd Class John Bowen (center) addresses the audience following an award ceremony held at the Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit on Feb. 5, 2024. The ceremony was held to award Fiscal Year 2023, Quarter 4, and FY24 Q1 winners with the Master Chief Bakarian Memorial Award and Officer Recruiter Distinguished Graduate Award. Selected awardees visited NORU to receive their awards, offer best practices and words of advice to students, and speak with leadership about how the NORU curriculum prepares recruiters. The award is granted to both enlisted and officer recruiters with less than 12 months of service based on their net new contract attainment during the award period. NORU is the Navy’s sole recruiting schoolhouse responsible for the instruction of Enlisted and Officer personnel in professional sales, prospecting techniques, marketing, applicant processing, recruiting terminology, leadership, ethical behavior, and activity analysis. It also provides continuum training for the Navy’s Career Recruiting Force and prepares selected leaders for the challenges of operating a Navy Recruiting District (NRD)  

MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES

02.02.2024

Story by Elijah Leinaar  

Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Commander of Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) announced winners of the Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) Bakarian Award.

This distinguished award is bestowed upon recent graduates of the Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit (NORU) who have demonstrated exceptional performance in Officer and Enlisted production, surpassing their peers. Aimed at acknowledging new recruiters for their outstanding achievements in recruiting, the award is specifically granted to both enlisted and officer recruiters with less than 12 months of service, based on their net new contract attainment during the award period.

Master Chief Navy Counselor Gerald Allchin, NRC National Chief Recruiter, emphasized the significance of these Sailors’ achievements. “This year’s award winners are setting standards for recruiting excellence,” said Allchin. He acknowledged the challenges faced in recruiting top talent each year but commended the award-winning recruiters as integral members of a nationwide team dedicated to surpassing this year’s recruitment goals and ensuring the Navy’s manpower needs are met.

Following their graduation from NORU, these accomplished recruiters not only returned to receive well-deserved recognition but also contributed valuable real-world insights and lessons learned to students and instructors, utilizing their classroom skills in practical situations.

The MCPO Bakarian Award pays tribute to the legacy of Navy Counselor Master Chief Anthony George Bakarian, a revered leader whose impact on recruiting continues to resonate within the walls of NORU.

The list of deserving awardees includes recruiters from the Navy Talent Acquisition Groups (NTAG) and the Navy Recruiting Stations (NRS), each recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Navy’s recruitment efforts:

Master Chief Bakarian Award Winners
Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Dylan Riddle, NTAG Carolina, NRS Augusta
Fire Controlman 1st Class Cailean Basa, NTAG Great Lakes, NRS Joliet
Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class David Lopez, NTAG Atlanta, NRS Round Lake
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Christian Sheats, NTAG Southwest, NRS Chula Vista
Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate David Castro, NTAG New Orleans, NRS Warrington
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Henry Cole, NTAG Mid America, NRS Grandview
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jadis Prather, NTAG Houston, NRS Baybrook
Fire Controlman 2nd Class Kenneth Ramos, NTAG Miami, NRS Caguas
Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Mei Zhang, NTAG Southwest, NRS Brea
Construction Electrician 2nd Class Daniel Earls, NTAG New Orleans, NRS Gautier
Construction Electrician 1st Class Janrainier Sanjuan, NTAG Golden Gates, NRS Daly City
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Hord, NTAG Golden Gates, NRS Modesto
Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (Nuclear) Tabitha Schulz, NTAG New England, NRS Burlington
Sonar Technician (Submarine) 1st Class Andre Monnier, NTAG New Orleans, NRS S Baton Rouge
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Nelson Hernandez, NTAG Atlanta, NRS Duluth
Equipment Operator 2nd Class Sarah Ketchum, NTAG Rocky Mountain, NTS Citadel
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Morgan Marshall, NTAG Great Lakes, NRS Oak Lawn
Quartermaster 1st Class Justin Fabricante, NTAG Southwest, NRS Temecula
Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Quran Hampton, NTAG Jacksonville, NRS North Jax
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) 2nd Class Emely Solanorivas, NTAG Jacksonville, NRS Orange Park
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jaden Otto, NTAG Northern Plains, NRS St. Cloud
Operations Specialist 2nd Class John Bowen, NTAG San Antonio, NRS Brownsville
Damage Controlman 2nd Class Tristan Martin, NTAG Southwest, NRS Las Vegas


Officer Recruiter Distinguished Graduate Winners
Lt. Nicolette Santora, NTAG Carolina
Lt. Alexandra Mora, NTAG New Orleans
Lt. Cmdr. Kathleen Dale, NTAG Carolina
Lt. j.g. Marlon Esmade, NTAG Carolina

For more information on NORU, visit https://www.cnrc.navy.mil/NRC-Command/NORU/.

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, two Navy Recruiting Regions and 26 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 815 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

• Date Taken: 02.02.2024
• Date Posted: 02.01.2024 13:06
• Story ID: 462940
• Location: MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE, US