Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Erick A. Granados, a 24-year-old section chief with Battery G, 2nd Battalion,...... read more read more
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By Pfc. Alfred V. Lopez
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Their steadfast commitment and unrivaled bravery have won hundreds of battles. Their judgment is firm but fair. They aggressively inspire all of those around them to uphold the highest standards they have built themselves. Throughout Marine Corps’ history, men such as Sgt. John Basilone, Cpl. William T. Perkins and Cpl. Jason Dunham have been recognized for the selfless performance of their duties as non-commissioned officers.
Sgt. Erick A. Granados, a section chief with Battery G, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, was acknowledged as one of these exceptional NCOs when he was recognized as 1st Marine Division’s NCO of the quarter during a morning colors ceremony at the Headquarters 1st Marine Division Fleet Marine Force building here Aug. 24.
Staff Sgt. Ronald Duplessis Jr., a section chief with Battery G, 2/11, who hails from Jackson, Miss., originally nominated Granados for the O’Connell leadership award. After being honored, Granados was then acknowledged as the battalion and regimental NCO of the quarter.
“I’m not surprised he won [the award],” said Sgt. Ryan Miller, a 23 year-old from Chicago, who is also a section chief with Battery G, 2/11. “He’s a solid leader, someone Marines should definitely try to emulate. He doesn’t expect from his Marines what he can’t do.”
The neat and well maintained appearance of his uniforms, stellar physical fitness and his endless dedication to the welfare of his Marines made him stand out from other NCOs, said the 30 year-old Duplessis.
“When someone needs tough love or mentorship, he always knows what to say,” said Lance Cpl. Sean M. Figley, a field artillery cannoneer with Battery G, 2/11. “While I was on deployment, myself and a couple of other Marines started getting homesick. He sat down and talked us through it, and related to us with his first deployment.”
“The important part of leadership is to know your Marines. I take that to heart because you have to understand what kind of leadership style you need to use for each individual Marine,” said Granados, a native of Houston. “You need to know how to talk to each Marine to get the job done, because at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.”
“I feel like I’m doing really well as a Marine,” said Figley, a 20 year-old native of Ottawa, Canada. “I owe most of that to him.”
As a brown belt instructor in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Granados shows his dedication and mentorship by holding courses for Marines with lower belts.
“He’s a very motivating and intense instructor,” said Pfc. Gregory Thomas Salyer, a field artillery cannoneer with Battery G, 2/11 who is currently undergoing Granados’ grey belt course.
"He pushes our [Marines] to where they physically need to be, but he also knows when they’ve had enough,” said Salyer, a 20 year-old from Independence, Ky.
“I got the chance to go to a green belt instructor’s course, and that’s when I built my love for MCMAP,” said Granados. “I love the program and I love teaching it.”
Granados continues to seek self-improvement and responsibility, just as he learned in boot camp, corporal’s course and sergeant’s course. He is currently in the application process for acceptance into Marine Special Forces Operations Command.
“Honestly, I just do my job,” said Granados. “I follow the examples of the Marines that have inspired me. I’m really competitive and I try to be the best at everything. I try to help everybody out and [as a leader] I try to be firm but fair.”
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2010 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 56102 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 701 |
| Downloads: | 10 |
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