Photo By Pfc. James Frazer | First Sgt. Sarah Nolan reads Cpl. Phillip Coutts’ promotion citation as he prepares...... read more read more
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marine Corps promotions bring larger paychecks and increased responsibility, but they also indicate Marines’ superiors trust and belief they are ready to step up to the next level of leadership.
Swansboro, N.C., native Cpl. Phillip Coutts recently won a meritorious sergeant board during his second yearlong deployment to Afghanistan.
The sergeant board is an event in which a panel of senior Marines examines a group of corporals and awards one with a promotion to the rank of sergeant, based on his or her performance, effort and potential.
The Headquarters Battalion utilities chief, now Sgt. Coutts, said he received the promotion because, while plenty of others may qualify for the rank, when it comes time to do the work, he has always had the confidence to step up and take charge.
“While standing there with them watching me, I was so nervous,” said Coutts. “When it came down to it, though, I knew I had to just maintain my composure.”
Coutts, who also serves as the acting platoon sergeant for the Headquarters supply lot, presented the same level of confidence in the board that he brings to work every day. He said he knew he was completely prepared for any test or task he would be asked to perform during his latest board examination.
“I still knew a lot of the information I’d memorized for earlier boards I had attended,” Coutts said. “I’ve also got a lot of experience with a lot of different things that I could rely on if they asked me anything unexpected.”
Some of Coutts’ experience comes from his life before he was a Marine, when he dropped out of high school so he could work a full-time job to support a family. He has worked as a police officer and a handyman, performing odd-jobs and basic home repairs, but his growing family gave him just the reason he had been looking for to start a stable profession as a service member. He studied and received his General Education Diploma he needed to pursue his dream of joining the military. Coutts now has a wife with three children and another one on the way. The drive and determination he used to get his GED to take care of his family has carried into his Marine Corps career as well, further adding to his success. “His initiative and his push to excellence is what inspired me to push him up for meritorious sergeant,” said Gunnery Sgt. Brian Scarbrough, Headquarters Battalion Supply and Logistics chief. “[For example] we received 11 generators from 1st Marine Division [Forward] when 2nd MarDiv [Fwd] was transitioning into taking control of the [area of operations]. Coutts got all of them fixed up and running perfectly well within time to meet the deadline he was given.”
The Dallas native is responsible for providing logistical support to 2nd MarDiv (Fwd) units and is also Coutts’ direct supervisor. It’s from this position that Scarbrough has been able to help develop Coutts into the leader he has become. Coutts said he has been working with Scarbrough prior to their current deployment, and it is his advice and leadership that helps him continue advancing.
“I plan to keep doing what I have been doing all along,” Coutts said. “Only now I’m going to be getting ready for my promotion to staff sergeant. It’s still a few years off, but there’s no reason to not get ready right now. My mind has changed a few times and so have my goals, but right now this is the best thing for my family and me. While I’m here I can also work to help develop the Marines who are working for me and help build them up.”
Both Coutts and Scarbrough said they believe any time Marines get meritoriously promoted or recognized for their performance, it inspires the Marines under them to step up and try to be the best they can be as well.
“He takes care of his Marines, and not just the utilities Marines he works with or the Marines in his platoon,” said Cpl. Michael E. Silva, the utilities noncommissioned officer who works directly for Coutts. “He is very aware of the affect he has on other Marines. It’s who he is, and that’s why he’s been in the Corps for only three years and already been promoted to sergeant. He is going to be one of those Marines who will serve a full 20 years and be a sergeant major.”
The Mechanicsburg, Pa., native said all the Marines who work with Coutts on a daily basis describe him as a “textbook Marine,” someone they’ve come to expect to go by the book with everything he’s involved in. They also agree this makes him an excellent authority on almost anything their mission might entail.
“As far as his working ability and his work ethics, I expect nothing to change now that he’s a sergeant. He’s always been performing at this level, so I expect him to maintain his attitude of never quitting and never settling for anything less than excellent,” said Scarbrough. “He is constantly seeking to improve himself and his knowledge base. We know his abilities and we’re going to push him a little bit farther. He’s a good Marine who we know is going to rise to the challenge.”
Editor’s Note: 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck, serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.”
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.18.2011 12:20 |
| Story ID: | 70598 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 429 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, North Carolina Marine Earns Meritorious Promotion During Deployment, by PFC James Frazer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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