Photo By Sgt. Daniel Valle | Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri meritoriously promotes Sgt. Richard G. Atkins to the rank...... read more read more
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CAMP FOSTER, Japan - Working early mornings and late nights is nothing new for most Marines. However, add weekends to that and one would just start to scratch the surface of Sgt. Richard G. Atkins’ devotion to his job and fellow Marines.
Atkins, the career planner for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, was recognized for his hard work and dedication, and selected as the Marine Corps’ Career Planner of the Year and meritoriously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant at building 1 on Camp Foster Nov. 16.
“I’m in shock,” said Atkins.
“I wasn’t expecting it – at all. I was just doing my job, and that is what I am going to continue to do,” said Atkins.
Balancing the requirements of a career planner, including keeping in contact with the battalions 1,600-plus Marines, conducting interviews, and processing re-enlistments can be difficult, according to Master Sgt. Marcus L. Cook, the career planner for Marine Corps Installations Pacific.
“Atkins has done an outstanding job,” said Cook.
“He works hard. He has a lot of Marines to deal with, and he takes care of those Marines and spends his off time ensuring the work is processed. He definitely deserves this award,” he said.
On a daily basis, the time and work a career planner puts into helping Marines can be overwhelming at times, according to Atkins.
“It has been difficult and demanding to be the career planner here,” said Atkins. “I owe my success to the Marines and my family. My wife is the person always supporting me, and my command is always there telling me to keep doing what I am doing and that my hard work will pay off.”
During Atkins’ promotion, Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, the commanding general of Marine Corps Base Camp Butler and Marine Corps Installations Pacific, spoke about how it was an honor to have Atkins meritoriously promoted.
“This is a very special day,” said Talleri. “It isn’t every day that we have the opportunity to meritoriously promote a Marine to the staff noncommissioned officer ranks.”
“I want to thank him for his hard work and dedication and for all that he has done – just think about what it takes to earn the Career Planner of the Year award for the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Talleri. “We are very lucky to have him here with us.”
Atkins also spoke to the Marines attending the ceremony.
“I personally was not going to submit for the award,” said Atkins. “It was because of the guidance my leadership provided, and I am very thankful they pushed me to do this.”
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2012 19:06 |
| Story ID: | 98891 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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