CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan --
In the tightly packed Camp Hansen theater, 168 students graduated from the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy's three courses June 15.
Sergeant's Course 4-10 graduated 69 Marines, Career Course 4-10 graduated 65 Marines and the Advanced Course 4-10 graduated 34 Marines.
There was something a little different about this ceremony though, especially the Gung-Ho award recipient. The award is presented to the student, usually a Marine, from each class who displays the most motivation and esprit de corps in their respective class.
A vote was held among the class members of career course class 4-10 to see who had what it took to deserve this award. An Air Force technical sergeant had more than enough.
Technical Sgt. Jessica R. Coombs, an instructor at the Erwin Professional Education Center, Staff Agency, 18th Wing, earned the Gung-Ho award for Career Course class 4-10.
"She embraced that Marine mentality," said Gunnery Sgt. Joshua P. Adkins, the faculty adviser for the Okinawa Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Marine Corps Bases Japan. "She maintained a gung-ho attitude each day."
The students were faced with many challenges during the course they had to overcome.
"No matter how hard things got, she was able to push through," said Adkins.
One thing that helped Coombs stay motivated was her peers within the class.
"The Marines that I served with over the last couple of weeks are phenomenal leaders and phenomenal peers and phenomenal Marines, and it is truly an honor," said Coombs.
"They (the Marines) embraced her as one of their own while she was here," said Adkins.
One thing she is bringing back to her airmen is a different way of conducting physical fitness training, Coombs said.
She was very impressed with the physical fitness program her class underwent, she added.
"To be amongst the best of the best is a phenomenal opportunity," she said.
The ceremony began with an "Ooh-rah!," followed by opening remarks from the SNCOA director, Sgt. Maj. Gonzalo Vasquez.
"Our mantra here is to stimulate, motivate and educate," said Vasquez. The courses are "structured to develop better leaders regardless of their MOS (military occupational specialty)."
The courses incorporate knowledge in legal, administration, leadership, communications and warfighting, said Vasquez. The students also underwent more than 40 hours of physical training during their time with the SNCOA, he added.
Vasquez then turned the microphone over to the guest speaker, Sgt. Maj. Jayme F. Winders, sergeant major of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, who gave a speech encouraging the graduating students to look out for the Marines they will encounter and ensure they uphold the Marine Corps' high standards.
The ceremony came to a close as Vasquez officially dismissed the classes of 4-10 and sent them back to their parent commands with their new found leadership skills. Now, Coombs and her fellow graduates have more tools to shape the future of the military.