NCO of the Quarter
Sgt Norman

 Sgt Norman enlisted in the Marine Corps April 7, 2008 and attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion, Private First Class Norman attended Marine Combat Training aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

In September 2008, Private First Class Norman reported to Naval Air Technical Training Center Pensacola, Florida for the Aviation Ordnance Technician Organizational Level Course where he received the MOS of 6531. In October he executed orders to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Marine Unit, Camp Pendleton California where he graduated as the honor graduate and subsequently was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and was issued orders to HMH-366.

In December 2008, Lance Corporal Norman reported to HMH-366 in MCAS Cherry Point. While there Lance Corporal Norman was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 01 November 2009 to 02 February 2010. In May of 2010 Lance Corporal Norman went to 29 Palms California for Enhanced Mojave Viper. In July Lance Corporal Norman was promoted to Corporal. In December of 2010 Corporal Norman was selected as the Non-Commissioned Officer of Marine Aviation Group-29 and was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant on 2 February 2011.

In June of 2011, Sgt Norman was one of 12 Sergeants selected to conduct II Marine Air Wing Commanding Generals PME of the Battle of Belleau Wood in France. In July of 2011 he deployed to Djibouti Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In June 2012, Sergeant Norman executed orders to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152), Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Shortly after reporting for duty, he earned his Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative qualification on the KC-130J and was performing the duties of Non-commissioned Officer in charge of the Avionics Division.

In May 2013, Sergeant Norman became one of two Marines in the squadron to become Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival. Since then has trained over 300 Marines to be self-sufficient in an aquatic environment.

In August of 2013 Sergeant Norman reported to the Okinawa Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy for Sergeants course. He graduated October 14, 2013.

Sergeant Norman’s decorations include Meritorious Mast, four Certification of Commendations, one Navy Unit Commendation, a Good Conduct Medals, three Letters of Appreciations.

Marine of the Quarter
Lance Corporal Mayra J. Tito Mercado

Lance Corporal Mayra J. Tito Mercado was born on 13 August 1994 in Districto Federal, Mexico. On 31 December 2011, she graduated from East High School in Denver, Colorado and reported to recruit training in February 2012. She completed recruit training in May 2012 and graduated as a Meritorious Private First Class (PFC). In June 2012, PFC Tito Mercado reported to the School of Infantry, Marine Combat Training and upon completion of Marine Combat Training, she received orders to MCAS Pensacola, Florida for formal training as a Flight Equipment Technician. PFC Tito Mercado reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 in December of 2012.

   On 1 January 2013, PFC Tito Mercado was promoted to Lance Corporal. She is currently serves as a Flight Equipment Technician and is actively pursuing her degree in Political Science, with a minor in Psychology from the University of Maryland. In addition, she is currently serving as the President for the Single Marine Program on Marine Corps Air station Futenma.

Senior Sailor of the Qtr
HM1 Hamguchi

Hospital Corpsman First Class Hamaguchi was born in Osaka, Japan and grew up near Detroit, MI. He enlisted in the United States Navy on June 12th, 2006 and attended Navy boot camp at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. He attended Hospital Corpsman "A" school at Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, IL. He was selected to “pipeline” directly to Hospital Corpsman "C" school at Naval School of Health Science, Portsmouth, VA and graduated as a Nationally Certified Pharmacy Technician in June 2007.

HM1(FMF) Hamaguchi’s first duty station was at Naval Branch Health Clinic in Sasebo, Japan. He was promoted to Hospital Corpsman Third Class in June 2008 immediately after his selection as Blue Jacket of the Quarter. On top of his primary duties as a pharmacy technician; using his bilingual skills Petty Officer Hamaguchi augmented the Japanese translator department to provide care outside the scope of the clinic to over 120 active duty members and their dependents at a host nation medical facility. He was selected as the Junior Sailor of the Quarter and was awarded his first Navy Achievement Medal. He also met his wife, Tomoko during his tour in Sasebo.

Wanting to be “closer to the cause”, Petty Officer Hamaguchi was selected for orders as an Individual Augmentee to Expeditionary Medical Facility, Horn of Africa in Djibouti and was there from September 2010 to March 2011. He was promoted to Hospital Corpsman Second Class there as well as being awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

As he had wanted for the first four years of his career, Petty Officer Hamaguchi was finally selected for orders with the Fleet Marine Force. He attended Field Medical Training Battalion in April 2011 and reported to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Iwakuni Detachment in June, 2011. He was fortunate to be a part of Marine Corps operations and training that let him travel to Mt. Fuji, Okinawa, Korea, California, Tinian and Thailand. While at 1st MAW, he was awarded the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist device, IMPACT Navy Achievement Medal (second award) and was recommended via Command Advancement Program to his current rank as Hospital Corpsman First Class.

Junior Sailor of the Qtr
PS2 Little

PS2 Little was born in Americus, GA.  She is married to Clifton Little and has 1 son Quantavion Little. She enlisted in the United States Navy on Jan 6, 2004 and attended Navy boot camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, IL. She attended Seaman ATD School in Great Lakes, IL .

PS2 Little’s first duty assignments was the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) home ported in San Diego, CA. PS2 Little served as a deck seaman until she was hand selected to transfer to the Personnel Department where she worked as a receipts clerk. While onboard she earned her Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Device.

She attended Personnel Specialist “A” school Meridian, MS in September 2006, where she was select for the Accelerated Advancement to Petty Officer 3rd class.

After completion of A school Petty Officer Little was assigned to Personnel Support Detachment Corpus Christi, TX.  She served as the Transfers Clerk for Active Duty personnel and Separations Clerk for National Call to Serve personnel in South East TX. She earned her first Navy Achievement Medal.

After completing her assignment at Personnel Detachment Corpus Christie, TX, PS2 Little was assigned to Personnel Support Detachment Great Lakes, IL .  As a 3rd Class Petty Officer Petty Officer Little served as the Student and Staff Receipts Leading Petty Officer. Some achievements Intel her selections as the Blue Jacket of the Quarter; Blue Jacket of the Year and Blue Jacket of the Year runner up for Navy Region Mid West.

PS2 Little’s 4th Duty Station was Personnel Support Detachment Bahrain. She served as the only Active Duty Travel Clerk for the region. She was selected as the Junior Sailor of the Quarter and Junior Sailor of the Year.  She received a mid tour (IMPACT) Navy Achievement Medal (2nd) and an End of tour Navy Achievement Medal (3rd).

PS2 Little reported to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Iwakuni, Japan on Jan 13, 2012 where she serves as the Navy Pay and Personnel Support Leading Petty Officer. While onboard 1st MAW Petty officer Little has had the opportunity to travel to Thailand for the Cobra Gold Exercise.  She earned the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist Device. She was awarded the President Volunteer Service Award, Certificate of Commendation and selected as the Junior Sailor of the Quarter twice.

She has an Associate’s Degree in Business through Columbia Southern University and is currently working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management at Columbia Southern University. She has completed the Office Manager/Administrative Services Apprenticeship and the Computer Operator Apprenticeship for the United States Military Apprenticeship Program.

Bluejacket of the Qtr
HN Donis

Hospitalman Donis was born in Colorado Springs, CO and was raised in West Valley City, UT.  He is married with Dayanna who currently staying in California.  He received his High School diploma from Hunter High School in West Valley City, UT.  HN Donis joined the United States Navy in 2012, and he is serving on his first assignment with the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron-469 (HMLA-469) out of Camp Pendleton, CA.  HN Donis is currently on Unit Deployment Program (UDP) assigned as an Aerospace Medicine Technician supporting operations of Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG-36) and Branch Medical Clinic (BMC) Futenma, Okinawa Japan.  During his assignment to Okinawa, he supported two exercises in South Korea MEFEX 14 and Ssang Young 14. He received his gray belt in March 2014, and has been nominated and selected as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Bluejacket of the second quarter FY14.