Seaman Recruit Alexandra Tuman, Division 364, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on September 14.

Tuman, 29, said she joined the Navy to pursue a rewarding career.

“I was looking for that one career path that would always be fulfilling and never feel like work,” Tuman said. “I had a conversation with someone who told me, ‘The key to being truly happy in what you do every day is to stop thinking about what will make you happy, and focus on what you can do for the betterment of others.’ I believe that serving in the world’s greatest Navy is an excellent platform from which to give back to the country I love.”

Tuman, from San Diego, California, earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in zoology from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. She was employed as a veterinary assistant. An avid traveler, she made her decision to join the Navy while on a backpacking trip in Vietnam. 

 Tuman is assigned the rate of Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive).

The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award is the top award presented to the No. 1 recruit of their graduating training group. The MEA is awarded to the recruit that best exemplifies the qualities of enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork. The award placed her at the pinnacle of today’s newest Sailors. Tuman is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

“Winning the MEA is an incredible honor that means I am cut out for this challenging and demanding life path,” Tuman said. “After making my commitment to the Navy, I was excited at the opportunity to not only do something different, but put all of myself into it and do it well. It is no secret that we are all held to very rigorous and high standards and boot camp is not an easy first step towards becoming a Sailor, so I feel an incredible sense of pride at this acknowledgment.”

Tuman credited her Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Operations Specialist James Conyne, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Catherine Jacobsen, and Yeoman 2nd Class Christopher Preston for their guidance and leadership.

Tuman said she has been inspired by her parents, Dennis and Theresa Tuman, who encouraged her to be the best version of herself and are “living examples of whom I hope to become.”

“Both my parents are the kindest, most honorable people, who are the embodiment of our Navy core values and didn’t even know it,” Tuman said. “Their love and guidance has been integral growing into the person I am becoming and I’ll never be able to show my gratitude to the extent that it is deserved.”   

Tuman said becoming part of a team was the most difficult part of boot camp.

“For me, the biggest challenge was getting so many different personalities and learning styles moving together in a motivated way towards a common mission,” she said. “In time, I believe I was able to overcome this challenge by simply being patient and being compassionate.

Following graduation, Tuman will attend the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Cryptologic Technicians (Interpretive) conduct information operations using foreign language skills and advanced computer systems. They collect, analyze, and exploit foreign language communications signals of interest to identify, locate, and monitor worldwide threats.

Boot camp is approximately eight weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. More than 30,0000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.

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