Seaman Recruit Morgan Bennett, Division 015, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command earning the Military Excellence Award on Nov. 17.

Bennett, from Jacksonville, Florida, comes from a Navy family. Her father, Charles Lee Bennett III, and mother, Jodi, met while serving in the Navy. Her grandfather, Charles Lee Bennett II, was a career enlisted Sailor.

Bennett followed their path, joining the Navy "to do something that matters, to be a part of something with a purpose and a vision," she said.

Before joining the Navy, she worked in banking and at a golf facility, where she was a trainer. Bennett, 20, is a graduate of Duval Charter High School in Jacksonville, where she was a three-sport athlete. She was assigned the rate of Hospital Corpsman.

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. Bennett is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Bennett said news that she was the MEA winner took a couple of days to sink in.

"I am surprised, but ultimately I am honored that I was chosen for this award," she said. "Every day, I did what I had to do to become the best Sailor I could be and I just never thought I would get recognized for my efforts. Winning this award means to me that I still have a lot of work to do, but I have started my Navy career off on the right foot."

Bennett credited her Recruit Divisions Commanders, Senior Chief Interior Communications Electrician Jessica Douglas, Electronics Technician 1st Class Erik Outlaw and Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Darius Binion for their leadership.

"All three of my RDCs provided their own bit of motivation and effort to make me into a successful recruit," Bennett said. "Senior Chief Douglas never let me get comfortable; she never gave me a 'good job' or encouragement for doing things I was supposed to do. She pushed me to work harder and prove her wrong every day that I was good recruit, that I would be someone she would want replacing her in the fleet. Senior Chief Douglas helped mold me into the woman warrior I am today."

Bennett said she was motivated to follow the example set by her RDCs.

"I wouldn't have been able to fight my way to the top of my training group without that motivation, waking up every day ready to work and learn and grow," she said.

After graduation, Bennett will attend Hospital Corpsman "A" School at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas where she will learn basic principles and techniques of patient care and first-aid procedures.

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. About 30,000 to 40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

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