Seaman Recruit Jared Mills, Division 814, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command earning the Military Excellence Award June 9.

Mills, of Hope Mills, North Carolina, initially joined the Navy to take advantage of the higher education benefits. However, after training in boot camp, he developed a newfound love for his country and the need to serve and protect. He selected the rate of Navy Diver to learn how to do underwater welding, rigging and salvaging. Prior to enlisting, he graduated from South View High School and worked as a contractor at Fort Bragg for some time.

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 him at the pinnacle of today's newest Sailors. Mills is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

"Since night of arrival, my only goal was to follow orders, do my best, and help my team," said Mills. "It never crossed my mind that I would be even considered for the top recruit, just because of all the great brothers I have in my division where any of them deserve this award."

Mills mentioned one of the most memorable moments in boot camp was trying on his dress white uniform for the first time.

"That was the moment when it felt so real because it really hadn't up until that moment," said Mills.

After graduation, Mills will attend a two-month Naval Dive Preparatory School at Naval Special Warfare Center detachment Great Lakes where he will study basic diving knowledge and receive higher intensity physical training. Upon completion of Dive Prep he will report to Panama City, Florida where will commence Naval Diving and Salvage school.

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/.

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