Seaman Recruit Bridget Broussard, Division 288, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on Aug. 16.

Broussard, from Crystal River, Florida, said she joined the Navy to continue a family legacy of military service and to pursue a career that will hold greater purpose and value.

“The Navy has molded prior service members of my family, my Father, Mark Broussard, in particular, into the greatest individuals I know,” Broussard said. “It is my belief that the Navy also will help me as I continue to strive to live up to or surpass their exemplary qualities and achievements.”

Broussard, 30, is a 2007 graduate of Crystal River High School in Crystal River, Florida, where she was a member of the varsity basketball and cross country teams. She also owns several school records in track and field. She is a licensed emergency medical technician and cosmetologist.

Broussard is assigned the rate of Information Systems Technician.

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. Broussard is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Broussard said earning the MEA came as a surprise.

“It does go to show dedication, hard work, and setting attainable goals pay off in the end and anything we set our minds to is possible,” she said. “Thus far, most of my accomplishments have been through trial and error. I’ve asked myself, ‘Is this for me?’ ‘Will this hold the value and earn me a financially stable future?’ Until now, most of my answers have been no. So, winning this award is the beginning of many more answers checked in the yes column.”

Broussard credited her Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Steelworker Joan Powers, Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Larry Luellen Jr., and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Alexander Borchick for their leadership and guidance.

“My biggest motivators during the short time I have been in the Navy have been my RDCs  as well as some of the other divisions’ RDCs who may have noticed something in me I did not even know was there at first,” Broussard said. “It was interesting how each one helped me grow in very different ways. One was educational, bringing more of a connective feel to the Navy and its past to inspire greatness today. Another brought a toughness out, helping me to look at situations I am in differently. Others brought me the comfort of how this is one small step forward into a much bigger picture. They all helped me to understand how to cope with the stresses of what Navy boot camp is and how I can utilize the stressors as a tool instead of bringing me down.”

Broussard said the biggest challenge of boot camp was a lack of connection to the outside world.

“I do see how everything we do here is for a purpose,” she said. “It brought out the ability in me to rely upon and open up to people that I would not normally do. One team, one fight is the best way to describe it. That, along with the support of my family and partner, Crystal Corley, back home that they are proud of what I have accomplished here pu08048shed me each day to be the best me I could be here.”

After graduation, Broussard will attend the Information Systems Technician “A” School at Pensacola, Florida. Information System Technicians perform core and specialty functions of communications operations, message processing, network administration and security.

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 35,000 recruits are trained annually at RTC and begin their Navy careers.

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

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