Seaman Recruit Genesis Gomez, Division 917, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on March 1.

Gomez, from Dededo, Guam, said she joined the Navy for personal and professional growth.

“I want to become a stronger individual, physically and mentally, as well as to become successful in the career that the Navy has to offer me,” Gomez said.

Gomez, 21, is a 2016 graduate of Okkodo High School in Dededo, Guam.

Gomez is assigned the rate of Hospital Corpsman.

The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award (MEA) 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. Gomez is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Gomez said winning the MEA reinforces her self-confidence.

“Winning this award made me realize that we are all capable of doing something great, whether we are of different backgrounds, ethnicities or genders,” she said. “It also taught me that I can conquer anything that comes my way with the best of my ability.”

Gomez credited her Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs), Chief Engineman Matt Bridgewater, Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Quanesha Taylor, and Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Swen Erickson for their leadership and guidance.

The support Gomez received from her family through letters of support were an important part of her boot camp experience.

“My RDCs and shipmates have always motivated me since the beginning, but what had truly kept me going, even when I wanted to give up, was my family,” she said. “With every letter they had sent me, it had lifted up my spirits and motivated me to continue on and tackle the next day. They had supported me throughout my whole experience and gave me the drive to push forward and overcome each day and each task one at a time.”

Gomez said the toughest part of her boot camp experience was learning to be part of a team.

“It was not easy working with individuals who refused to accept when we were wrong,” she said. “Day by day, we had each learned to accept our own mistakes and take responsibility for our actions. Soon after, it had become easier to work as one and hold ourselves accountable.”

 After graduation, Gomez will attend Hospital Corpsman “A” School in 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. More than 35,000 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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For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.