Seaman Recruit Kalil Haynesworth, Division 154, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) on March 22.

Haynesworth, from Dupont, Washington, said he was motivated to join the Navy following an incident in which he and a friend rescued a drowning person.

“One of my very close friends, Christian Rivera, is a Marine,” Haynesworth said. “Last summer, we helped save a drowning cliff diver at Lake Cushman, Washington. Saving someone’s life gave me such an adrenaline rush and sense of purpose. My Marine friend informed me about Navy Hospital Corpsman and the different options that were available within the career field. I knew at that point the Navy was my calling. I knew I would be very content with my decision.”

Haynesworth, 24, is a 2013 graduate of Steilacoom High School in Steilacoom, Washington. He attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, while pursuing a degree in emergency management. Haynesworth, who was born in Birkenfeld, Germany and moved at an early age with his parents to the United States, is fluent in German.

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

Winning the MEA helped Haynesworth fulfill a goal.

“My goal was to graduate at the top of my class,” he said. “Winning this award solidifies the belief that with resilience, hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Winning this award gives me more drive to continue to be the best possible Sailor I can be.”

Haynesworth credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Logistics Specialist Aukitrian Elmore, Yeoman First Class Nicholas Taylor, and Machinist Mate First Class Chris Jimenez for their leadership and guidance.

“My RDCs and shipmate, Seaman Recruit Jack Morrison, definitely helped push me,” Haynesworth said. “Chief Elmore went out of her way to give me individual attention when I needed it, and helped me get over a few discrepancies I had at the beginning of boot camp.  Morrison and I have an intense competitive edge that made us thrive for greatness. We were always keeping each other motivated to be physically and mentally at the top of our game, and would spend countless hours to help each other reach our goals.”

Haynesworth said the toughest part of boot camp was becoming part of a team.

“I utilized some of the positive morals I’ve learned from the chapel services here on the base,” he said. “There were a lot of positive messages and guidelines I have learned from the chapel that helped me put my own ego and agenda to the side and ultimately helped me become a better shipmate.”

After graduation, Haynesworth will attend Hospital Corpsman “A” School in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, where he 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 35,0000 recruits train 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/.