Seaman Recruit Nguyen Tran, Division 298, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award on July 27.

Tran, from Savannah, Georgia, said joining the Navy is an act of appreciation.

"I joined the Navy to find purpose, to serve and to give back to the country that has provided for my family ever since we immigrated from Vietnam to Georgia in March of 1994," Tran said.

Tran, 31, graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2009, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. He was employed as a service manager in the telecom industry. Tran is assigned the rate of Logistics Specialist.

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. Tran is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Tran said winning the MEA is a humbling and rewarding experience. "It's validation of all the hard work I put in," Tran said. "It gives me self-confidence knowing that if I put in my best work, the results will show."

Tran credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Gunner's Mate Jacob Dort, Operations Specialist 1st Class Carmelo Oquendo and Damage Controlman 1st Class Timothy Larsen for their leadership and guidance.

Tran also thanked his parents, Tam and Thien Tran, as well as his mentors, Alan and Beverley Sheppard, for teaching him important life lessons.

"They instilled in me the values of honor, courage, commitment through hard work, perseverance, leadership and dedication that have guided me to this point and will be with me throughout my naval career," Tran said. "My RDCs showed me how to live those values as a Sailor."

Tran said the toughest part of his boot camp experience was the transition from a civilian to a military mindset.

"The need to be a physically fit and a smartly trained Sailor/leader that also works well with others regardless of the situation," he said. "I overcame that challenge with experience working in the corporate world, to be able to turn on/off being a unique individual amongst my peers and being a professional in my field of work at the same time."

After graduation, Tran will attend Logistics Specialist "A" School in Meridian, Mississippi. Logistics Specialists manage inventories of repair parts and general supplies that support ships, squadrons and shore-based activities. They procure, receive, store and issue material and repair components. They utilize financial accounting and database systems to perform inventory and financial management functions.

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 38,000 to 40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

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

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