Seaman Recruit James Bost, Division 188, graduates as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award May 4.

Bost, 25, joined because he thought he was the type of individual the Navy wants.

"A person that wants to lead, follow and have the desire to learn is what the Navy looks for," he said. "Prior to the Navy, I'd been in leadership positions, been a great team player and made close relationships with people all over the world. I wanted to be a part of a large, respected organization, one that's bigger than myself, and, I couldn't think of anything greater than the United States Navy."

Bost, from Baltimore, Md., graduated from Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill., in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

He was assigned the rate of Ship's Serviceman.

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. Bost is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Bost said that he felt energized as his shipmates' confidence in his leadership grew.

"They came to me with more questions and for answers," Bost said. "They told me they liked me as a leader."

He credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Gunner's Mate Morgan Morgan, Construction Electrician 1st Class Nicole Messisco, and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Charles Conant for their leadership and guidance.

"I thank my shipmates and RDCs, in both my division and brother division, for making boot camp a success and helping me see progress in myself," he said.

Bost, who served as his division's Recruit Chief Petty Officer, said the toughest part of boot camp balancing his roles as recruit and leader.

"Being accountable for nearly 80 recruits without losing focus on myself, and meeting the recruit standards as a leader and as a recruit, was challenging," he said. "I overcame that by recognizing the duties as
R-POC and building an even stronger relationship with my recruit chain of command. Once I learned to delegate more, I was on top of my duties in accordance to the plan of the day and knew what needed to be done without my RDCs having to tell me."

After graduation, Bost will attend Ship Serviceman "A" School in Meridian, Miss.

Ship's Servicemen are responsible for managing and operating all shipboard retail and service activities. These include the ship's store, vending machines, video games, barber shops, laundry and tailor shops. They play a large role in the morale of the ship.

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 http://www.navy.mil/.

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