Seaman Recruit Carolyn Lee, Division 092, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command earning the Military Excellence Award Feb. 2.

Lee, 32, said she initially joined to further her education and eventually pay for her master's degree and become a commissioned officer one day, but as soon as she arrived here she realized it was because she wanted to become a part of something bigger than herself.

"I did ROTC in college at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angles, but unfortunately, I wasn't successful," Lee said. "I really missed the camaraderie aspect of joining the military but ever since I left the program, I missed that concept and I missed being surrounded by individuals who were working toward the same goal as me and who integrated things such as honor, courage and commitment into their daily lives."

Lee, who is from San Jose, California, is a 2010 graduate of California State University. Prior to joining the Navy, she was an Emergency Medical Technician and wildland firefighter.

Lee is assigned the rate of Hospital Corpsman.

"I was always attracted to the emergency medical side of the medical field, and I was working around a lot of law enforcement and fire department personnel, many of whom were veterans," Lee said. "They were different from civilians as they seemed to have a better sense of situational awareness, greater sense of patriotism and a better work ethic. They just seemed to adapt to things a lot better than I did because they have a military background. Being in emergency medicine a lot of protocol and procedures emerged from the military, so I thought what better route than to go to the source."

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. Rhoades is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Lee stated that winning the MEA was quite unexpected.

"I knew there were six awards as I saw the list on a sheet of paper, and they weren't ranked. When my RDCs announced it, it was a huge shock," she said. "We had had a really rough day and it didn't seem to get any better and we were just about to go to dinner when they announced it. It was the ultimate plot twist. I just want to make my parents proud and this is a huge accomplishment and I'm honored."

Lee credited her Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Boatswain's Mate Jino Domingo, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 1st Class Jordan Jenakovich and Construction Electrician 2nd Class Nico Messisco for their leadership and guidance as she served as her division's Recruit Chief Petty Officer, a leadership position within the division.

"I'm pretty used to pushing myself under stressful situations but this environment is totally different considering there's a lot more people, and I've never been in a position to lead this many individuals at one time for this prolonged amount of time," Lee said. "Without the RDCs' constant motivation, I don't think I would have had the strength to push myself as far and for as long as I did. I credit them for helping me to keep looking at the bigger picture."

After graduation, she 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. About 30,000 to 40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

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