Seaman Recruit Edward Arpa, Division 267, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command earning the Military Excellence Award, Sept. 1.

Arpa, a native of the Philippines, came to the United States at age 7, and now resides in New Port Richey, Florida. Arpa joined the Navy to follow his childhood dream of growing up to become somebody who had the ability and capability to rise above others and protect those around him.

Prior to joining the Navy, Arpa was enrolled in the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps for four years at J.W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey. His position within NJROTC was the physical fitness officer.

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. Arpa is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

"Initially, I never really sought out to do much in boot camp, mostly due to my recruiters encouraging me to 'lay low,' but a week into it I found myself leading others within my division, being the recruit chief petty officer," Arpa said. "That, by itself, left me speechless. Then, a few weeks later my RDCs announcing that I won the Military Excellence Award simply blew my mind."

Arpa was surprised by the MEA selection.

"Honestly, I never saw it coming, not before I was in boot camp, nor when I was in it. It is truly an honor to claim this award, and without a doubt, I couldn't have done it without my shipmates and RDCs. It was my shipmates who allowed me to lead them throughout both the rough and easy times in boot camp and it was my RDCs who mentored me on what being a leader actually meant."

After graduation, Arpa will attend Nuclear Machinist's Mate "A" School, followed by nuclear propulsion school and finally prototype school. Machinist's mate duties in nuclear propulsion plants include operating reactor control, propulsion and power generation systems. Arpa will be able to choose between serving on an aircraft carrier and volunteering for submarine duty.

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/.