Seaman Recruit Nickolas Konecny, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) on Dec. 1.

Konecny, 27, said he joined the Navy to pursue the opportunity of becoming a Navy SEAL.

"I wanted to be a part of something that was greater than myself and I knew that this was the right direction," Konecny said.

Konecny, from Stuttgart, Arkansas, graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors in business finance. After college, he worked as financial service representative for an insurance company until joining the Navy.

He was assigned the rate of Special Warfare Operator.

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. Konecny is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

Konecky credited his Recruit Division Commanders, Chief Boatswain's Mate Omar Aleman, Yeoman 1st Class Alison Dunn and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jordan Ilbrink as well as his shipmates in helping him win the MEA.

"Our RDCs expected nothing but the best at all times throughout boot camp," Konecny said. "They took the time to get to know us each individually and I believe that is a huge reason our division had so much success and chemistry. My fellow shipmates strived every day to set the example of being the best and that motivated me even more to follow suit."

Konecky said his positive attitude and maturity helped him stand out among MEA candidates.

"Since stepping on this base, I knew I had started my journey in fulfilling my dream," he said. "Waking up every morning in boot camp, I knew that I was moving forward in doing so. I believe maturity played a big role as well. Not only in trying to be a good role model for the younger guys in my division, but being very thorough in every evolution."

After graduation, Konecny will attend the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory School in Great Lakes. Special Warfare Operators perform a multitude of duties in support of special operations missions and operate on, under and from the sea, in the air and on land. These duties require skills in combat diving, paradrop and air operations, small boat operations, submarine and submersible operations, land warfare, small unit tactics, mounted and dismounted operations, small arms and crew served weapons, explosives, communications, tactical medicine, mission planning, intelligence gathering and interpretation, joint and combined operations, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense measures in all environments including urban, desert, jungle, arctic, and mountain warfare.

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 http://www.navy.mil/.

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