Seaman Recruit Sarah Conard, Division 141, graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command earning the Military Excellence Award on May 5.

Conard, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, joined the Navy to serve her country, to make her family proud, and to follow the mission of those that have gone before her. She was assigned the rate of Professional Apprenticeship Career Track as a Seaman because her desired rate of Gunner's Mate was not available. By being assigned PACT Seaman, she will now be able to learn and gain hands-on experience in all rates throughout the fleet until her preferred rate becomes available.

Prior to enlisting, she graduated from La Salle University where she earned a double major in psychology and sociology.

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. Conard is awarded a flag letter of commendation.

During her first week here, Conard turned to her bunkmate and said, "My goal is to be the Honor Recruit at graduation. I don't know exactly what it is or how to get there, but I'm going to do it."

After that conversation she never spoke about it again.

"When I was told that I was awarded this honor, I was incredibly grateful, thankful and ultimately surprised," said Conard.

She mentioned one of the most memorable moments in boot camp was receiving her Navy ball cap, presented to her by her Recruit Division Commander's along with the rest of her division that ventured through this long, hard, eight-week journey with her. Receiving that ball cap signifies her successful completion of Boot Camp and an official welcome into the United States Navy.

After graduation, Conard will attend a three-week Seamanship Common Core course on basic theory in shipboard surface operations and evolutions. Upon completion, she will report to her first command, USS George H.W. Bush, home ported in Norfolk, Virginia.

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/local/rtc/.



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