Marines

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Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, presents Lauren C. Yaw, muster program lead for Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity, the 2015 Marine Forces Reserve junior Civilian of the Year award, Feb. 5, 2016, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. Yaw went above and beyond her everyday job duties, and was recognized for her hard work. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Lance Cpl. Melissa Martens/ Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Melissa Martens

Marine Forces Reserve names the Civilians of the Year

11 Feb 2016 | Lance Cpl. Melissa Martens U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve

Marine Forces Reserve honored its 2015 senior and junior Civilian of the Year during a ceremony Feb. 5, 2016, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans.

To be honored as the senior Civilian of the Year, the individual must be nominated by their leadership and selected by a board as someone who stands out among their peers.

Anthony T. Davis, deputy branch head of the Training and Readiness Division, Marine Forces Reserve, was recognized as the senior Civilian of the Year for his hard work and dedication.

“There are a number of highly qualified people who are nominated for this award each year, and you are really selected by a board of your peers and seniors who think you’ve done the most that year and are deserving of the award,” said Davis. “It means a lot, it really does, and I’m appreciative of my leadership for taking the time to nominate me.”

“Mr. Davis has just hit it out of the park,” said Paul E. Pratt, Davis’s supervisor and the deputy assistant chief of staff for the Marine Forces Reserve Operations and Planning Division. “He has continued to improve himself, and improve the organization as a whole.”

Pratt works with Davis on a daily basis and is able to see the improvements and changes he has brought to the section. These were key factors in his selection for the senior Civilian of the Year.

“He’s all about getting the mission accomplished and trying to improve himself and the organization as a whole,” said Pratt. “It’s not about him, it’s about the team moving forward and he does that.”

Like the senior recipient of the award, the junior recipient must be selected by a board. However, a key requirement to be nominated for the junior Civilian of the Year is to be a previous winner of the Civilian of the Quarter in the same year.

Lauren C. Yaw, muster program lead for Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity, was named the 2015 3rd quarter Civilian of the Quarter and the 2015 junior Civilian of the Year.

Yaw was chosen for her positive impact in the workplace and her headway on the muster program; an event for Individual Ready Reserve Marines to be evaluated on their overall readiness during a weekend conference.

 “The muster program has come a very long way, and I’m very proud of that,” said Yaw. “We’ve really made some radical changes to better the program and improve readiness while decreasing some of the costs.”

Thomas M. Nelson, Yaw’s supervisor and the deputy director for MCIRSA, enthusiastically explained that Yaw goes above and beyond her normal job duties every day.

The winners take the initiative to do more than they are asked, Nelson explained. “They do things that are outside of their position and they make it happen.”

        Working hard and doing your absolute best is what Davis believes will help anyone stand out like he has and succeed in the workplace.

        “I just believe in coming in and doing what you are supposed to be doing,” said Davis. “Hopefully you are doing it with some excitement and at the same time you are doing your very best.”

        Similar to Davis, Yaw also offered words of advice to anyone striving to stand out in their position.

        “If you enjoy what you do, if you are passionate about it, then hard work will come naturally,” said Yaw.

        Both Yaw and Davis have big plans for the upcoming year. They are excited to see what changes and improvements they can accomplish to improve Marine Forces Reserve.


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