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Training and Education Command

United States Marine Corps
Depot CMT takes top honors as Marine of the Year

By Lance Cpl. Michael S. Darnell | | May 20, 2008

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Sgt. Alfonzo Mayora, a Chosin Range block noncommissioned officer, watches over recruits firing on his section of the range’s firing line.

Sgt. Alfonzo Mayora, a Chosin Range block noncommissioned officer, watches over recruits firing on his section of the range’s firing line. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael S. Darnell)


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MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. --

Marines are expected to excel. When they do, they are often recognized by the communities they serve. Recently, The Exchange Club of Charleston, S.C., honored Sgt. Alfonzo Mayora with the 2008 Marine of the Year Award.

This year’s recipient had no idea he was even nominated for it.

“Even being nominated was a surprise,” Mayora said. “I’m not out to get awards. I do a job to do it right, not to get something out of it.”

Mayora is a block noncommissioned officer on the Chosin Rifle Range. Even though he has only been at the range less than eight months, his commitment to excellence was apparent to the Marines around him, especially the Marine who nominated him for the award.

“In his short time here, he’s distinguished himself,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Nordman, platoon sergeant for Chosin Range. “That’s why we sent him to Combat Marksmanship Training.

“Usually, the people we send to CMT have put in a year, year and a half before they’re even considered for the course,” he added.

Mayora finished CMT and is currently eyeing the Range Safety Officer course as his next challenge. He said all the training he gets now will help him down the road if he’s accepted into the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Program.

“I want to be an officer because I think my experience as a NCO could benefit the Marine Corps,” he said.

Nordman said Mayora’s work ethic created a clear distinction from him and his peers.

“From the day that he got here, Sgt. Mayora is the one we sent our problem shooters to,” he said. “His average with recruits qualifying is more than 90 percent.

“It’s obvious he cares,” added Nordman, from Lebanon, Ind.

Cpl. Melvin White is a range coach on Chosin and has worked with Mayora since his arrival at Parris Island. He agrees with what the staff sergeant had to say about Mayora.

“He’s always the ideal Marine,” White said. “He’s really driven...a go-getter.”

 “But he’s also one of the guys – he’s just easy going,” said White, from Lynchburg, Va. “He knows what he’s doing.”

Mayora’s experience comes from a lifetime of travels, which started in his native country of Venezuela.  He arrived in Miami when he was 13 years old and joined the Marine Corps in 2004.

Mayora was stationed at Twentynine Palms, Calif., as part of Delta Company, 3rd Assault Amphibion Battalion. While there, he was an assistant squad leader and served as crew chief when he deployed to Iraq. Due to his fluency in the Arabic language, Mayora pulled double duty as a translator. 

“I guess I stand out from the group,” he said. “I never let other people do work for me. I think it gains you respect.”

On top of that military specific training, the 25-year-old sergeant has recently acquired his associates degree in criminal justice from the University of Phoenix.

Even with the demanding schedules of CMT and working toward a college degree, Mayora found the time to become a new father. His wife, Nadia, gave birth to Alfonzo Mayora, Jr., just four months ago. He knew then his decision to work for a college degree was the right one.

“My wife and I got our degrees because we want to set a good example for our child,” he said. “If you want your children to go to college and do big things, you have to have done it yourself.”

With a father as accomplished and driven as Mayora, the younger Alfonzo will have high expectations.

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