TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- A Navy reservist has earned Tobyhanna Army Depot's Warfighter of the Quarter Award. The award recognizes military personnel for outstanding service.
Petty Officer Elijah Mulligan, a builder third class assigned to the Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 21, was presented the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter award by depot commander Col. Gerhard P.R. Schröter and depot Sgt. Maj. Juan Rocha for his years of distinguished military service and community support. His unit is stationed at the Navy Operational Support Center in Avoca.
The presentation took place July 7 during a ceremony at a NASCAR event at Long Pond. Also participating in the event was Mulligan's commanding officer, Cmdr. Albert Seeman. Mulligan is the 16th recipient of the award.
"This award makes everything I've ever done in my military career worth it," Mulligan said, explaining that he's qualified to perform carpentry, masonry and surveying tasks. "I have a strong work ethic, which has afforded me the opportunity to try new things."
Mulligan's assigned duties as the detachment's fitness leader and Seabee combat warfare coordinator contributed to this award.
"He performs at a level equal to that of his [more experienced] predecessors," said Seeman. "Mulligan accepts challenges of responsibility well beyond someone with his time in service and consistently produces high-standard results."
During this time, the five-year combat veteran ensured fellow warfighters were trained and fit for duty. He supervised the physical readiness and administrative reporting for the unit during the annual assessment period.
Plus, under Mulligan's tutelage there was a 10 percent increase in personnel meeting standards and attaining their Expeditionary Warfare Rating.
As a result of Mulligan's efforts, the unit achieved a pass rate of 80 percent during the fitness assessment and achieved a 100 percent on-time completion of medical screening documentation, body composition assessments and physical readiness test reporting.
"He works aggressively and eagerly to meet the demands of his job," said Seeman, adding that the Mulligan is a model of military bearing in and out of uniform.
Mulligan embodies the well-rounded warrior dedicating time to the Navy Operational Support Center and his community, according to Seeman. In addition to performing assigned tasks, he volunteered to lead two projects that improved the quality of life for personnel assigned to naval center -- crews constructed a 64-square-foot recreation area and hung 160 square-feet of dry wall.
"These projects not only provided a recognizable positive impact on the morale of his fellow reservists," said Seaman, "but helped to restore the center to full capability on the heels of a complete renovation of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems."
Coworkers and leaders agree that Mulligan exemplifies the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment by supporting the unit and community.
"At work, he sets the standard for other junior construction battalion personnel to follow," said Seeman. "He spends his off-duty time at the YMCA teaching at-risk youth how to box."
A highlight of Mulligan's career was training members of the local military while deployed to Southwest Asia and he contributes his success to a supportive family.
"I'm really proud of what was accomplished during that deployment. It was the support of my family and friends that made it possible for me to focus on my job," he said. "I remember thinking that all of this hard work would pay off in the end. It gave me a great sense of pride and accomplishment to work toward a common goal alongside my coworkers."
The Tobyhanna Army Depot Warfighter of the Quarter Award recognizes the service and sacrifice of active-duty, National Guard and Reserves component military personnel and their family members. It also reinforces, within our workforce, the direct link between their efforts and the effectiveness of our Armed Forces. Since 2009, 16 deserving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines have earned this unique award.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.
About 3,500 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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