Event

2d Annual MCA Ammo Tech Awards

May 24, 2011 - 7:00pm - 9:30pm

Springfield Hilton

The second annual MCA Ammo Tech Awards Dinner was co-sponsored with Marine Corps Systems Command at the Springfield Hilton on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 in Springfield, Virginia. The dinner was the occasion to honor the top performing Marine leaders in the Ammunition Technician field during 2010.

BGen Francis, L. Kelley, Jr., Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command served as the guest speaker and assisted in presenting the award trophies to the four recipients on hand for the presentation.

The dinner and awards presentation was preceded by a no-host reception for the dinner guests and also by a VIP reception for the award’s recipients and their families. Musical support was provided by a Quantico Marine Band detachment who serenaded the guests briefly as they gathered for the dinner and, a color guard ceremony was presented by a detachment of the Quantico Ceremonial Platoon after the guests assembled in the banquet hall.

Band serenade before dinner

Color Guard Ceremony

MajGen Edward Usher, USMC (Ret), President and CEO of the Marine Corps Association, took the stage and welcomed the dinner guests. He thanked the band and the ceremonial detail, thanked the evening’s sponsors and singled out Platinum Sponsor, Rheinmetall Defence for their support. Recognizing the VIP’s in attendance, he thanked LtGen Jan Huly, USMC (Ret) and General Robert Magnus, retired Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps for attending and then singled out Tasha Johnson, wife of Awards namesake, the late GySgt Wayne Johnson USMC and thanked her for her support for the evening.

MajGen Edward Usher, President and CEO of the Marine Corps Association

Following welcoming remarks, the chaplain provided an invocation which included recognition of the achievements of the Ammo Tech community as well as those of the evening’s award recipients and then the guests sat down to dinner.

Chaplain’s Invocation with MajGen Usher on stage

Towards the end of the desert course the Marine Corps Systems Command Ammo Tech Program Sponsor, LtCol John Oliver, took the stage to make some administrative remarks and to introduce the evening’s guest speaker. Welcoming all the guests he pointed out that the event was the second annual event and that he was pleased to see almost all of the senior leadership of the Ammo Tech professional community in the audience. He also pointed out that the award presentation included two new awards and he thanked the event sponsors for the support that made the new awards possible. He then introduced BGen Kelley, the featured speaker.

LtCol Oliver making remarks prior to guest speaker introduction

BGen Kelley, began his presentation by acknowledging Generals Magnus and Huly in the audience and also the several Special Executive Service (SES) attendees in the audience. He humorously recognized his driver, Sgt Nunez who had gushed enthusiastically about all the great chow at the event – with which he concurred and then he recognized his Command’s SgtMaj, SgtMaj Dalgarn, who had impressively mastered the intricacies of the Command in a scant two months that many would not have picked up on in 20 years. He also acknowledged Mr Jerry Mossler from MARCORSYSCOM and pointed out that he has to stay at the Command until at least the day after BGen Kelley transfers. He also humorously pointed out that with the exception of two other officers on duty elsewhere, the complete “O” community, in the Ammo Tech field were in attendance that evening.

BGen Kelley Remarks

Moving to the point of the evening, he acknowledged the award recipients and their families and pointed out that they kept “the tip of the spear lethal” and that because of their single minded efforts “…no Marine has ever reached back to an empty quiver.”

As the inaugural Ammo Tech Awards Dinner was only 6 months ago and we were already celebrating the second iteration, he humorously quipped that the 3d Annual event would be “Next Week.”

In brief remarks, BGen Kelley stated that the competition for the awards presented during the dinner was tough with 500 competitors for the Ammo Tech of the Year, 600 for the Ammo Tech NCO of the Year, 194 for the SNCO level award and 55 for the officer level award. He went on to say that the awardees were in direct control of many millions of rounds of ammunition and many millions of dollars worth of assets. Thanking the Marine Corps Association and the industry sponsors for their support, he concluded and the award presentations began with his assistance.

The following awards were presented during the ceremony and were sponsored by Rheinmetall Defence General Dynamics (Ordnance and Tactical Systems), ATK and L3 (Fuzing and Ordnance Systems):

The Ammo Tech Awards

The 2010 Gunnery Sergeant Edwin W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Ammunition Technician Marine of the Year Award for Superior Achievement was presented to Lance Corporal Scott T. Todd.

LCpl Todd with award

The 2010 Gunnery Sergeant Edwin W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Ammunition Technician NCO of the Year Award for Professional Excellence was presented to Sergeant Brynsela L. Alercia.

Sgt Alercia on stage with award and citation

The 2010 Gunnery Sergeant Edwin W. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Ammunition Technician SNCO of the Year Award for Distinguished Service was presented to Staff Sergeant Michael P. Ruegger.

SSgt Ruegger receiving his award and citation

The 2010 Ammunition officer of the Year Award for Exceptional Management was presented to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kurt Garrett

CWO4 Garrett award presentation

Video of the event coming soon!

Click HERE to see the Dinner program which includes the guest speaker and award recipient bios, a bio of GySgt Johnson the award namesake and also a history of the Marine Ammo Tech community.
opens in pdf

Here are some additional pictures from the event:

MajGen Usher presents a copy of “Brute” to BGen Kelley as memento of the event