CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Joe R. Vaineharrison received a Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his exemplary service, March 23.
Vaineharrison, a range control officer with the range operations division, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Installations West, received the award from the School of Infantry-West for his service throughout the year of 2015.
“Joe has been our most valuable player since he has been aboard with us,” said James Marshall, director with range operations, MCB Camp Pendleton, MCI-West. “He has been the warfighters’ biggest ally relative to training on base.”
Vaineharrison received the award for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of 200 live fire events, allowing the SOI–West to train with over 57,300,000 ordnance items and train tens of thousands of student Marines.
While awards are normally recommended by a contractor a service member’s own unit, Vaineharrison’s award was unsolicited, in that it was requested by a command different from his own.
“In my opinion, an unsolicited award carries a unique significance because it’s those that you’re providing the service for who are recognizing your hard work,” added Marshall.
He also supervised the safe development of several ranges on base and mortar positions that allowed SOI-West to localize training opportunities.
Finally, he managed the flow of safety concerns and questions during fire and rainy seasons by providing commanders with critical information necessary to make safety related decisions, and supervised range scheduling and the conduct of live fire events, ensuring that SOI-West accomplished its mission of training Marines.
“I was very surprised and honored,” said Vaineharrison. “I accepted it for all the men and women who work here with me that are making sure the Marines can train and are trained well.”