Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- He logs long hours and is esteemed as an excellent leader. But the most striking things about Sgt. Mark Tully - I Marine Expeditionary Force's Marine of the Year - are his love for Corps, his profession and his co-workers. 

"I would like to become an officer -- but only if I can come back to this unit," Tully said, gazing admiringly around Camp Las Flores.

Tully, a training instructor for 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, said he relishes the unit's camaraderie.

"I love being a part of recon. You will not find a bond like the one we have anywhere else in the Corps," said Tully, who extended greetings to seemingly every fellow Recon Marine who passed by during the interview.

Ever since Dec. 28, 1998, when Tully stepped on the yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, he has chased his dream for adventure.

"I joined for the challenge," said Tully, who entered the Corps' ranks the day after his 18th birthday.

Now he accepts the daily challenge of training Recon Marines to be efficient in their jobs.

"Teaching and understanding seem to work better for me than yelling," said Tully. "I make sure the person understands, but I also have to be stern."

Tully has spent most of his Marine Corps career with Force Recon.

As an instructor, Tully, 21, is in charge of running a comprehensive physical training program.

"We do all kinds of exercise, such as ruck-runs or underwater crossovers," Tully said, defining the latter as strenuous calisthenics.

"You do push-ups and swim the distance across the pool underwater to the other side, where you do another exercise (and repeat the cycle)," Tully explained.
Tully sees being a recon trainer as more than just a career. 

"It's not a job. It's my life," he said.

Tully's life in the Corps began long before he signed on the dotted line and swore to protect the country.

"My dad was a Marine, I have been all over the place with him," said Tully, who hasn't stopped traveling since he joined.

Sgt. Maj. William Kinney, I MEF sergeant major, said Tully is a stellar performer at everything from the physical fitness test to rifle qualification.

"He's a total Marine. There wasn't a weakness in his whole package," he said.

Tully will be officially recognized June 19 at the Force Recon birthday celebration at Camp Las Flores here, Kinney said.