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Bronze Star recipient, OIF mainstay dubbed battalion's "team leader of the year"

13 May 2005 | Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Sergeant Sage L. Goyda is being dubbed "the best of the best" among what some reconnaissance Marines say is the field's point man for success - the team leader. And Goyda boasts quite a resume to underscore the praise: -- a Bronze Star Medal to his credit for leading a grenade assault against insurgents in Iraq.-- more than 70 combat patrols and operations under his belt in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.-- two of his Marines receiving medals and promotions, a sign his leadership is paying off down through the ranks. Those credentials factored heavily into Goyda's selection as 1st Reconnaissance Battalion's Team Leader of the Year, announced May 13. "A young sergeant can be miles away from friendly lines with his five-man team, and he is the man responsible for accomplishing the mission. Nowhere else do you find this enormous amount of responsibility on a young sergeant," said Sgt. Maj. Richard P. Lamelin, sergeant major of 1st Recon Bn., emphasizing the gravity of a team leader's role within recon."The commanding officer must have complete trust and faith in his team leaders. Without them, there really is no reconnaissance capability," he added. Goyda, of Company A, deflected the praise heaped upon him."I was only successful because of the Marines in my team," said Goyda, 27, of Ford City, Pa. "They knew what they had to do and I could trust them to accomplish the mission at all times."This is a personal award that I am thankful for, but it is thanks to my team that I am able to receive the award. If it wasn't for the Marines to my left and right I wouldn't even be alive," he said.Lamelin put together a panel of judges to choose the battalion's top team leader. The judges deliberated for about a month before deciding, he said.The team leader is in charge of Marines who may never have seen combat. The Marines depend on their team leader for influence, Goyda said.Similarly, higher-ups depend on the team leader for performance. "The recon battalion's accomplishments depend on the success of their team leaders," said Lt. Col. Joseph C. Marello, commanding officer of 1st Recon Bn. The same day, Goyda also was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for continuous strong leadership in Iraq and back at Camp Pendleton.Goyda has a wife, Amy, and two children."Having been to Iraq twice now, it is sometimes really hard on my family, so I try to spend as much time with them as possible," Goyda said.Goyda summed up his leadership philosophy."The job of being a team leader is a role I take seriously on and off work," he said. "But my Marines know they can depend on me for anything."

Bronze Star recipient, OIF mainstay dubbed battalion's "team leader of the year"

13 May 2005 | Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Sergeant Sage L. Goyda is being dubbed "the best of the best" among what some reconnaissance Marines say is the field's point man for success - the team leader. And Goyda boasts quite a resume to underscore the praise: -- a Bronze Star Medal to his credit for leading a grenade assault against insurgents in Iraq.-- more than 70 combat patrols and operations under his belt in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.-- two of his Marines receiving medals and promotions, a sign his leadership is paying off down through the ranks. Those credentials factored heavily into Goyda's selection as 1st Reconnaissance Battalion's Team Leader of the Year, announced May 13. "A young sergeant can be miles away from friendly lines with his five-man team, and he is the man responsible for accomplishing the mission. Nowhere else do you find this enormous amount of responsibility on a young sergeant," said Sgt. Maj. Richard P. Lamelin, sergeant major of 1st Recon Bn., emphasizing the gravity of a team leader's role within recon."The commanding officer must have complete trust and faith in his team leaders. Without them, there really is no reconnaissance capability," he added. Goyda, of Company A, deflected the praise heaped upon him."I was only successful because of the Marines in my team," said Goyda, 27, of Ford City, Pa. "They knew what they had to do and I could trust them to accomplish the mission at all times."This is a personal award that I am thankful for, but it is thanks to my team that I am able to receive the award. If it wasn't for the Marines to my left and right I wouldn't even be alive," he said.Lamelin put together a panel of judges to choose the battalion's top team leader. The judges deliberated for about a month before deciding, he said.The team leader is in charge of Marines who may never have seen combat. The Marines depend on their team leader for influence, Goyda said.Similarly, higher-ups depend on the team leader for performance. "The recon battalion's accomplishments depend on the success of their team leaders," said Lt. Col. Joseph C. Marello, commanding officer of 1st Recon Bn. The same day, Goyda also was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for continuous strong leadership in Iraq and back at Camp Pendleton.Goyda has a wife, Amy, and two children."Having been to Iraq twice now, it is sometimes really hard on my family, so I try to spend as much time with them as possible," Goyda said.Goyda summed up his leadership philosophy."The job of being a team leader is a role I take seriously on and off work," he said. "But my Marines know they can depend on me for anything."