Marine Corps

A U.S. Marine from Lake Tahoe, California, earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his outstanding contributions to the I Marine Expeditionary Force Barracks 360 Reset initiative as a barracks manager at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 7, 2024.

Satellite transmissions systems operator Cpl. Tyler R. Miller, with 9th Communications Battalion, I MEF Information Group, at Camp Pendleton, was awarded for going above and beyond his duties as a barracks manager.

After volunteering to serve as the 9th Comm. Bn. barracks manager, he was responsible for ensuring proper maintenance, oversight and the wellbeing of 120 Marines in 68 rooms. Miller dedicated hours of his free time to improving and repairing Marines’ rooms across the 9th Comm. Bn. barracks.

Some rooms in the battalion were deemed unlivable for simple repairs such as drywall patching, and Miller took it upon himself to make these repairs.

“It was not necessarily part of my duties, but I would go in there and fix it myself because we have a new self-help program that you can go pick up supplies from,” said Miller. “I think my biggest contribution would have been fixing up eight rooms that we are able to have 16 people live in now.”

His leadership credited him with personally recaulking 28 showers and approximately 150 square feet of wall repairs, saving area maintenance time and money on repairs.

Beyond barracks rooms, Miller was responsible for the area surrounding the barracks. He organized teams of Marines to maintain the lawn, trim back the trees and bushes surrounding the building and improve the quality of life in the barracks.

“I just wanted to turn the barracks around and put all my time and effort into just making it a better place,” he said.

When presenting Miller’s NAM, his leadership reflected on his superior performance and direct impact on the attitude and wellbeing of the Marines of 9th Comm. Bn.

“I take pride in what I do,” said Miller. “I wanted to have the barracks to be more of a place you could be proud of.”

The Barracks 360 Reset initiative aims to improve the living conditions and operational readiness of Marines and Sailors through increased oversight by command teams, a dedicated effort to reduce the maintenance backlog and shared ownership of the barracks with the introduction of the tenants’ rights and responsibilities.

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa – Sergeant Maj. Charles B. Peoples relinquished his role as sergeant major of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Sgt. Maj. Julio A. Mercedes, Oct. 31, during a relief and appointment ceremony held on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan.

Peoples served two years as the senior enlisted leader of the 31st MEU, completing four full unit-deployment cycles including training, exercises, and real-world operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The 31st MEU operated continuously with combined forces throughout Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and other allied nations with the Navy’s Amphibious Squadron 11 aboard ships of the USS America (LHA 6), USS Tripoli (LHA 7), USS New Orleans (LPD 17), USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and USS Rushmore (LSD 47). During Peoples’ time as the senior enlisted leader, the 31st MEU supported real-world foreign humanitarian assistance to the autonomous region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in response to the volcanic eruption of Mount Bagana.

Mercedes reported to the 31st MEU after his tenure at the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. This is Mercedes’ second tour in Okinawa, Japan having been stationed here in September 2002.

Mercedes expressed his gratitude at the opportunity to serve the Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU as the unit prepares for upcoming operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The 31st MEU is the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.