Fallbrook and Oceanside Rotary Clubs salute the military

FALLBROOK – The Rotary Club of Fallbrook and the Oceanside Rotary Club had the privilege of honoring six of the finest military personnel from Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base at their annual Military Awards Program held March 16 at the Grand Tradition in Fallbrook.

The honorees were from two Marine Corps units - Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton (MCAS CP) and Security and Emergency Services Battalion (SES Bn) and one Navy command, Assault Craft Unit FIVE (ACU FIVE).

The caliber of the Marines and Sailors recognized at this year’s event was very impressive and it was obvious that the recipients were undoubtedly deserving of the awards they received. Fallbrook Rotarians Colonel Robert James, USMC (Retired) and LtCol Richard Goodlake, USMC (Retired) assisted with the awards presentation.

Colonel Ian Clark introduced Sergeant Sonja Doss, the NCO of the Year for Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. Sgt Doss enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2013, has deployed to the Philippines twice in support of Phiblex ’15 and Balikatan ’15 and again to Thailand in support of Cobra Gold ’16.

Sgt Doss currently serves as a Radar Technician in the Air Traffic Control Maintenance Division. A consistent achiever, Sgt Doss was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in less than three years and possesses multiple personal awards. She also holds the positions of (NCO) Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Club President, Squadron Single Marine Program (SMP) Representative and the Squadron Narrator.

Sergeant Major Benito Chavez introduced Corporal Shawn E.D. Moore, II, the Marine of the Year for Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. Cpl Moore also enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2013. He is currently serving as a Navigational Aids Technician with Level III certifications aboard the Air Station.

Corporal Moore’s work ethic and dedication were recognized when he was selected for the Marine Corps Installations West – Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton’s Technician of the Quarter Award for the fourth quarter for Calendar Year 2015 and again for the second quarter of Calendar Year 2016.

Sergeant Major John Maciel introduced Corporal Donald Shipman, the NCO of the Quarter for Security and Emergency Services Battalion. Cpl Shipman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2013 and worked several security operations positions aboard Camp Pendleton such as Round House Supervisor, Special Quarters Supervisor, Mess Desk Supervisor, Squad Bay Supervisor, Master Control Non-Commissioned Officer and American Correctional Association Clerk prior to assuming his current position as the Training Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Brig Company.

Corporal Shipman actively volunteers his time at Fallbrook Youth Pop Warner Football for 9 to 12 year olds as a defensive coordinator. He has also volunteered with the Single Marine Program (SMP). He and his wife, Madison, are expecting their first child, a son, in May.

Sergeant Major John Maciel also introduced Corporal Michael Lange, the Marine of the Quarter for Security and Emergency Services Battalion. Cpl Lange enlisted in the Marine Corps in December of 2013 and reported to duty to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton where he was quickly recruited and selected for the highly sought after Military Working Dog Platoon. In just over one year’s time, Lange and his K-9 partner, Jordan, logged an impressive 4,000 hours of police patrol utilization aboard the very challenging and demanding Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Corporal Lange continuously strengthens ties between the Marine Corps and the local community by volunteering his time and efforts at The Women’s Resource Center for victims of domestic abuse in Oceanside, and also leads the platoon’s recycling program. He is married to Andrea Lange.

Chief Petty Officer Justin Oxford introduced BM1 Christopher Ball, the Sea Sailor of the Year, for Assault Craft Unit FIVE, a Navy command aboard Camp Pendleton. Petty Officer Ball enlisted in the Navy in 2005, after working at Medtronic Microelectronics for five years. In 2007, he experienced his first deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf. That was followed by two more deployments where he earned the title of Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (BM2) and Flight Deck Officer. He was selected to become a Recruiter at Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Phoenix, where he attained his current rank of Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (BM1) and brought 72 Sailors into the Navy.

In December of 2013, Petty Officer Ball was selected for the special program of Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) Loadmaster and was assigned to Assault Craft Unit FIVE where he is currently serving as the Operations Department Lead Petty Officer. Prior to being selected as Sea Sailor of the Year, BM1 was selected as Sailor of the Quarter for 1st Quarter 2016. He and his wife, Amanda, have been married for 12 years and they have two daughters, Chloe, age 11, and Ellianna, age 5.

Chief Petty Officer Justin Oxford shared the bio of AM1 Jason Robinson, the Shore Sailor of the Year, for Assault Craft Unit FIVE, who was unable to attend the event. AM1 Robinson enlisted in the Navy in 2008 and reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO THREE, North Island, California where he deployed three times, once to Kuwait, once aboard the USNS Bridge and again aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6).

AM1 Robinson's next assignment was to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWELVE, also at North Island. While attached to that command, he completed two deployments aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (DVN 72) and the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). He reported to Assault Craft Unit FIVE Camp Pendleton since June of 2014 and is his last position there was as the Maintenance Department Leading Petty Officer (LPO) leading 132 Sailors in daily Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) repairs. He and his wife, Amy, and their children, Gracie and Jayden, recently transferred to his new duty station in Whidbey Island, Washington.

The annual Military Awards Program presented by the Rotary Clubs of Fallbrook and Oceanside provides the community the opportunity to show its intense support for members of the local military aboard Camp Pendleton, as well as for our nation’s finest worldwide.