 Good morning ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the commanding general, welcome to today's ceremony for the two Marines at traditionary force, Marines and Sailor of the Year. Please rise for the invocation given by the two-methe family, Captain Robert Abel. I remain standing for the national anthem and honor to the two-methe commanding general. As you're able, please join me in prayer. Almighty God, whose command is overall and whose love never fails. Thank you for your holy presence in this place. And to begin this formal ceremony is right to pause thanking you for your constant watch care over us and those we love. We're grateful for the opportunity to carry on time-honored traditions such as these. Today we pause to celebrate the accomplishments of dedicated professionals who daily embody commitment, sacrifice and honor. As they continue to serve us to this great nation, may they be ever aware that their God goes before them and their country stands aside. While we are mindful even now of those unable to be here today, continue to guide and protect our Marines and Sailors on mission around the world and return them safely to us. We ask your blessings upon this ceremony, the recipients, our leaders and these United States. May you be honored and all that's done here this day. In your most holy name I pray. Amen. March on the colors. The two-methe commanding general, David Core Achievement Medal, two national achievement in the performance of his duties while serving as Aerospace Medicine Technician Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302. From October 2022 to September 2023, Petty Officer Smith's exemplary performance during this period earned him distinction and coordinated in his selection as two Marine expeditionary forces, Lou Jacket of the Year for fiscal year 2023, an honor for which only the most outstanding Sailors of this command are considered. This achievement is characteristic of superior performance, outstanding leadership and technical expertise, which serve as an example for all to emulate. He has well and faithfully demonstrated the highest standards of the military theory and adherence to our core values of honor, courage and commitment. By his no-worldly accomplishments, perseverance and dedication to duty, Petty Officer Smith reflected credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. For the commanding general, Cy D.A. Othelloff, Lieutenant General U.S. Marine Corps, commanding general, two Marine expeditionary forces. Jacket of the Year will also receive an Eagle Trophy from Sergeant Major Paul McKenna, USMC retired on behalf of USAA of the Marine Federal Credit Union. Ordered the Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal is Marine Corps for professional achievement in the superior performance of her duties while serving as Electro-Optic Ordnance Repair Technician. Second Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion from January 2023 to December 2023. During this period, Corbora Costa displayed exemplary qualities of leadership, initiative and attention to detail as evidenced by her selection as the two Marine expeditionary forces, Marine of the Year. Her positive attitude and exceptional professionalism provided a source of motivation and inspiration for all to emulate. Corbora Costa's initiative, perseverance and dedication to duty reflected credit on her and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Signed, D.A. Othelloff, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps, commanding general, two Marine expeditionary forces. The Marine and the NCO of the Year will receive an Eagle Trophy from Sergeant Major Paul McKenna, USMC retired on behalf of USAA. The K-Bahn and the NCO will receive an NCO sword from Sergeant Major Rob Tyess, USMC retired on behalf of the Marine Federal Credit Union. As awarded, the Navy and Marine Corps achievement medal, two, Sergeant Toby N. Fordham, United States Marine Corps. Four, professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Automotive Maintenance and Non-Commissioned Officer. Combat Logistics Battalion, 24, from January 2023 to December 2023. During this period, Sergeant Fordham displayed exemplary qualities of leadership, initiative and attention to detail as evidenced by his selection as the two Marine and Traditionary Force Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. His positive attitude and exceptional professionalism provided a source of motivation and inspiration for all to emulate. Sergeant Fordham's initiative, perseverance and dedication to duty reflected credit on him and were keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Signed, D-8 Autognom, Lieutenant General, US Marine Corps, commanding general, two Marine expeditionary force. Great to see everybody here and a couple more thank yous that I want to just make sure before we just wrap up here. First, from our sponsors, thank you so much for being here. Once the last time I saw you, it's great to see you all and Sergeant Fordham, thank you very much. I really appreciate the sponsorship that we have for our young Marines and sailors within the community and with large for our Corps. So thank you men for what you represent the organizations. I want to thank the Corps and the extended family for coming out to support your Marine. I think that's pretty impressive and really, really glad to see you here. Commanders and Sergeant Majors Command, Master Chiefs, all of you are part of the family that represents these three Marines. And I had a chance to BS a little bit this morning with them. It was really, it's kind of interesting, the little things that I learned, right? Doc's nearly done his degree in economics. I mean, holy cat, right? And we were just talking for a minute about how hard it is and the challenge it is to go after your degree while you're in active duty, pursuing a higher academic. It's a challenge. Been there, done that. You agree. I mean, that's just a caliber of people you're talking about. When you talk about my good, hard-charging Corps, we'll stand up for a minute. I had to almost like put her up on the, you know, this is like a fire club, you can tell. Here's about this little fire club. Don't want to get in the McMap ring with her. But two years already in NCO, two years under contract, already having an impact in LAR, already doing and finding those cost cutting measures. It's exactly what we want in young Marines and what we know as senior leaders. Put the tools in front of a Marine and they will figure out how to solve the problem. I don't need to give you a whole lot of complaints. They figure it out in one. She's a direct representation of that and that's why she was awarded this morning. And then my big dilute over here, meritoriously promoted to sergeant, right? Potentially on a board for something else and then soon to take orders to go to the drill field. And here's, he not look like a future hat. What was being a board? Bob would say. If I got to get him to go to a bar, he goes in with us. You go first in the stack, right? You take care of my problems. A board's fitness instructor. Another Marine you don't want to get in the McMap ring with and tear you apart. But if you listen to those three very short condensed piece of the awards, you know, direct representation of what you accomplished in the MLG, right? I mean, just amazing things and you represent 34,000 sailors and Marines who every day come to work inside the Carolina MacTap and prepare themselves to answer a call that we hope never comes in the defense of this great United States of America. And a constitution and what it represents and how we see that. You're a direct representation of that. Those awards this morning are a direct representation of the organizations that you come from and all those Marines and sailors. So I think it's really fitting that we get back in to do this and I thank you, Sergeant Major, for putting us together. I thank you for making sure that we take time out to recognize superior performance and we sit in here just for a short period of time and acknowledge it and tip our hat because that's exactly what, you know, we would want and what we would expect of young Marines to do. We owe them a lot. And so these small tokens of recognition I think are huge. So thank you for doing this. Thank you for what you do. Again, so thank you very much. Thank you for being here. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. First of the hit.