3 Marines place in worldwide photo competition

Sgt Holly Pernel (II MEF), won 2nd place News photo in the Military Visual Awards. The MVA is an independent photography competition for military photographers.

Cpl Danny Gonzalez (13th MEU) won 2nd Place Sports photo.

We want to congratulate our Marines for placing in the inaugural Military Visual Awards (MVA) , an independent photography competition for military photographers. It is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. They are:

Sgt Holly Pernel (II MEF) won 2nd place News photo category.
Cpl Danny Gonzalez (13th MEU) won 2nd place and honorable mention in Sports Photo category.
MSgt Clinton Firstbrook (II MEF) won Honorable Mention in the Feature photo category.

The MVA is designed to produce an extremely high level of productive and healthy competition amongst service members who perform the duties of a Public Affairs Specialist, Mass Communication Specialists, Combat Camera Man/Woman, PAO, Photographer or Photojournalist. MVA parallels the Department of Defense VIAP award competition.

In addition, this contest helps further solidify the fact that military photojournalists are professionals and produce quality work that is in line with industry standards. MVA highlights the fact that military photojournalists are capable of producing the same quality of work as civilian photojournalists.