Awards>Merit Award Winner|News

Combat Art 1ST Place: CWO2 Michael Fay

Category sponsored by Bolder Voices, Joanne Schilling

1ST Place: CWO2 Michael Fay, National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, VA
Fay served two tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq with the focus of his work being the human face of combat. As one judge noted: “The bronze sculpture (of a combat Marine) is well executed and detailed in every aspect…it communicates a message and emotrion that can be felt by even a casual observer, which is the desired outcome for any graphic artist.”

2nd Place: CWO2 Michael Fay

Honorable Mention: CWO2 Michael Fay

For more art please see below

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News Photography 1st Place - Cpl. Richard S. Blumenstein: URUMA CITY, Okinawa - Students from Iha Elementary School present Marines with gifts as a sign of appreciation at the school March 12. Twelve Marines from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, volunteered their time to teach Okinawan children English and host an Easter egg hunt.

Category sponsored by Sharon Ford

1st Place: Cpl. Richard S. Blumenstein, 31stMEU
“Kids like English” was Blumenstein’s caption on his photo of a youngster showing off a wide grin as he handed a Marine his work of art in front of his classmates in Uruma, Okinawa.

2nd Place: LCpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough, MCB Okinawa

Honorable Mention: Cpl. Nicole A. Lavine, MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms

Honorable Mention: LCpl. Pete Zrioka, MCAS Yuma

Honorable Mention: lstLt. Caleb Eames, Marine Logistics Group, Albany GA

More award-winning images can be seen below

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Open Photography 1st Place - Sgt. G. P. Ingersoll: Cpl. Jose N. Parra, 25, Loredo, Texas, and other advisers with Border Transition Team 4222 spent the day giving aid to small remote villages here Oct. 24. Their mission is to train, mentor and advise, but the Marines of BTT 4222 don’t forget to provide help to western Anbar’s civilian population. The transition team headed up a small civil affairs engagement to provide local Iraqis with medical, dental and logistical aid. Though it’s not part of their primary mission, team members here have learned that reaching out to the Iraqi people will make the people more likely to reach out to Marines. Intelligence gathering and improved security is just a byproduct of good relations. The real purpose here was to see some smiles. Marines handed out toothbrushes, toothpaste and teddy bears to each patient finished with the check up. The corpsman spoke to parents about how to treat with the medicine Marines supplied to them. Kids also received a class on proper tooth brushing techniques.

Category sponsored by Dave Painter

1st Place: Sgt. G. P. Ingersoll, 1st Marine Logistics Group
This photo of kids taken while Ingersoll was on duty with a border transition team in Iraq and the Marine who paused nearby to look at these youngsters with obvious concern had eye-catching impact on the photo judges. Ingersoll waited for the “right moment” and got his shot.

2nd Place: Cpl. Carrie C. Ruiz, MCRD San Diego

Honorable Mention: Sgt. Ray Lewis, 1st Marine Division

Honorable Mention: SSgt. Bobbie Bryant, 3rd Marine AirWing

Honorable Mention: Sgt. George Papastrat, 3rd Marine AirWing

More award-winning images can be seen below

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The Norman Hatch Combat Photography Award 1st Place - Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt: Rifleman Lance Cpl. John Jones with Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, signals to fellow Marines as he patrols with Malaysian Army Rangers in Malaysia during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2008. CARAT 2008 is a series of bilateral exercises between U.S. armed forces and six Southeast Asian countries.

Category sponsored by Norm Hatch

1st Place: Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt, MCB Okinawa
Avitt said that “whether it be a hump through dense jungle or a damp fighting hole, where they went I went and that’s where the pictures were.” His winning photo showed LCpl John Jones of the 3rd Marine Division leading a patrol of Malaysian Army Rangers during bilateral exercises in six Southeast Asian countries.

2nd Place: LCpl. Gregory Aalto, MCAS Yuma

Honorable Mention: Cpl. Aaron J. Rock, 26 MEU

Honorable Mention: Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson, 1st MLG

Honorable Mention: LCpl. Gregory Aalto, MCAS Yuma

More award-winning images can be seen below

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The Megan McClung Sports Photography Award 1st Place - LCpl. Kentavist P. Brackin: Greg Arnell (left) prepares a shot on goal while Patrick Reynolds, Mil United forward, attempts to stop him during the finals of the Far East Finale Open 6-on-6 Soccer Tournament on Camp Schwab Sunday. Arnell made the shot and was awarded most valuable player by teammates for his performance during the tournament.

1st Place: LCpl. Kentavist P. Brackin, MCB Okinawa
This action shot showed two young soccer players doing their thing at Camp Schwab, Okinawa.

1st Place Feature Article: SSgt. Ethan Rocke

Category sponsored by Roger Combs & Bob Springer

1st Place: SSgt. Ethan Rocke, Los Angeles Public Affairs
“Scars are not Forever” was about Operation Mend, a program for treatment and rehabilitation, in this case involving its first patient, Cpl Aaron Mankin, a Marine combat correspondent seriously wounded in Iraq. Rocke’s story reports in detail on the innovative partnership between military and civilian medicine.

2nd Place: Sgt. Ray Lewis, 1st Marine Division

Honorable Mention: LCpl. Katie Mathison, II MEF

Winning stories are published below

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1st Place Stand Alone Photograph by Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis: Maj. Jason P. Smith, convoy commander and amphibious assault officer, takes time away from convoy operations to interact and play with some Liberian children during a convoy to deliver humanitarian supplies throughout the city of Monrovia, Liberia.

Category sponsored by Victoria Conkel-Turney

1st Place: Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, Marine Forces Europe
Monrovia, Liberia, was the site of this closeup showing a group of native kids having a ball with a member of the Marine unit – rubbing his very bald head, with the kids and the Marine obviously enjoying the moment.

2nd Place: LCpl. Jacob W. Chase, 26th MEU

Honorable Mention: LCpl. Robert Medina, 1st Marine Logistics Group

Honorable Mention: Cpl. Tyler Barstow, 1st Marine Logistics Group

Honorable Mention: LCpl. Pete Zrioka, MCAS Yuma

More award-winning photos below

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No sponsor for this category 1st Place: http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil  (Camp Pendleton) 2nd Place: http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil  (Camp Lejeune) Honorable Mention: http://www.cherrypoint.usmc.mil  (Cherry Point)

1st Place Commentary: SSgt. Ethan Rocke

Category sponsored by the Florida Chapter

1st Place: SSgt. Ethan Rocke, Los Angeles Public Affairs
Rocke calls his piece “Death of the Marksman” and writes that the “new rifle qualification scoring system elevates mediocre shooters and drastically lowers Corps’ standards.” In his analysis of the system he argues that the aggregate scoring system “has degraded the distinction of what an expert shooter is by Marine standards… lowering standards is something Marines don’t do.”

2nd Place: GySgt. Bill Lisbon, MCAS Yuma

Winning stories are published below

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Category sponsored by Joanne Silva-Sullivan

1st Place: Sgt. G.P. Ingersoll, 1st Marine Logistics Group
This story described a competition in physical drills and live rifle fire between teams of U.S. Marines and Republic of Korea Marines. The ROK unit surprised their American counterparts by taking an early lead but the Americans prevailed with a winning score. “Maintaining and strengthening the alliance is a necessity,” said Marines from the 1st LAR. “In that context the competition succeeded.”

2nd Place: Cpl. Cindy Alejandrez, 1st Marine Logistics Group

Honorable Mention: LCpl. Alesha R. Guard, MCB Hawaii

Honorable Mention: Cpl. Nicole A. Lavine, Twentynine Palms

Winning stories are published below

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