MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- Each year, Marine Corps Logistics Command selects the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year from each of its three commands.
Sgt. Jeffrey Cooley Jr., technical evaluation specialist, Mobile Maintenance Assist Team, LOGCOM, was selected as the 2009 NCO of the Year. “This billet requires me to go out and evaluate Marine Force Reserve units for administrative and technical readiness,” he said.
Cooley, a native of St. Louis, Mo., graduated in 2001 from Normandy Senior High School and attended Florissant Valley Community College for a year on an Emerson engineering scholarship. Due to personal reasons, he did not continue his education at that time and decided to join the Marine Corps in April 2003.
“Even though some people may not know a lot about the Marine Corps, it is the perception that the name carries with it. I joined the Marine Corps because of its prestigious reputation and because I want to be among what I considered the best after evaluating the other branches. In addition to the sharp uniforms, I knew they would provide me with the greatest challenge, which is what I needed at that time,” he said.
Cooley reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., and after graduation, reported to Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., to attend military occupational specialty school as an electronics technician.
“My first duty station was 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from January 2004 - April 2008, I was transferred here to LOGCOM.
His multiple deployments include places such as Port au Prince, Haiti, in 2004 and Camp Fallujah, Iraq, in 2005. As part of the Marine Expeditionary Unit, I deployed to Hurricane Point, Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, Jabuti, Africa, and Counter-Piracy Operations around the
Mediterranean in 2007, Kuwait and Bangladesh,” Cooley said.
In addition to his regular duties, Cooley is also the color sergeant for LOGCOM.
“The color sergeant is a ceremonial expert in charge of a special detail like the Marine Corps color guard, where we are responsible for presenting the unit and national colors and honors at special events. We also do memorials,” he said.
One of the prerequisites for becoming the NCO of the Year, was being the NCO of the Quarter at some point during the year from Barstow, Calif., Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Fla., and LOGCOM. Cooley competed against a pool of NCO of the Quarter winners for his selection as NCO of the Year.
“I was astonished when I was selected as the winner. This is such a broad command and the largest one that I have been a part of. I feel distinguished to have won from among so many people who could have been selected,” Cooley said.
Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan J. Potts, communications chief, MMAT, as one of Cooley’s supervisors said, “Sergeant Cooley possesses the qualities and traits that all NCOs should strive for. I expect that we will see great things from him in the future.”
Cooley said he will be attending the tech chief school at MCAGC Twentynine Palms, Calif., for one year beginning in April 2010. His plans are to continue his career in the Marine Corps.
“After completing my college degree, which I am earning online at Touro University International, I plan to apply for warrant officer or officer candidate school. I have 10 classes left before I receive my degree in business administration with a concentration in finance and am proud of my 3.89 grade point average,” he said.
Gunnery Sgt. George R. Walley, staff noncommissioned officer in charge, MMAT, said, “Sergeant Cooley is a truly dedicated Marine who always strives to get the mission done. He is the embodiment of our core values of honor, courage and commitment. I feel privileged to have such an outstanding Marine in my section.”