News From USJFCOM: Marine Corps service representative named USJFCOM military member of the quarter

Marine Sgt. Anthony Harris (right), USJFCOM's Marine Corps service representative, works with Army Sgt. Gary Marsden, the command's Army service representative, in helping meet USJFCOM service members' administrative needs. Harris was recently named USJFCOM's military member of the quarter for the third quarter of 2005. (Photo by Army Sgt. Jon Cupp)

Marine Corps service representative named USJFCOM military member of the quarter

Marine Sgt. Anthony Harris, USJFCOM’s Marine Corps service representative, earned the command’s most recent military member of the quarter award.

By Army Sgt. Jon Cupp
USJFCOM Public Affairs

(NORFOLK, Va. – Nov. 21, 2005) – U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) named a Marine Corps sergeant as its most recent military member of the quarter.

Marine Sgt. Anthony Harris, the command’s Marine Corps service representative in the Joint Manpower and Personnel Directorate (J1), garnered high marks to earn his selection as USJFCOM’s military member of the quarter for the third quarter of fiscal year 2005.

“This is a really big honor for all the hard work,” said Harris, who testified that the competition and selection process is challenging. “I was up for this before but didn’t come out on top, so it’s great to be recognized and feel the appreciation of my co-workers and leaders.”

“My leaders are the reason for my selection; they have done nothing but set me up for success”

In his daily duties, Harris assists Marine Corps personnel assigned to USJFCOM with their administrative needs. He also helps other service representatives and their customers. As a non-commissioned officer, he spends many hours as a mentor for junior Marines within the command.

Harris also holds positions as the coordinator for USJFCOM contributions to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, USJFCOM recycling representative, a rifleman in the command color guard and the J1 morale welfare representative.

“This is a good command to work for and you can really learn a lot about the other services and their mission, as well as become familiar with the future of our military,” he said.

Attributes that lead to his selection as military member of the quarter, according to a nomination letter signed by J1 Director Navy Capt. Andrew J. Koch include:

• demonstrating hard work, personal commitment and dependability while working in the command personnel branch
• exceptional handling of Army personnel without prior Army service experience at a time when the command’s Army service representative position was vacant
• outstanding performance as the computer system administrator for J1
• assistance in improving his section’s productivity, accountability, professionalism and technical knowledge.

Koch also praised Harris for his “extraordinary personal, military and professional efforts” and for being “the type of Marine every manager dreams of having in their directorate or division.”

Co-worker Army Sgt. Gary Marsden, USJFCOM Army service representative, said he enjoys working with Harris.

“He’s my backfill when I’m out,” said Marsden. “It’s good to work with him, because he’s someone who has a lot of integrity and you can always count on him.”

Marine Corps Master Sgt. Gregory Jones, Harris’ supervisor, echoed many of the same sentiments.

“He’s a very dependable individual,” said Jones. “You can count on him to accomplish any task with little or no supervision. He keeps me well-informed and he’s a role model for anyone in his grade, someone who others can emulate.”

“Being in a joint command that stretches across all the services allows him the opportunity to be a mentor not only to Marines, but also to other military service members,” added Jones.

In his off hours, Harris enjoys playing intramural sports--basketball, softball and football-- and has played on several U.S. Marine Forces Atlantic teams.

For future goals, Harris currently attends college and will soon receive an associate’s degree in liberal arts from St. Leo University. He also plans on completing 20 years in the Marine Corps as well as pursuing a bachelor of science degree in computer information systems.