MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Bearing the title Marine brings with it a slew of admiration and expectations; courageous, honor-bound and a commitment to excellence in all they do.
While all Marines carry the title, only one per year may earn the recognition of being Marine Corps Installations Pacific Marine of the Year.
This year’s MCIPAC Marine of the Year is Cpl. Guadalupe Campos, a broadcaster with American Forces Network aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
“It’s a great honor being able to represent MCAS Iwakuni at the MCIPAC level,” said Campos. “It’s such a grand accomplishment that I haven’t wrapped my head around it, but it’s an amazing feeling knowing that if you do a lot of hard work, put a lot of effort into your job and into the Marine Corps, it will pay off and be reflected in some way.”
Even for a Marine who has accomplished so much, Campos said she never expected to be at the level of competition she is now.
“The first board I ever went on was Marine of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2014 and I didn’t get that one,” said Campos. “I went on the second quarter board after that, which I did win. Even now, I find out in about two weeks if I win (Marine Corps Installations Command) Marine of the Year.”
While Campos is the Marine being recognized for her achievements, she gives the credit to those who have helped her get this far in her career.
“I want to thank my amazing chain of command for always giving me their support, never being judgmental and never holding anything against me,” said Campos. “Even now, just because I won MCIPAC Marine of the Year, they don’t treat me differently. You have to constantly show that you’re doing well at your job or being a great Marine and I want to thank my command for showing me different and great leadership styles. Hopefully I can continue to make them proud by emulating the great leadership abilities they’ve shown me so I can pass that to other Marines in the future.”
Some people may assume that the career of anyone who has achieved as much as Campos would be spotless, devoid of even a single negative counseling. Campos, however, is not a Marine with a perfect background.
“I’ve made mistakes in the past, mistakes that have cost me part of my career, but I rolled with the punches and I got back on my horse, like everyone kept encouraging me too,” said Campos. “When we got new Marines, I told them everything that happened to me, so they could learn from my mistakes and not have to make them themselves.”
Campos said she also wants her story to be a testament for any Marine who has faced challenges in their military career.
“For any Marine, whether they just got a counseling, a page 11 or worse, they can go, ‘hey, I heard about corporal Campos’s story and how she bounced back. She didn’t just bounce back, but she accomplished something that a lot of people thought she would never do, maybe I can do something similar.’ I’ve had a few of my Marines come to me and say that out of everyone in the office, they think it’s pretty awesome I’ve been able to accomplish what I have after facing so much adversity in the past. It humbles me to know that my story can make a difference for Marines who have been in a similar situation.”
While several junior Marines in AFN mentioned that they see great qualities in Campos, senior leaders within her chain of command also voiced their approval of her recognition.
“I’ve worked with Campos for almost 3 years now; her commitment to the Marine Corps is unequivocal,” said Petty Officer First Class Marcus Suorez, the operations manager with AFN Iwakuni. “Corporal Campos never focused on the negative, she owned up to her mistake and looked toward the future, constantly challenging herself and finding ways to better herself and the Marine Corps. Campos is an embodiment of honor, courage and commitment. The Marine Corps is lucky to have a member of such integrity as Campos. She is not only what every Marine should strive to be, but what every service member should strive to be; mentally, physically and morally strong.”
For some people, the Marine Corps provides a new set of ethics and values to live by. Campos said she has already spent her teen and adult life striving to prove what she’s capable of.
“One of the things known about me, ever since high school, is that I like proving people wrong when they doubt my abilities to do something,” said Campos. “I’m five-foot-one, and, as a lot of people say, 100 pounds soaking wet in my cammies and boots, so a 300 (Combat Fitness Test) or (Physical Fitness test) seems pretty daunting in itself. People look at me and assume that since I’m so small, they’ll be happy if I get a 290. No, I’m not going to settle for that, I’m going to get a 300, to prove that I can do it and to show that I do have something to work for and maintain.”
A key factor in Campos being competitive for her award stems not just from the dedication she shows during regular working hours, but also the amount of time outside of work she contributes to the community. Campos served as the Single Marine Program representative for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and accumulated 360 volunteer hours during 2014.
“I feel like a lot of time can be wasted on the weekends and after work sitting in the barracks, eating, playing video games, or whatever,” said Campos. “Why wouldn’t you want to use your time to do something good for somebody else? And you also have fun. A lot of the volunteer events I do, whether it’s helping out at the Special Olympics or going to a nursery school in town, I enjoy doing it, it’s fun. Once you go back to the states, you’re probably never going to get opportunities like you do here. I feel like a lot of people should definitely take more advantage of volunteer opportunities, not just for a letter of appreciation or because their staff NCO said so, but for themselves.”
Now nearing a crossroad in her life, Campos said she wants to leave those she’s interacted with a piece of advice from her personal experience.
“Whether I do reenlist or not, what I would love for people I work with and people whose opinion I care about to take away from my short career is that I didn’t let my mistake define me,” said Campos. “I made a mistake, I paid the price and accepted the consequences. My family’s values have always been that you reap what you sow, but it’s going to show how good of a Campos, or how good of a person you are, by putting your mistakes in the past and using the lessons learned to improve yourself for the future. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I can’t have a pity party forever and give up. No, I made a mistake, I learned my lesson and I’m going to move on. So I want to let everyone know who supported me from the beginning that I appreciate all they’ve done and that I’m going to continue to be the best Marine I can. I’m not there at this point, but I’m still working toward it.”
Cpl. Frank Wojtasiak, 2013 MCIPAC Marine of the Year recipient, said Campos contacted him for information and support.
“Campos talked to me after she won Marine of the Quarter and also let me know that the command was recommending her for the award,” said Wojtasiak. “I told her to make sure her book was in line and wished her luck. She wrote me the day after she was recognized as MCIPAC Marine of the Year and I couldn't have felt that a more deserving Marine existed. From her participation in what seemed like every ceremony, radio show, and every base wide function, Campos was all over MCAS Iwakuni. Campos will be successful in whatever endeavor she chooses to take on in the future and this recognition is only more proof.”
Wojtasiak said he was thrilled knowing that a fellow H&HS Marine, who happened to be someone he knows personally, was honored for her outstanding service, also mentioning that, “the recognition she is receiving is not only well deserved, but also past due.”
“Campos’s service to the Marine Corps and MCAS Iwakuni is unparalleled,” said Wojtasiak. “I think that Campos earned MCIPAC Marine of the Year because she embodies what the award stands for. Campos not only volunteers her time selflessly, she also makes sure to stay committed to her Marine Corps and AFN mission enthusiastically and positively.”