MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- For Sgt. Erik Hayostek, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 hybrid test set technician, becoming the Marine Corps' Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the entire 1st Marine Air Wing may have never even crossed his mind while jumping out of airplanes as a member of the Army?s Airborne Rangers.
Although Hayostek didn?t know at the time that one day would be tucking such an accomplishment under his belt, he did know that the Army wasn't for him, and left the Army to pursue a career in law enforcement.
Law enforcement entertained Hayostek for a few years before deciding to chase his childhood dream of becoming a United States Marine.
Not long after he joined the Corps he started to stand out from the crowd as a born leader and squared away Marine, graduating as honor graduate from Marine Combat Training. The Marine Corps got an even better look at what Hayostek was made of when, after graduating with honors from MCT, he was meritoriously awarded his cross rifles.
Hayostek then assumed his duties as a hybrid test set technician, and first served with VMFA-122 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., which in turn landed him at MCAS Iwakuni under the Unit Deployment Program.
While deployed here, Hayostek was put into a billet working in the 990 division, a unit which fixes the deployable white vans aboard the station. The 990 division was turned around by Hayostek, who made remarkable changes to the unit.
His accomplishments in the unit did not go unnoticed, and he was nominated for the Marine Air Logistics Squadron 12 NCO of the Quarter board.
His accomplishments aboard the station and those as a Marine in general were enough to win him the board, and earn him a spot on the Marine Air Group 12 NCO of the Year board.
Winning the board for MAG-12 was no problem for him either and was certainly proof enough for the inspecting Staff NCOs to select him, according to Sgt. Maj. Emmanuel Magos, MALS-12 sergeant major.
"Sergeant Hayostek had high marks and accomplishments across the board," said Magos. "He blew away the competition on our board, and was no problem for the MAG-12 staff NCOs to pick either."
After Hayostek had the MALS-12 and MAG-12 boards in the bag, his packet was sent off to be reviewed by the 1st MAW for NCO of the Quarter. Hayostek once again surpassed himself and was selected for that achievement.
A few months later, he was put up for NCO of the Year for the entire 1st MAW, and needless to say, he won.
"Being the Marine of the year for a whole air wing is a huge accomplishment," said Magos. "Being selected means that you beat out the best of the best, and are considered the best Marine in that entire wing."
Hayostek, was awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals while stationed here, one for his work in the 990 division and one for winning NCO of the Year. These are only a fraction of the awards that hang from his chest, including four Army Achievement Medals and a pair of parachute wings.
Although he has accomplished enough in the last few months to make any Marine proud, Hayostek has bigger goals in mind.
"I want to go into the Marine Security Guard when I reach the rank of staff sergeant," he said. "In the end though, I am going to be the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps - you will see this name again."
Even if Hayostek never fulfills his goals, he has certainly accomplished enough here to leave a lasting impression on a lot of Marines.
"It is too bad that Sgt. Hayostek is only here on UDP, we are going to hate to see him go," said Magos. "We at the MALS are just thankful for stop move, because we get to keep him around a little bit longer."