MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines with Weapons Training Battalion are constantly hard at work, but one Marine in particular stood out above the rest.
Sgt. Jeffrey Sabins, chief instructor with the base marksmanship unit, Weapons Training Battalion, will be awarded the Gunnery Sgt. Carlos N. Hathcock II Award for his “significant contribution to the improvement in marksmanship training in the United States Marine Corps.”
“I was kind of shocked when I found out I was going to receive this award,” said Sabins. “It means a lot to know all the hard work we do in (WTBN) is being noticed.”
The award is one of several awards presented to service members from the 2009 Marine Corps League United States Marine Corps and United States Navy Enlisted Awards. The ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 30, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
Sabins along with his wife will be flown to Quantico, where he and the other awardees will attend a parade as well as the Modern Day Marine Military Exposition, which is being held in their honor.
During the award presentation, Sabins will be presented the Iwo Jima Statue Award for his outstanding service to the Marine Corps, by the commandant of the Marine Corps and sergeant major of the Marine Corps.
Sabins is part of the base marksmanship unit, which is responsible for training as well as running the combat marksmanship course, combat marksmanship trainers course and the combat marksmanship coaches’ course.
“We had chosen the best and most qualified Marine for this award,” said Gunnery Sgt. Steven Rozell, staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the base marksmanship training unit. “(Sabins) has had a big impact on developing and refining the classes and (program of instructions). He is very dedicated to the Marine Marksmanship Program and an outstanding Marine.”