2005 Marine Corps Linguist of the Year Award

1. THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES THE SELECTION OF THE
2005 MARINE CORPS LINGUIST OF THE YEAR. NOMINATIONS WERE SOLICITED
FROM ALL COMMANDS WHO HAVE OR HAD MARINES ASSIGNED TO LINGUIST
BILLETS OR FULFILLING LINGUISTIC DUTIES. A PANEL OF SENIOR LANGUAGE
PROFESSIONALS SELECTED THE WINNER FROM NOMINATIONS SUBMITTED FROM
THROUGHOUT THE MARINE CORPS. THIS YEAR'S WINNER IS STAFF SERGEANT
MIGUEL A. OZUNA (IMOS 0211), CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT THE NAVY-MARINE
CORPS INTELLIGENCE TRAINING CENTER, TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND.

2. STAFF SERGEANT OZUNA IS A C-130 NAVIGATOR WITH THE ADDITIONAL
MOS 8611 (INTERPRETER). STAFF SERGEANT OZUNA WAS SELECTED AS THE
LINGUIST OF THE YEAR FOR HIS SUPERIOR ARABIC LINGUISTIC CAPABILITIES
AND UNEQUALED CONTRIBUTIONS DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ FROM
SEPTEMBER 2004 TO SEPTEMBER 2005. AS AN INTERPRETER ASSIGNED TO 2ND
BATTALION, 24TH MARINE REGIMENT AND 3RD BATTALION, 2ND MARINE
REGIMENT DURING CONSECUTIVE DEPLOYMENTS TO THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE,
IRAQ, SSGT OZUNA'S LINGUISTIC SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP WERE CRITICAL TO
THE CAPTURE OF INSURGENTS, DIRECTLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADING THE
ENEMY'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS. THE SCOPE OF SSGT
OZUNA'S INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATING DUTIES INCLUDED SUPPORT TO
INTERROGATIONS, DOCUMENTATION EXPLOITATION, MEDICAL SCREENINGS, AND
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. THROUGHOUT HIS DEPLOYMENT, SSGT OZUNA
NEVER FALTERED IN HIS LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MARINE, AND
REPEATEDLY VOLUNTEERED FOR PATROLS AND RAIDS UNDER THE MOST HOSTILE
CIRCUMSTANCES.

3. CONGRATULATIONS TO STAFF SERGEANT OZUNA FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE, DEDICATION TO MISSION, AND SUPERIOR LINGUISTIC SKILLS. HIS
COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING BOTH HIS OWN LANGUAGE SKILLS AND THOSE OF
THE MARINES UNDER HIS CHARGE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO SUCCESSFUL
MARINE CORPS COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE AL ANBAR PROVINCE. SSGT OZUNA
WILL BE THE MARINE CORPS NOMINATION FOR CONSIDERATION AS THE 2005
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LINGUIST OF THE YEAR.