3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Two female Sailors with the 3rd Marine aircraft Wing were recognized by the San Diego Navy League as the senior and junior enlisted women of the year among 62 commands and 80 nominees from the San Diego area.

Petty Officer 1st Class Barbara Mayer, a corpsman formerly with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 and Petty Officer 2nd Class Samantha Sanchez, a corpsman with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11, received the award March 25 and attended a congratulatory meeting with Maj. Gen. Michael Rocco, commanding general of 3rd MAW aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., March 31.

“It’s pretty awesome that they recognize women in the military separately because our challenges sometimes are different,” said Mayer.

The nominees are submitted by each unit and then are more specifically chosen by each Marine Aircraft Group and then 3rd MAW. The nominees were chosen from Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy commands through the San Diego area.

“It was surprising,” said Sanchez. “The luncheon was literally for everyone who was nominated from the San Diego county commands. So you come in not expecting anything because there were so many people. Then, they announced it after lunch.”

Mayer explained that she believes it was impressive that both award recipients came from 3rd MAW and it speaks volume to the quality of the command.

“This is not an award for me, it is an award for everybody involved in both of our careers and it’s definitely recognizable for the command.”