JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christian M. Jenkins, a Quality Assurance Safety Observer (QASO) with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), is Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River’s Go-Getter of the month. Jenkins, a Sidney, Ohio native, enlisted as an aviation ordnance systems technician, graduating from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in November of 2018.
“I wanted a career field that would help build more discipline and maturity in my life,” said Jenkins. “I did not have an exact idea of what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted a challenge.”
After approximately six months of schooling between Pensacola, Florida, and Cherry Point, North Carolina, Jenkins graduated his final schoolhouse course on August 28, 2019, arriving at the Fleet Marine Force during Hurricane Dorian.
“Once I got to the fleet, I worked really hard to get team leader before any of my peers,” said Jenkins. “I was so excited to learn my job and get things going.”
Jenkins began building a positive reputation for himself because of his go-getter attitude, which he brought with him every workday, not long before his superiors noticed.
“When I first arrived here at H&HS, I noticed that Cpl. Jenkins was very outgoing,” said Sgt. Tom Lor, an aviation ordnance technician with H&HS, “He was the go-to Lance Corporal because he was already trained to lead operations.”
Getting noticed for his positive mindset and determination, Jenkins quickly picked up the next rank of Corporal in July 2021, officially in December 2021, and obtained all qualifications needed for his current billet of QASO – the highest position available in the aviation ordnance systems technician job-field.
“Jenkins is the kind of Marine to step out of his comfort zone to take on more responsibilities,” said Lor. “He takes a lot of initiative and that’s what sets him apart from everyone else. It’s also why he picked up qualifications and positions that were above his rank at the time.”
After the Marine Corps, Jenkins plans to obtain an associate’s degree and work as a wildlife officer in his hometown of Sidney, Ohio.
“I wish he would stay because I believe he would benefit from it a lot, although I know he is going to do some great things in the civilian world,” said Lor. “He’s definitely going to leave behind some big shoes to fill.”