The Marine Corp Fire & Emergency Service Annual Awards Ceremony took place last week, hosted by the U.S. Fire Administration at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC).
At the event, Marine Corps Sgt. Yasmine Huley-Morris was presented with the Military Firefighter of the Year award, which recognizes the accomplishments of Fire and Emergency Services (FES), as well as Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) service members who demonstrate a consistently high level of performance.
Huley-Morris, who is Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station Captain for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Iwakuni, said the “award means a lot” and admitted that, initially, she “did not understand how big the competition for the award was.”
“When I received this award, I thought it was only within the Marine Corps, then about two weeks later, I found out it was a competition across the entire military, and I was speechless.” she continues.
In a press release shared by the U.S. Marines Corp., the award-winning sergeant was described as a selfless and determined individual who often goes “above and beyond even what is required.”
Cpl. Andre Swords, an ARFF firefighter from Las Vegas, said that Huley-Morris is “a great leader” who gets things done and makes things happen while “making personal sacrifices and trying to take care of people along the way.”
Huley-Morris’ unit also received an award at the ceremony, as MCAS Iwakuni Fire and Emergency Services scooped the United States Marine Corps Medium Fire Department of the Year award.
Speaking on her career, Huley-Morris has admitted she’s had many challenges to overcome, including “being the only female in her section, trying to keep up physically with the men while continuing to stand out through her exceptional knowledge of operating procedures.”
As well as this, Huley-Morris received a non-judicial punishment not long after arriving at her unit, for accompanying a Marine who was supposed to be under quarantine during COVID,
Talking about this early setback, Huley-Morris said: “I had to prove myself to my command that I wasn’t a bad Marine and that I am just as capable as the rest of the Marines.”
Despite this, she continues to strive for excellence and has used her position as an ARFF station captain to look out for the wellbeing of her Marines’, making a significant contribution to her section’s improved morale.
On the subject of her award, Huley-Morris says: “Don’t do your work for recognition, do it because getting your work done helps the team succeed. If people are backed up on work and you have nothing to do, be the person that goes to them and lightens their load. Eventually your actions will be noticed and rewarded.”
