MILTON — Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Corey Montford's hard work came to fruition when the Naval Air Station Whiting Field Commanding Officer, Capt. Todd Bahlau, awarded him immediate advancement to First Class Petty Officer through the Meritorious Advancement Program at the installation’s Midfield Hangar.
MAP gives commanding officers authority to recognize their best sailors’ superior work and advance eligible seaman, petty officer third class, and petty officer second class sailors to the next higher pay grade. Previously only available to operational commands, the Navy announced policy updates April 19 expanding program eligibility to shore commands.
Montford was the first sailor at NAS Whiting Field to promote through this program.
“I’m proud of him,” Bahlau stated to Montford’s assembled shipmates. “This just shows what hard work will do for you. [He] is a mentor you need to latch onto.”
As the assistant training officer, Montford spearheaded about 1,100 professional training hours, inputted over 2,500 reports in the National Fire Incident Reports System, and documented over 100 respirator user training requirements into the Enterprise Safety Applications Management System, completely error free. He managed and traced 135 Department of Defense certification packages for 102 firefighters and facilitated almost 900 live fire exercise hours, meeting 100 percent command readiness.
As a certified fire inspector, he assisted in the command zone inspections and enforced state code and National Fire Protection Association standards. In addition, he worked as an assistant command fitness leader, in which he personally directed 12 command Fitness Enhance Program sessions, decreasing Physical Fitness Assessment failures by 6 percent.
As the Combined Federal Campaign manager, his diligence and attention to detail led to the command raising funds for the program, exceeding region goals. To further help his fellow sailors, Montford also devoted almost 100 hours with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim’s Advocate helpline.
During off-duty hours, Montford assisted in operation of the city’s youth basketball program at the Milton Community Center. He also volunteered to help the community in beautification projects and fundraising. On top of his work on and off duty, Montford earned an Associate Degree in Fire Science with honors while attending Columbia Southern University.
For all that he has accomplished, Montford was most thankful for his peers.
“I appreciate you all pushing me,” Montford said to them, “Without you all, I couldn’t have done this. Don’t let anybody tell you ‘no’ — Just keep trying.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: NAS Whiting Field sailor first to meritoriously advance to next rank