DVIDS – Information –

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan – U.S. Marine Corps Grasp Sgt. Estee M. FortunatoFranco was acknowledged because the Marine Corps’ Fiscal 12 months 2023 Equal Alternative Advisor of the 12 months by the choice board yearly convened to assessment nominations.

Marine Administrative Message 409/23 introduced that FortunatoFranco was chosen primarily based on her “excellent efficiency” and for demonstrating a “constantly excessive stage of efficiency” whereas serving because the EOA for III Marine Expeditionary Pressure Data Group positioned on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. FortunatoFranco is the primary EOA of the 12 months chosen from Okinawa in 5 years.

“I’m pleased with my accomplishments,” FortunatoFranco stated. “I feel it means extra to me that my command felt I deserved recognition, though I’ve solely been the EOA for a short while.”

FortunatoFranco was appointed as III MIG’s EOA in December 2022. Since then, her focus has been on open communication and schooling inside III MIG’s subordinate models.

Because the EOA, FortunatoFranco advises Marines on prohibited actions and conduct regarding equal alternative and readiness. Informing and mitigating these actions helps keep order inside a unit, and ensures Marines are handled with mutual respect and judged on their deserves pretty.

Her capacity to deal with conditions that different EOA’s might have had issue with was famous by her commanders and different Marines inside her occupational subject.

“I nicknamed her ‘The Hack,’” stated U.S. Marine Corps Grasp Sgt. Korey Phillips, FortunatoFranco’s advisor throughout her first few months as an EOA. “She would ‘hack’ into human techniques and get unimaginable outcomes like a pc programmer. Her ingenuity impacted the III MEF and III MIG by closing a number of instances and rising constructive command climates due to her efforts in prevention.”

After 21 years of service, FortunatoFranco attracts from each good and dangerous examples of management and applies it to her job.

“My objective is having a brand new technology of Marines which might be capable of talk about their variations in a wholesome means,” FortunatoFranco stated. “It’s once we’re not capable of talk that these points come up. Basic [John A.] Lejeune was our commandant 100 years in the past and he instructed us that is how we deal with our individuals. This isn’t new; we’re simply calling it one thing totally different now. It’s vital that Marines are in a wholesome surroundings.”

FortunatoFranco will probably be introduced her award through the FY23 Equal Alternative Advisors Symposium on Aug. 23, 2023 at Quantico, Virginia.