U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Caleb Mendez, an electrician with Engineer Platoon, Service Company, 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, poses for a photo on Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 21, 2020. “Be the leader that others want to emulate,” said Mendez, a Franklin, Mass. native. According to his leadership, Mendez is an extremely motivated and resourceful individual. Mendez performs his duties and responsibilities to the highest degree possible and consistently raises the bar as to what is expected. During MEFEX 21.1, Mendez was responsible for the successful operation of four separate electrical architectural plans, capable of providing over 400,000 watts of power, 612,000 British Thermal Units of HVAC capability and supplying 233,280 kilowatts per hour. Additionally, his advanced proficiency toward planning and operation of utilities equipment reduced principle-end items, which saved the battalion transportation space and laboring demands on the engineer platoon. Mendez's dedication to the mission’s success reflected in over 300-man-hours of fully-operational utility equipment, and 20-total-man-hours of maintenance. Mendez's superior performance, leadership, and technical ability was instrumental to the engineer platoon.   (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Menelik Collins)

Photo by Cpl. Menelik Collins