NAM

Phil was awarded this yesterday at work. It's another Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal. This makes his 3rd of this medal which is why you see the two stars in the center. The first time you receive a medal you get the colored bar (which is orange and green in this case). Phil got his first right before we left Virginia when we first got married. Each one you get after that, you add a star on top. Now that he's earned his 3rd, he has 2 stars on the medal. Make sense? So here is what his award says (since I'm sure you can't possibly read it in the photo):

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
(Gold star in lieu of third award)
to

Boatswain's Mat First Class (Surface Warfare/Air Warfare) Phillipp P. Pickle Jr, United States Navy
for

Professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Student Division Commander, Training Support Center, Great Lakes from May 2005 to September 2008. Displaying outstanding leadership and mentoring skills, Petty Officer Pickle provided Naval military instruction and training in proper watchstanding, physical fitness, military customs and traditions to over 2,000 students annually. His outstanding dedication to excellence and untiring efforts led to USS Wisconsin receiving three "Ship of the Month" and two "Ultimate Command Challenge" awards. Additionally, his efforts instilled the meaning of dedication to duty and attention to detail as an integral part to the sailorization process. Petty Officer Pickle's professionalism, initiative, and loyal devotion to duty reflected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Given this 16th day of July 2008