Homic Earns Military Excellence Award at Recruit Training Command

Official Statements

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “Seaman Isabella Homic graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) Nov. 12, 2026. Homic, 19, of Huntersville, North Carolina, arrived at boot camp after attending Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio for one year, and left as the top recruit in her graduating training group.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “Winning the Military Excellence Award was a shock to me,” Harper said. “I didn’t think I deserved it at first because I just did what I was told. I’m surprised it was that easy and it motivates me to do well moving forward in my Navy career because now I have this standard that I must constantly strive for.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “The Military Excellence Award is presented to the recruit who best demonstrates enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork throughout training. As part of the recognition, recipients receive a flag letter of commendation. Homic attended Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio studying Elementary Education for a year before she decided that she needed a change.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “I joined the Navy because I wanted something different and I wanted to meet new people, see new things, and have plenty of fun,” said Homic. “But most importantly, I wanted to do something difficult to challenge myself and to help others do the same.” Homic said she found her motivation to stick to her goals through her RDCs.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “I planned on being quiet and in the background of my division, but my third RDC, IT2 McDaniel made me the RCPO and put me in charge of the division, and my second RDC, ETV1 Sancho pushed me the hardest and trained me in what I needed to know to excel,” said Homic. “Finally, my first RDC, Aec Kogut held me accountable for my mistakes and taught me how to be a better leader.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “I felt a lot of pressure from them, and it drove me to be the best I could be.” This, she said, being thrust into a leadership position was the hardest part of bootcamp.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “[It was hard] being put in charge suddenly of a group of diverse people and trying to keep everyone and myself sane until graduation,” said Homic. “Being a leader isn’t just about having the knowledge and being loud. It is helpful, but it’s more about having the patience to work with difficult people, having the humility to get corrected, and having self-reflection to change for the better.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “Being a member of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps for five years contributed to her overcoming those challenges and being successful in bootcamp.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “It helped me prepare for boot camp,” said Homic. “I learned military bearing, how the chain of command works, and many other things I saw at boot camp. Another thing that helped me prepare for boot camp was just the way I was raised. I’d like to thank my Daddy for teaching me how to use my head and I’d like to thank my Mami for teaching me how to be patient.”

• U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, November 12: “Her RDCs were Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate Derek Kogut, Electronics Technician (Navigation) 1st Class Christopher Sancho, and Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Daria McDaniel. Following graduation, Homic will report to Intelligence Specialist “A” school at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Virginia for further training. Training at RTC is approximately nine weeks long, and all enlistees in the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.”